The Wisdom Age Newsletter of Drogmi Buddhist Institute A Tibetan Buddhist Centre in the Sakya Tradition Issue 67 September 2023 Tashi Delek to All, May all Dharma students in particular Tibetan Buddhist students, yet regardless of the four schools one follows, celebrate in His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche, the Sakya Trichen, turning 78 years old on 7 September 2023 according to the western calendar. His Holiness is a true great living master and Root Guru to countless beings, who stays on this planet for the sake of fortunate beings. May he live for aeons and guide us all as samsaric beings, towards enlightenment. On behalf of Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe, Drogmi Buddhist Institute Committee and from all members and friends of DBI residing at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre and from all over the world – we continually and joyously pray for His Holiness’ long life, to experience extraordinarily good health, so as to protect us not to fall over the cliff of samsara. Please enjoy the read of the Upcoming Events and to share Recent Events at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre, and Khenpo la’s national teachings. Yours in the Dharma ​ BUDDHIST NEWS His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday Sangha gathered at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday. Khenpo la led in chanting His Holiness’ Long Life Prayer... Read More His Eminence Ngor Luding Khen Rinpoche Teachings in Mustang On August 2, 2023, His Eminence Ngor Luding Khen Rinpoche started the holy Dharma teachings of “LamDre Gyued Gsum” (tri-tantra in LamDre) at Namgyal Choedhe Thubten Darga Ling monastery in Mustang, Nepal. Please enjoy a few special images of this day... Read More UPCOMING COURSES & EVENTS THE 2ND THREE VISIONS FESTIVAL We warmly invite you share in this joyous celebration of three cultures, Indigenous, Tibetan and Non-Indigenous cultures. The festival is a symbol of joy and connection, bringing communities together to share in a cultural exchange and celebration through food, music, dance, art and crafts. More details and bookings SIX DOME WHITE TARA PRACTICE First Sunday of each month, 12.00-1.00pm ​ Six Dome White Tara Practice will be held at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre, Tilba, on the first Sunday of each month, commencing on Sunday 3 September and will be available on Zoom More details and bookings KARMA YOGA GROUP RETREAT Friday 15 – Sunday 17 September This is our fourth Karma Yoga Group retreat. It will be a weekend where our body and mind work together to help others. More details and bookings ANNUAL SHAMATHA RETREAT Friday 29 September – Sunday 8 October With Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe. This retreat is open to everyone. During this ten-day retreat Khenpo la will give detailed teachings on Shamatha Meditation and on Nāgārjuna’s Essence of all the Dharma Teachings. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn the philosophy and practice the methods that have been tried and proven through the centuries. More details and bookings AN OPEN MEDITATION DAY Sunday 13 November, 10.00am-3.00pm To be held at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre. More information will be available soon MEDITATION for wellbeing – 5 week COURSE Tuesdays, 7 November – 5 December, 10.00am-11.30am To be held at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre. More information will be available soon GREEN TARA PUJA WEEKEND TEACHINGS Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 October A non-residential teaching weekend in Sydney. There are numerous healing stories of Tara from removing fears, sickness, and danger. Generally, Tara removes the sense of fear through accomplishing the mundane and the supermundane. This weekend teaching will include the aspects of the Twenty-one Taras. Details and bookings will be available soon SHAMATHA & VIPASSANA WEEKEND RETREAT Friday 17 – Sunday 19 November With Ayyas Jitindriya and Jayasara. Offering formal guided meditations as well as instructions for everyday life. This weekend will show how Shamatha-Vipassana can be engaged in all situations, bringing ever-deepening peace and freedom from stress and suffering. Details and bookings FAMILY DAY Saturday 25 November, 10.30am-4.00pm Under the guidance of Khenpo la, Kamalashila’s Family Day aims to bring families closer together, with a shared experience of kindness, learning and spaciousness in the beautiful natural environment at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre. Details and bookings TRADITIONAL TIBETAN HEALTH PRACTITIONER Sunday 2 – Monday 4 December A Public Talk will be presented and a roster of clinic appointments. More information will be available soon AGM & HOLIDAY GATHERING DINNER Saturday 9 December AGM at 4pm & Dinner to follow. Bookings will be essential for catering purposes. More information will be available soon ANNUAL HEALING & PURIFICATION RETREAT Wednesday 27 December – Monday 1 January During this retreat Khenpo la will give detailed teachings on Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha Practices. This retreat is designed to help practitioners new and experienced, to clear away and heal any negativity from the past year, to come into the New Year rejuvenated and refreshed, with a positive mind and perspective for the year ahead. More details and bookings RECENT EVENTS Teachings at Manjushri Buddhist Centre, Milton A very special weekend welcoming Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe back to Manjushri Buddhist Centre in Milton, NSW this last weekend of August. Over the three days, eighty members and friends soaked in his precious teachings on understanding how as human beings we suffer, yet with strength of mind we can overcome our hardships.  