TARA INSTITUTE
Centre for Buddhist Study and Meditation
HIS HOLINESS DALAI LAMA
WELCOME TO TARA INSTITUTE
Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Centre in Brighton, Melbourne Australia
Welcome to everyone who aspires to gain happiness and inner peace, through the study,
meditation and practice of Mahayana Buddhism.
Our programmes suit beginners and more advanced students in the quest for a more meaningful life.
BUDDHIST TEACHINGS & PROGRAMMES
WEDNESDAYS ~ 8 pm
Chenrezig Meditation
with Jeremy Cohen
7, 14 January 2026
For the first two Wednesday evenings in January, Jeremy will lead a meditation on Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion.
Each of us possess the potential to be infinitely compassionate.
A powerful way to develop this
potential is to meditate on Chenrezig.
WEDNESDAYS ~ 8 pm
Green Tara Meditation
with Damien Busby
21 & 28 January 2026
Meditating on Green Tara will be the focus of the last two Wednesdays. Tara is known as the Liberator, the buddha who represents the skilful activities of all enlightened beings, and the Mother of all the buddhas, who awaken our potential for enlightenment and brings quick
results in whatever we want or need.
The Healing Group
With Kathi Melnic, William Liew, Kerry Whitlock
Held fortnightly on Thursdays, from 11am to 12.30pm
Healing Group recommences Thursday 5 February, 2026 11am
Sourcing both ancient and contemporary approaches to health and well-
being, the Healing Group incorporates guided meditations, explanatory
talks and discussions in each session.
School Program
Introduction to Meditation for Students
This session is available for students to experience an Introduction to Buddhism meditation class at Tara Institute, or at your school if that is your preference. The session can follow a secular presentation of mindfulness and meditation if that is more suitable.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday 22nd February 2026 10am - 2pm | Brighton East
2026 Annual Tara Puja
Geshe Doga warmly invites everyone to join him for the special Tara Puja where prayers will be offered for the long life, health, prosperity and happiness of Tara’s friends and families.
Tara is the female Buddha of enlightened activity. The Tara puja includes making
offerings and requests to help us overcome outer and inner obstacles in our lives, and
to achieve wisdom and compassion in our minds.
You are welcome to bring offerings of flowers, food and incense.
Everyone is most welcome to join us for lunch afterwards.
SAVE THE DATE
The registration link will be made available on or around 20 January 2026.
7th December 2025 ~ 10.30am - 3pm | Brighton East
2026 February- One Day course with Geshe Lobsang
One Day Course
Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism - Four Noble Truths
Why are we interested in a spiritual life and in particular the study of Buddhism?
After Buddha Shakyamuni became enlightened under the bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, he remained silent for forty-nine days, until Brahma and Indra constantly requested him to teach what he discovered, which he finally did.
The Four Noble Truths is the very first teaching of Buddha as he turns the First Wheel of Dharma which is the very foundation for the entire Buddhadharma. It provides a framework for understanding the nature of suffering and the path to liberation.
Venerable Geshe Lobsang Dorje will be giving a commentary on this topic. It is great opportunity for us to have a deeper understanding of what Buddhism is all about as we traverse our spiritual journey to become a happier person, leading meaningful life which we all aspire to.
SAVE THE DATE
The registration link will be made available on or around 20 January 2026.
Self-Practice Programme
White Tara Practice
At the completion of the 3000 recitations of the Golden Light Sutra in May 2025, the students at Tara Institute requested His Holiness the Dalai Lama to advise what practice to do for the long life and good health of both His Holiness the Dalai Lama
and Venerable Geshe Doga.
Rejoice, students of Geshe Doga can now practice the following:
-
White Tara Long Life Sadhana at home or group practice days-
o The White Tara Sadhana group practice dates will be announced regularly throughout 2025 and will continue to be shared each year through 2028
-
White Tara Mantra –
o Goal is 10 million mantras by July 2028
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteer Book & Gift Shop Manager
Love books, beautiful gifts, and community spirit? Tara Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Brighton and part of the FPMT network, is looking for a warm and organised volunteer to manage our not-for-profit shop. This flexible role is perfect for someone passionate about service and meaningful impact.
Click the Job Description for more information.To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in working with Tara Institute and the FPMT to bookshop@tarainstitute.org.au. For all inquiries, please use the same email.
CENTRE UPDATES
Essential teachings by Geshe Doga
Two new books available at the TI Bookshop
If you’d like to arrange a house blessing, please reach out with your details
House Blessing Ceremony
We warmly invite you to experience a traditional house blessing, a sacred and meaningful ritual led by 2–3 Geshes from Tara institute (Tibetan Buddhist monks).
This ceremony brings spiritual clarity, harmony, and peace into your home — helping to remove obstacles and support the well-being of all who live there, both physically and mentally.
Tibetan Community Prayers
for the Tibet Earthquake
Organised by Geshe Lobsang on behalf of the Tibetan Community of Victoria and Tara Institute, a prayer session was held at Tara Institute on Sunday 12 January for over 200 Tibetans from our local community. This was for the recent earthquake that struck Eastern Tibet, particularly in the Tringri region, which has claimed the lives of at least 126 Tibetans, with 337 more injured so far. This devastating event brought immense sorrow to the Tibetan community.
The prayer session honored the memory of our Tibetan brothers and sisters who lost their lives and to send collective prayers for the speedy recovery of those who are injured.
Shopping at the
TI Bookshop
The TI Bookshop stocks a range books on Buddhism, from introductory to advanced, including children’s books and books by the Dalai Lama, Lama Yeshe, Lama Zopa, Geshe Doga, and our Monday night teachers. It also stocks gift items like incense, malas, singing bowls, cushions, Tibetan rugs and more. TI members enjoy a 10% discount on all purchases. End-of-year specials include Meditation for Modern Minds, Vol 3, an introduction to meditation and Buddhism by our Monday night teachers.
NOTE: Thank-you to all our wonderful hardworking bookshop volunteers!
Café Bliss: Great Coffee, Delicious Food on TI’s Doorstep
Next door to TI, Café Bliss is a great spot for a coffee, chai latte, or vegetarian meal or snack with friends. It’s open for eat-in (or take-away) breakfast, brunch, lunch and snacks. The Bliss menu is available for delivery through Uber Eats or online take-away. Bliss also offers a dinner service prior to teachings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30pm to 8:00pm, served in the TI dining room – available to all, no booking required.
For more information, visit.
Tara Institute is now a donation partner in the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme!
You can now exchange eligible drink containers for 10 cents.
Together we can make a positive difference to our community and our environment.
All eligible drink containers are worth a 10 cent refund that you can either keep, or donate to a community donation partner. If you would like to donate the refund to Tara Institute, you can use this barcode or Donation Partner ID at the refund point when you deposit your containers.
To find your nearest donation point, go to https://www.returnit.com.au/vic/recycling-locations-return-it-vic/
MEMBERSHIP & SUPPORT
This enables the Tara Institute community to support the dharma and allow us all to receive precious teachings from Venerable Geshe Doga and Geshe Lobsang
Lama Zopa said: My point here is for you to understand what we are doing and what you are helping with. This is so that you can rejoice. It really is unbelievable, incredible, what you are helping with, and this creates so much benefit for the world and for sentient beings. This actually creates the cause to liberate so many beings. This is an incredible opportunity for you to rejoice, and if you rejoice and then dedicate the merits, it is amazing.
Tara Institute is a Buddhist centre located in Melbourne, Australia. Tara Institute is a non-profit incorporated association that is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a group of over 150 meditation centres worldwide.