Workshops & Events

Our meditation courses and retreats are an ideal way to get experience of meditation and inner peace. These courses examine a particular topic in greater depth than would be possible in a Drop-in class.

Our courses and retreats are open to everyone and are suitable for all levels of experience, including beginners. For more information about specific courses or retreats, select a course from the list below.

Vajrasattva Empowerment & Retreat with Gen Kelsang Dornying

Blessing Empowerment of Buddha Vajrasattva and Retreat | 6-9 March

Why is life hard? Why is it difficult to understand Buddhist teachings, or to find the time to practice?

According to Buddhism, it’s because we carry negative karma. This negative karma creates all our difficulties, discomfort, worry and unhappiness.

To gain the happy life we long for, we need to purify this negative karma. The best way to do this is to practice Vajrasattva purification, which starts with empowerment into the practice. An empowerment is a guided tantric meditation that takes us to the worlds of enlightened beings, harnesses wisdom and awakens the powerful spiritual potential we all have within us.

At this empowerment and retreat, you’ll draw close to a powerful friend and ally. With steady practice, over time, your experiences will become more positive, you’ll have a peaceful, pure mind, and eventually, you’ll realise your potential for permanent happiness.

Learn to Meditate

Half-Day Meditation Workshop | 13 March

Establishing a regular meditation practice can seem overwhelming at first. Do I need any special equipment? How long should I meditate for? What’s the goal exactly? What about those apps – are they any good? I need someone to guide me! Is it just sitting quietly meditating?

Get the answers to all these questions and more at our Learn to Meditate workshop. You’ll learn proven strategies for calming the mind, reducing stress, and finding peace wherever you are.

This beginner-friendly course is also a helpful refresher for more experienced students.

Silent Weekend Meditation Retreat with Gen Dornying

In-person only Meditation Retreat | 19-21 March

When our distracting thoughts subside and our mind becomes still, a deep happiness and contentment naturally arises from within. With this inner peace we free ourself from stress, anxiety, mental pain and even tiredness.

Immerse yourself in silent guided meditation in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges. Our short silent retreats are the perfect escape from busy daily life and the best way to rest and rejuvenate.

Your retreat guide is senior Buddhist Monk, Gen Kelsang Dornying, who will take you though simple instructions and meditations for enjoying real happiness. There’s also plenty of opportunity to simply enjoy the silence.

Mindfulness - Meditation Workshop with Gen Dornying

In-person and online Meditation Workshop | 27 March

Live from Darwin.

Core to Buddhist practice, mindfulness improves memory and helps us to feel clear and focused. It’s also how we transform our thoughts from negative to positive.

Join Buddhist monk Gen Kelsang Dornying for this one day workshop and learn how to experience this yourself.

Be guided through meditations that help you to find the peace and happiness we all seek, and enjoy the stillness that comes from a focused mind.

2021 Australian Dharma Celebration

Avalokiteshvara Empowerment & Teachings on the Mirror of Dharma with Additions | Gen Kelsang Rabten | Online Only | | 2-5 April

Gen Kelsang Rabten will grant the blessing empowerment of Buddha Avalokiteshvara, the embodiment of the compassion of all enlightened beings. The empowerment is a meditative journey in which we receive enlightened inspiration and plant the seeds of universal love and compassion in our heart.

The ceremony will be followed with teachings on “Essential Insights into the Avalokiteshvara Sadhana” from Venerable Geshe-la’s latest release, The Mirror of Dharma with Additions.

Essential Insights - Post Australian Dharma Celebration Retreat with Gen Dornying

In-person and online Meditation Retreat | 6-9 April

What is retreat? It is when we stop all forms of busyness and worldly activities and focus on spiritual practice. Short retreats give us the opportunity to gain heart-felt meditative experience and use this experience to solve daily problems. How often do you give yourself this special time?

An excellent time to engage in retreat is straight after receiving the powerful inspiration of the Australian Dharma Celebration. The blessings of the Buddha of Compassion are strong and the teachings fresh. The inner and outer conditions for a profound and moving retreat will all be assembled, so don’t miss the opportunity to experience the essential insights into the Avalokiteshvara Sadhana.

This retreat will be guided by the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Centre Australia, Gen Kelsang Dornying. Gen Dornying has been teaching Kadampa Buddhism in Australia for over 18 years. He is an inspiring and light-hearted teacher of modern Buddhism who makes Buddha’s teachings clear, accessible and applicable to modern life.