Read More Heart Sutra Weekend Teachings We were at the culmination of Khenpo la’s teachings on the Buddha’s Heart Sutra, our brains were buzzing and awake. Several of us were left scratching our heads in amazement: “Have we really been this lucky – to have gained a such a window into the precious Prajnaparamita?” Read More Teachings at White Conch Group The White Conch Group, in collaboration with the Rigpa Brisbane Centre, hosted Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe in Brisbane. This time Khenpo la taught on “The Sutra Recollecting the Qualities of the Three Jewels”, which is an important text for helping us accumulate merit and arouse the faith required for taking refuge and giving rise to bodhicitta. Read More Saga Dawa 2023 – the Most Holy Month in the Tibetan Buddhist Calendar At Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre 108 candles were lit daily for sponsors and designated loved ones who may be in need of prayers for countless reasons, those who may be ill and who have passed away. Please enjoy a selection of images taken throughout this most auspicious month. Read More Teachings at Ananda Buddhist Centre The members of the Ananda Centre were looking forward to the visit by Khenpo la, for with the lockdowns during Covid we have not had the opportunity in having him attend Rockhampton and provide his experienced teachings for some three years. Notwithstanding a very long journey over two days to travel to Rockhampton, Khenpo la provided a public talk to the Rockhampton public about “How to live a meaningful life”. This was well received by all who attended.  Read More Mandala Offering and End of The Complete Path Teachings 4th Year During the precious teachings of The Complete Path by His Holiness the 42nd Sakya Trizin at IBA, on the auspicious day of Chöekhor Düchen, a Mandala Offering was made to His Holiness on behalf of Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe and Drogmi Buddhist Institute by DBI students and friends attending the teachings. Read More Annual Ngondro Retreat 2023 The Annual Ngondro Retreat led by Khenpo la began Thursday on the anniversary of two of the Great Sakya masters, Gaton Ngawang Lekpa Rinpoche, for whom Ngondro was his main practice, and Khenchen Jamyang Thupten Lungtok Gyaltsen, the 72nd Throne Holder of the Ngor Lineage. Hearing from Khenpo la about their dedication to practice is a great inspiration for us. Read More Annual Shri Vajrapani Bhutadamara Retreat and Karma’s Farewell The 4th Annual Shri Vajrapani Bhutadamara Retreat held at Kamalashila was a wonderful success. Khenpo la gave us teachings on the sadhana and guided practice sessions to deepen our understanding.​ On the conclusion day of the retreat, we also bid farewell to our dear Karma la who has now departed the centre returning to his home in New York Read More Teachings at Khacho Yulo Ling Buddhist Centre We had a fantastic weekend of teachings with Khenpo la recently. He taught on the classic text “Parting from the Four Attachments” by Sachen Kunga Nyingpo. The teachings were superb, and it was so wonderful to have him here again to share the dharma. These are classic teachings that give really clear instructions on how to live a meaningful and purposeful life. Read More Talk at Mandalong, Central NSW Coast Khenpo la was invited and travelled to the Central Coast of NSW at Mandalong to give a talk with a local meditation group. Khenpo la’s talk was a strong encouragement to change our responses to upsets and grow up in order to reduce the harm done to all parties and just notice how much our heartiness and contentment can grow. Read More Autumn Buddhist Philosophy Course Retreat and The Sixteen Arhat Puja The 1st retreat this year of the Autumn Buddhist Philosophy Course was a great success, during Saga Dawa month and completing the 1st Semester of the 2nd year, led by Khenpo la. ​On the last day and most auspicious day of the Buddhist calendar, the retreat was followed by a two-hour Puja – The Sixteen Arhat Puja, led by Khenpo la, as retreatants and members from the local community all joined in together. Read More FROM OUR MASTERS “The Tibetan culture and Buddhist religion are two different things. Buddhism came from India. Tibetan culture was very much influenced by Buddhism, but one does not need to adapt to the Tibetan culture,