The Wisdom Age - Issue 51

The Wisdom Age Newsletter of Drogmi Buddhist Institute A Tibetan Buddhist Centre in the Sakya Tradition Issue 51 February 2020 Dear Dharma friends, Wishing you a very Happy Losar – 2147 Tibetan Year of the Iron Mouse – 24 February 2020 Losar is a festival in Tibetan Buddhism. This year, the Tibetan Losar (New Year) Festival falls on Monday, 24 February 2020. The Tibetan calendar (lo-tho) is a lunisolar calendar, meaning that the Tibetan year is composed of either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years so that an average Tibetan year is equal to the solar year. We hope you will join us for our own Losar celebrations at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre – details below. Yours in the dharma UPCOMING COURSES & EVENTS LOSAR CELEBRATIONS Sunday 23 February, 10am The Sixteen Arhat Puja / 12pm Traditional Tibetan Lunch Tibetans consider Losar to be an auspicious time of year to renew one’s life. This year is the Year of the Iron Mouse of 2147 according to the Tibetan lunar calendar. Losar related rituals fall into two different parts. On the 29th day of the 12th month, Buddhists, like all Tibetans, say goodbye to the old year and let go of all its negative or bad aspects. Part of this involves cleaning one’s home or room (meditation space included) from top to bottom, including any stairs outside. Tibetans all over the world will celebrate by making a special Tibetan festive noodle soup (gu-thuk) to be enjoyed later that night. The 30th day is a busy day spent cooking and preparing for the New Year, as the next day, the Losar or “New Year” is welcomed with wholesome prayers and by inviting all good, auspicious things into our homes and our lives. As with all auspicious celebrations Tibetans begin by paying homage and making offerings to the Triple Gem. Please join us at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre to help celebrate together on Sunday 23 February, with The Sixteen Arhat Puja 10am and a Traditional Tibetan lunch at 12pm. In keeping with tradition if you have an hour or two to spare on Saturday 22 February between 10am and 3pm, there will be a clean up of the centre in preparation for the Losar celebration on the Sunday; hope to see you then too. Bookings for lunch are essential – email [email protected] by Thursday 20 February. THURSDAY EVENING MEDITATION COURSE 19 March to 30 April, 6:30 – 8pm Suitable for those new to Buddhism, led by an experienced practitioner, Tony Agnew. Learn the fundamentals of meditation – how to sit correctly, where to place your mind and the benefits of meditation. Read More “TRAIN THE TRAINER” MEDITATION WORKSHOP Saturday and Sunday 4-5 April, 9am – 5pm with Khenpo la If you are interested in facilitating a Shamatha Meditation Course, those who complete this weekend workshop will then be eligible to run a 7 week (one day a week) Shamatha Meditation Course from anywhere under the name of Drogmi Buddhist Institute. Open to everyone, the only pre-requisite is that you must be in the dharma for over three years. Read More SHAMATHA AND MINDFULNESS RETREAT 10-12 April 2020 (Easter Long Weekend) A wonderful opportunity to learn and practice these methods of meditation, that have been tried and proven through the centuries to really help relax and focus our concentration, leading to improved mental health. The retreat is lead by Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe, one of the leading meditation instructors in Australia. Read More 4TH ULURU BUDDHIST RETREAT 2020 Monday 18 to Sunday 24 May Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe will lead a retreat at Uluru, with daily visits to Uluru and Kata Tjuta. This retreat will focus on the meditations of Compassion, Calm Abiding and Vajrasattva. Uluru is one of the most sacred places in Australia, at our countries heart and centre. Aboriginal Australians have always known this, now other Australians are discovering this location’s great significance and beauty. Many great Buddhist masters have visited central Australia. Now this is an extremely rare and special opportunity for you to travel to such a place with such a teacher as Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe to receive teachings and practice meditation. Read More tibetan language course Sundays 1-29 March, 11:30am – 1pm This will be the third language course led by Karma Khedup at Kamalashila. This popular course is suitable for beginners in Tibetan language and for those wishing to refresh. Read More NEWS FROM DROGMI BUDDHIST INSTITUTE Australian Fires 2019-2020 – Kamalashila Kamalashila was miraculously spared from the traumatising monster fire that brewed on the west side of Mt Gulaga overlooking our entire Centre property. Due to the most recent heavenly and heavy rainfall, it has now been declared “put out”!!! Read More Australian Fires 2019-2020 – Rain Rain glorious rain!!! Much has fallen on the far South Coast including at Kamalashila. It seems like only a blink ago that we evacuated due to fires. We hope there is enough water for all the people, animals and crops and that everyone stays safe on the roads and in their communities. Read More Australian Fires 2019-2020 – Quaama Drogmi Buddhist Institute sangha offered an evening meal at Quaama for the fourth week, a beautiful community 20 minutes’ drive south of Tilba that was devastatingly affected by fires at New Year. There are signs of great recovery in the community, yet challenging times ahead as many are still living in tents and vans. Read More Australian Fires 2019-2020 – Animal Australia The centre recently during the bushfire aftermath partnered with local wildlife community grassroots group Animal Australia to keep up food and water for wildlife living and those escaping fires and taking refuge at the Centre. Read More Australian Fires 2019-2020 – Compassion meditation Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre, its buildings, wildlife and gardens remained safe during the bushfires. We are grateful for all the prayers and good wishes from our local community and abroad. On Sunday 12 January we gathered for a special compassion meditation, including reciting healing mantras and prayers. People came from as far away as Canberra. The group focused on all those sentient beings who have lost so much. Read More PERSONAL RETREAT HUTS Photo credit: Karma la Kamalashila has available three different type of retreat huts for hire to carry out your own personal meditation retreat. They are available for hire with daily, weekly and monthly rates. Feel free to enquire at [email protected] . RECENT EVENTS 11th Pilgrimage to Buddhist Holy Sites 2019-2020 We dedicate this 11th pilgrimage to Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe, our teacher, in commemoration of the four major holy sites we visited, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar and Lumbini, and the minor sites of Vulture Peak, Shravasti and the holy places in Kathmandu. The pilgrimage went from 28 December 2019 to 18 January 2020. Read More FROM OUR MASTERS “Bodhicitta is an extremely powerful element in one’s practice. Its importance cannot be overemphasised. In the teachings of Lord Buddha we find reference to the fact that if the merit and virtue from a single instance of bodhicitta could be made visible, the whole of space could not contain such merit. So this element of one’s bodhicitta, one’s altruistic concern is an extremely important, powerful and effective element in aiding one’s whole spiritual path. “This element of bodhicitta is effective in a number of ways. It is an extremely powerful force to counteract the negative tendencies and obscurations that have been reinforced since time without beginning, that are intrinsically part of one. It is also an incredibly effective means of developing one’s awareness and merit. It is also a means to bring all of one’s activities regardless of whether they are formally spiritual or worldly activities to the spiritual path because if one engages in any activity through bodhicitta that activity becomes in and on itself a spiritual activity in some sense.” Kalu Rinpoche (from Padmamalla Instagram) Find out more by visiting our website. Home Courses & events Venue hire Support us Contact Home Courses & events Venue hire Support us Contact We only use this list for The Wisdom Age newsletter. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list below. To unsubscribe from general mailings from Drogmi Buddhist Institute, please email [email protected]. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

