General Program

General Program at
Chenrezig Institute

Our General Program delivers teachings on key Buddhist topics, ranging from a relatively introductory, and sometimes quite secular, presentation of Buddhist thought and meditation, to more advanced presentations, including philosophy, psychology, and mind training. These are offered by our resident Tibetan teacher Geshe Tsultrim, members of our ordained Sangha, experienced lay students, and various visiting teachers.

They include:

GESHE TSULTRIM – FRIDAY MORNINGS AND REGULAR WEEKEND RETREATS

Teaching sometimes from a text, and sometimes simply from his heart to the needs of the audience, on each Friday morning, Geshela offers wisdom and loving-kindness to all in a beautiful way.

In 2024 he also commenced an exciting new series of weekend teaching retreats. The fourth weekend of every month from March will be Geshe retreat weekend.

The program office is always looking to respond to the evolving needs of the centre and the student group that is its heart and soul. To that end, we have made some changes to the scheduling for 2024. One of these changes is to program a retreat weekend with Geshe Tsultrim every month. This is an opportunity for Geshela to present topics in more depth and for students to access the material in something closer to a retreat environment.

Students will still be welcome to attend a single session (eg the Sunday morning session) if that is your routine. We are not looking to obstruct people’s access, but rather to provide more opportunity for more students to work with and change their minds, more often.

ALAN CARTER – THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT

Join Alan Carter, an FPMT Basic Program graduate and experienced teacher and retreat leader, for this online class that explores the various topics of the path to enlightenment (Lamrim) through study, contemplation (using reasoning and logic) and meditation as a basis to induce realisations.

PRAYERS AND PUJAS

The nuns, monks and students of Chenrezig Institute take part in regular prayers and pujas for the benefit of all beings. Most are monthly and are conducted in careful accordance with Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Everyone is welcome to attend and donations towards specific pujas are easily made through our website.

  • TARA PUJA is an energising practice that provides protection from fears and dangers and brings success to projects, as well as physical and emotional wellbeing.

  • MEDICINE BUDDHA PUJA is a powerful healing practice for physical and mental ailments and benefits those who are ill or have recently passed.

  • GURU PUJA celebrates the kindness of our teachers and the richness of the Buddhist path. This puja is considered to bring about general good fortune.

  • DZAMBHALA PUJA is considered to manifest spiritual and material abundance.

  • FIRE PUJAS are also celebrated on auspicious days - an opportunity for the community to come together to reflect on any harmful actions of body, speech and mind, and to purify them.

  • PROTECTOR PRAYERS are made daily to protect from harm and remove obstacles.