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
Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life
with Geshe Lobsang Dorjee
3, 10, 17 & 24 June at 8pm
Geshe Lobsang Dorjee will continue his teachings on Chapter 6: Patience, from Shantideva’s text, Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life.
Venerable Geshe Lobsang will teach on Shantideva’s text The Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life.
Dharma Club for Children
One Sunday a Month
Sunday 14 June, 10.15am
Sunday 15 March; 19 April; 17 May; 14 June.
The Dharma Club offers Buddhist teachings for children aged between 4 and 15, understanding of how to be happy through listening to stories, learning meditation, acting in plays and joining discussions.
The Healing Group
With Kathi Melnic, William Liew and Kerry Whitlock
Held fortnightly on Thursdays, from 11am to 12.30pm
11 & 25 June at 11am
Healing has a great deal to do with the mind. In each session this year the Healing Group invites us to acknowledge what is currently undermining our health and well-being, including the challenges of disturbing emotions, and while benefitting from the mutual support and shared experience of the group, examine ways to create the conditions to restore balance.
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
Sun, 28 Jun, 9am - 5pm | Tara Institute
One Day Course
June One Day Course with Geshe Lobsang: Compassion and Wisdom of Emptiness
Compassion allows our mind to expand and embrace others, however just compassion alone is not enough, compassion coupled with wisdom of emptiness will enhance our compassion, and this will make our interaction with others more beneficial and effective, hence help our practice of compassion be meaningful.
Meditating on Emptiness helps us to mitigate a lot of the emotions which arises from our own conceptual thinking, and bring our mind to virtue or at least neutral state.
As Lama Zopa Rinpoche explains: ‘If you don’t meditate on emptiness, it’s a great loss since this meditation is the most precious, most important thing in life, the solution to all problems. Also, by actualizing the wisdom realizing emptiness, you can help others; you can free all other sentient beings from all sufferings and all problems. This opportunity to free all others from suffering and lead them to ultimate happiness comes from whatever understanding you have of emptiness in your day-to-day life”
- from meditating on The Essence of Wisdom, which is a condensed teaching on emptiness.
Venerable Geshe Lobsang Dorje will be giving a commentary on this topic. It is great opportunity to learn how using wisdom of emptiness can help us to manage our own emotions when going about in our daily activities
Participants are also encouraged to bring a shawl, water bottle and note book. Seating in chairs or cushions on the floor are provided
Sun, 5 Jul, 10am - 12pm | Tara Institute
Puja
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 91st Birthday
Each year, the world celebrates His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday, as did Tara Institute. On the 5th July, Tara Institute will celebrate with Guru Puja prayers and sincerely pray to His Holiness to live for a very long time and to continue bringing his universal message of compassion to the world.
To know more about about His Holiness click https://www.dalailama.com/the-dalai-lama/biography-and-daily-life/brief-biography
Offerings such as flowers, incense, lights or monetary offerings are welcome and very much appreciated. You are welcome to make a monetary offerings on the ticket selection page if you wish using the DONATE button.
For enquiries or to find out how you can support this auspicious event, please contact the office on 9896 8900, or email Kim (spc@tarainstitute.org.au).
All are welcome to attend.
If you would like to participate in karma yoga for set up and clean up please email Kim (spc@tarainstitute.org.au), our events/programs are all possible due to the kindness and support of volunteers - any assistance is greatly appreciated.
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Sunday 12 July, 2pm | Tara Institute
Afternoon Tea
Geshe Doga's 91st Birthday
You are warmly invited to a special afternoon tea in honour of Geshe Doga’s 91st birthday.
As a community, we gather to celebrate his long life, his immeasurable kindness, and the wisdom he continues to share with us.
This joyful occasion will also include the launch of Geshe‑la’s new book — a precious opportunity to rejoice in his teachings and the benefit they bring to many and all.
Thur, 2, 9, 16, 23 12.30pm - 3pm | Tara Institute
Workshop with Ven. Lobsang Konchok
Tibetan Art Drawing
4 Week Program (July)
Bloom into creativity this winter with Venerable Lobsang Konchok (Traditional Thangka Painter & Tibetan Artist)
A gentle, focused journey into the elegance of Tibetan floral design.
Explore the beauty, color, and delicate linework of Tibetan flower art.
Immerse yourself in the gentle beauty and refined craftsmanship of Tibetan floral art in this four‑week drawing course led by Venerable Lobsang Khonchuk, a master artist trained in the traditional lineage of thangka painting.
Across June, you’ll explore the elegant lines, flowing forms, and symbolic motifs that shape Tibetan lotus flowers, blossoms, and decorative floral patterns seen throughout sacred artworks.
Each week builds your skills step by step, beginning with foundational shapes and proportions before moving into more detailed petals, shading techniques, and traditional Tibetan stylisation. Venerable Lobsang Khonchuk will offer personalised guidance as you learn to balance precision with creative expression, developing confidence in your own artistic rhythm.
Throughout the course, you’ll discover how Tibetan artists use flowers to convey beauty, harmony, and the natural unfolding of the mind. You’ll practise traditional drawing methods, experiment with colour and form, and gradually create your own refined floral compositions.
This course is perfect for complete beginners, returning students, and experienced artists wanting to deepen their understanding of Tibetan artistic traditions. All materials are provided, and each participant will finish the course with a collection of completed drawings and a deeper appreciation for the grace and meaning behind Tibetan floral design.
A calm, creative journey into the elegance, color, and storytelling of Tibetan art.
Across four Thursday afternoons in June, you will be guided through the traditional techniques used to draw Tibetan lotus flowers, blossoms, and floral motifs found throughout thangka painting. Learn step‑by‑step methods, practice sacred proportions, and develop confidence in your own creative flow.
By the end of the 4 weeks you will take home your very own flower ink print on a beautiful Tibetan scroll.
All materials provided.
Tea/coffee and afternoon tea provided.
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Build The Spaces Where
Wisdom Grows
We’re working to improve and expand our facilities so we can continue offering programs that benefit our whole community.
Your generosity supports a place where children and adults can explore kindness, resilience, and inner wellbeing.
Together, we’re building something meaningful.
Donations above $2
are tax deductible
Friday evenings, 7pm| Tara Institute
Golden Light Sutra Recitations
Join us on Fridays evenings to recite this powerful sutra for world
peace and the long life of our gurus and teachers. To find out more,
email spc@tarainstitute.org.au
You can also join the group
commitment to ongoing daily sutra recitation at home: email the
coordinator at gls@tarainstitute.org.au
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 and 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.
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.