The Wisdom Age

Newsletter of Drogmi Buddhist Institute

A Tibetan Buddhist Centre in the Sakya Tradition

Issue 51 February 2020

Dear Dharma friends,
Wishing you a very Happy Losar – 2147 Tibetan Year of the Iron Mouse – 24 February 2020
Losar is a festival in Tibetan Buddhism. This year, the Tibetan Losar (New Year) Festival falls on Monday, 24 February 2020. The Tibetan calendar (lo-tho) is a lunisolar calendar, meaning that the Tibetan year is composed of either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years so that an average Tibetan year is equal to the solar year.
We hope you will join us for our own Losar celebrations at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre – details below.
Yours in the dharma

UPCOMING COURSES & EVENTS

LOSAR CELEBRATIONS

Sunday 23 February, 10am The Sixteen Arhat Puja / 12pm Traditional Tibetan Lunch
Tibetans consider Losar to be an auspicious time of year to renew one’s life. This year is the Year of the Iron Mouse of 2147 according to the Tibetan lunar calendar. Losar related rituals fall into two different parts. On the 29th day of the 12th month, Buddhists, like all Tibetans, say goodbye to the old year and let go of all its negative or bad aspects. Part of this involves cleaning one’s home or room (meditation space included) from top to bottom, including any stairs outside.

Tibetans all over the world will celebrate by making a special Tibetan festive noodle soup (gu-thuk) to be enjoyed later that night. The 30th day is a busy day spent cooking and preparing for the New Year, as the next day, the Losar or “New Year” is welcomed with wholesome prayers and by inviting all good, auspicious things into our homes and our lives. As with all auspicious celebrations Tibetans begin by paying homage and making offerings to the Triple Gem.

Please join us at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre to help celebrate together on Sunday 23 February, with The Sixteen Arhat Puja 10am and a Traditional Tibetan lunch at 12pm.

In keeping with tradition if you have an hour or two to spare on Saturday 22 February between 10am and 3pm, there will be a clean up of the centre in preparation for the Losar celebration on the Sunday; hope to see you then too.

Bookings for lunch are essential – email [email protected] by Thursday 20 February.

THURSDAY EVENING MEDITATION COURSE

19 March to 30 April, 6:30 – 8pm
Suitable for those new to Buddhism, led by an experienced practitioner, Tony Agnew. Learn the fundamentals of meditation – how to sit correctly, where to place your mind and the benefits of meditation.

