Program

For information about program events, email the Program Coordinator or telephone the Office on (03) 9596 8900

The activities & events at Tara Institute are open for everyone to attend.

• Monday 8pm ~ Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation

Introductory buddhist philosophy/meditation classes are held in monthly blocks throughout the year. The teachers are senior students who introduce buddhist tools to help us deal with everyday issues. The classes have a theme each month and you are welcome to attend all sessions if you are able. An essential motivation of the teachings is to learn how to generate a warm and kind heart and to apply that in our daily interactions with one another. The Buddha taught that this is the key to peace of mind and happiness and is something each one of us can develop more and more through listening to teachings and developing a regular meditation practice.

The classes are open to everyone and run for approximately one hour. There can be from 50 to 150 people attending; there is no need to book. Usually there is a question and answer session at the end. A facility fee of $5 is requested and many people stay on afterwards for tea, coffee and cake. All you need to do is come through the front entrance to be greeted by two people at a desk. If you let them know you are new, they will introduce you to the Centre and the facilities. In the meditation room there are cushions for people to sit on if you wish; we also have chairs around the room. We ask that people take off their shoes and turn off their mobile phones before entering the meditation room, and we request that people who are sitting on the floor do not stretch their legs out so that their feet are facing any of the buddhist images or the speaker. Apart from that, there are no other requirements. It is traditional, as a sign of respect for the Buddha's teachings, for people to put any buddhist text or prayer books on a cushion or some such thing rather than putting them directly on the floor. You may also find that some people will do three prostrations when they enter the meditation room, but this is not an essential practice and there is no reason to feel uncomfortable if you do not do this. It is considered polite to wear clothing that is not revealing, and of course wear something that is comfortable for sitting on the floor if that is where you choose to sit!

• Tuesday 7:45pm ~ Study Group

Classes are given by our resident Tibetan lama, Geshe Doga, who teaches from a buddhist text (currently this is Mahamudra.); there is no charge. The text can be bought from the Tara Institute bookshop which is open during the day and before teachings.

The texts studied can be quite difficult and it is important that students have a good knowledge of buddhist philosophy. You are welcome to experience study group at any time, but members of the Study Group are requested to make a commitment to attend regularly. The evenings run in six-week blocks comprising four nights of discourses by Geshe Doga, one night of discussion and a further night of a written exam. Transcripts of the discourses are available the following week after the teaching at a cost of $1.00 per discourse. Homework is also provided after each teaching and is the basis of the exam in the sixth week of the block.

For more information, please call Ven. Carolyn Lawler on 9596 7410.

• Wednesday 8pm ~ Wednesday Evenings with Geshe Doga

Geshe Doga is currently commenting on The Middle Lam Rim - a text by Lama Je Tsong Khapa - on the stages of the path to liberation and enlightenment. The evening begins with a meditation led by Geshe Doga and often includes a commentary from him on the benefits of meditation. These teachings are made accessible to the general public by Geshe Doga by providing practical instructions for daily life as well as drawing on his experience and insight to highlight the essence of the text. There is no charge and everyone is welcome to attend. Geshe Doga teaches in Tibetan and is translated by Ven. Michael Yeshe.

• Healing Program

There has been a Healing Meditation Program at Tara Institute since 1991 and 12-week Healing Meditation courses at Tara Institute since 2002. It is open to all people with serious illnesses and their carers. To enrol or join in a course, please contact Ven. Carolyn Lawler at the Centre on (03) 9596 7410.

The course is led by Bob Sharples and Ven. Carolyn Lawler and focuses on the mind, particularly by teaching meditations for relaxation, loving-kindness and compassion, as well as basic human values relating to all traditions.

• Other Events

Tara Institute conducts courses and teachings throughout the year including occasional weekend or one day courses and other events, all of which are advertised in our bimonthly newsletter. You can download the newsletter, or you can have it sent to you free of charge for a trial period of four months. Please call the office on 03 9596 8900 or email to admin@tarainstitute.org.au if you would like to have it posted to you. If you feel you would like a yearly subscription, then the cost is $33.

• Meal Service

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, a 3 course vegetarian meal for $16.00 is available in the dining room of the Institute. If you would like to have dinner here before going to any of the classes, you just need to book through the office before 3pm on the day by calling 9596 8900, so that the cook can cater for everyone. You can buy each course separately if that is preferred; soup is $5, the main course is $10 and dessert is $5. The meals are served from 6.30pm and you pay for whichever course you are having at the servery.