“TRAIN THE TRAINER” MEDITATION WORKSHOP

Saturday and Sunday 4-5 April, 9am – 5pm with Khenpo la
If you are interested in facilitating a Shamatha Meditation Course, those who complete this weekend workshop will then be eligible to run a 7 week (one day a week) Shamatha Meditation Course from anywhere under the name of Drogmi Buddhist Institute.

Open to everyone, the only pre-requisite is that you must be in the dharma for over three years.

SHAMATHA AND MINDFULNESS RETREAT

10-12 April 2020 (Easter Long Weekend)
A wonderful opportunity to learn and practice these methods of meditation, that have been tried and proven through the centuries to really help relax and focus our concentration, leading to improved mental health.

The retreat is lead by Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe, one of the leading meditation instructors in Australia.

4TH ULURU BUDDHIST RETREAT 2020

Monday 18 to Sunday 24 May
Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe will lead a retreat at Uluru, with daily visits to Uluru and Kata Tjuta. This retreat will focus on the meditations of Compassion, Calm Abiding and Vajrasattva.
Uluru is one of the most sacred places in Australia, at our countries heart and centre. Aboriginal Australians have always known this, now other Australians are discovering this location’s great significance and beauty. Many great Buddhist masters have visited central Australia. Now this is an extremely rare and special opportunity for you to travel to such a place with such a teacher as Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe to receive teachings and practice meditation.

tibetan language course

Sundays 1-29 March, 11:30am – 1pm
This will be the third language course led by Karma Khedup at Kamalashila. This popular course is suitable for beginners in Tibetan language and for those wishing to refresh.

NEWS FROM DROGMI BUDDHIST INSTITUTE

Australian Fires 2019-2020 – Kamalashila

Kamalashila was miraculously spared from the traumatising monster fire that brewed on the west side of Mt Gulaga overlooking our entire Centre property. Due to the most recent heavenly and heavy rainfall, it has now been declared “put out”!!!

Australian Fires 2019-2020 – Rain

Rain glorious rain!!! Much has fallen on the far South Coast including at Kamalashila. It seems like only a blink ago that we evacuated due to fires. We hope there is enough water for all the people, animals and crops and that everyone stays safe on the roads and in their communities.

Australian Fires 2019-2020 – Quaama

Drogmi Buddhist Institute sangha offered an evening meal at Quaama for the fourth week, a beautiful community 20 minutes’ drive south of Tilba that was devastatingly affected by fires at New Year. There are signs of great recovery in the community, yet challenging times ahead as many are still living in tents and vans.

Australian Fires 2019-2020 – Animal Australia

The centre recently during the bushfire aftermath partnered with local wildlife community grassroots group Animal Australia to keep up food and water for wildlife living and those escaping fires and taking refuge at the Centre.

Australian Fires 2019-2020 – Compassion meditation

Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre, its buildings, wildlife and gardens remained safe during the bushfires. We are grateful for all the prayers and good wishes from our local community and abroad. On Sunday 12 January we gathered for a special compassion meditation, including reciting healing mantras and prayers. People came from as far away as Canberra. The group focused on all those sentient beings who have lost so much.

PERSONAL RETREAT HUTS

Photo credit: Karma la

Kamalashila has available three different type of retreat huts for hire to carry out your own personal meditation retreat. They are available for hire with daily, weekly and monthly rates. Feel free to enquire at [email protected].

RECENT EVENTS

11th Pilgrimage to Buddhist Holy Sites 2019-2020

We dedicate this 11th pilgrimage to Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe, our teacher, in commemoration of the four major holy sites we visited, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar and Lumbini, and the minor sites of Vulture Peak, Shravasti and the holy places in Kathmandu. The pilgrimage went from 28 December 2019 to 18 January 2020.

FROM OUR MASTERS

“Bodhicitta is an extremely powerful element in one’s practice. Its importance cannot be overemphasised. In the teachings of Lord Buddha we find reference to the fact that if the merit and virtue from a single instance of bodhicitta could be made visible, the whole of space could not contain such merit. So this element of one’s bodhicitta, one’s altruistic concern is an extremely important, powerful and effective element in aiding one’s whole spiritual path.

“This element of bodhicitta is effective in a number of ways. It is an extremely powerful force to counteract the negative tendencies and obscurations that have been reinforced since time without beginning, that are intrinsically part of one. It is also an incredibly effective means of developing one’s awareness and merit. It is also a means to bring all of one’s activities regardless of whether they are formally spiritual or worldly activities to the spiritual path because if one engages in any activity through bodhicitta that activity becomes in and on itself a spiritual activity in some sense.”

Kalu Rinpoche (from Padmamalla Instagram)

Find out more by visiting our website.

We only use this list for The Wisdom Age newsletter. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list below. To unsubscribe from general mailings from Drogmi Buddhist Institute, please email [email protected].