Khenpo Tenzin Norgay has kindly accepted an invitation from KPC Australia to conduct a retreat at the new Centre in Buninyong. Scheduled to run from 9^th to 19^th March 2012, there are flexible options to suit all.

This is a 10-day residential retreat with some accommodation available at the Centre and other accommodation available locally. For those with work or other commitments, it is possible to attend weekends only, when empowerments will be available or each evening when Khenpo will be teaching.

This retreat will focus on Ngöndro teachings and accumulation.  In the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, ” Ngöndro ” is considered “preliminary practice” or the preparation for more esoteric meditational practices that lead one to enlightenment.  Ngöndro practice consists of five accumulations - Refuge (prostrations), Bodhicitta (wish to benefit all beings), Vajrasattva (purification), Mandala (offering) and Guru Yoga (devotion).  Ngöndro practice is intended to purify the gross obscurations that prevent one from recognizing the enlightened nature of mind. For the excellent practitioner, this is accomplished through visualization and accumulation of 100,000 recitations of the mantra for each of these practices.

Suggested Donation

For those attending evening teachings there will be a suggested donation of $25, and weekend Empowerments $50.

Lodging

There is some accommodation available at the centre for those coming from Melbourne or Interstate.  Cost for those attending the whole retreat (includes retreat, teachings, accommodation and food) $200. There is also accommodation available in nearby Ballarat.

Registration

To register or for more information please email kpcaustralia@gmail.com
or call 0450 194 285 or 0418 585 532

About Khenpo

Khenpo Tenzin Norgay was born in Bhutan and trained at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, the prestigious Buddhist studies center in Mysore, India.  He completed the Shedra (similar to a doctorate) program in 1995 and joined the Institute staff, teaching there for three years.  In 1998 he was formally bestowed the title of Khenpo by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche and was assigned to teach at the Buddhist college at Palyul monastery in Tibet.  Because of his knowledge and fluent command of the English language, he has been teaching students in the west for many years.  With his warmth and sense of humor, Khenpo has touched the hearts of many western students

To publicise and gather local interest in our centre we are having an open day on the 5^th of February. Activities will include DVD teachings, Seven-Line Prayer accumulation, Torma making and Mudra workshops, Stupa circumambulations, gift shop, food and friendly conversation.

All who are in the area are welcome to visit. Activities will start from 10a.m.

For more information contact kpcaustralia@gmail.com

It could be said that 2011 was an auspicious year for KPC Australia, with seven of Jetsunma’s students attending the annual Palyul New York Retreat in July and August. His Holiness Karma Kuchen Rinpoche attended Guru Yoga practice every day and gave many empowerments, thus attracting busloads of Tibetans and Nepalese on weekends who contributed greatly through their robust cheerfulness, great appreciation for the kindness of His Holiness and the Lamas, and their colourful national dress.

Lungtog, Ani Wangmo and Ani Sherab travelled from Victoria, Christine Lennard and Sonja Petter from Alice Springs, Virginia Quinn from South Australia and Sherida Carrick from Brisbane. For most, this was an opportunity to renew old friendships and for all retreatants, a visit to the Maryland Temple was front and centre on their travel itinerary.  Christine, Sonya and Virginia did an excellent job of managing the Dharma Shop during retreat, and such was the karma of the group that all Aussies had the amazing experience of greeting their Precious Guru – Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo, when she arrived at retreat and even being on the receiving end of a hug! It doesn’t get any better than that!

Ani Wangmo drove through a deluge of hail stones, as a huge storm hit the centre, a roar of thunder took out the power. As the final preparations for Tsok were taking place, the storm subsided and a vivid rainbow appeared. This was Dakini Day in Australia at KPCs new retreat centre in Buninyong, Victoria.

We are all happy to have a place for group practice and to anchor activities in Australia. We envisage having weekly group Tsoks, monthly weekend retreats and Lama visits throughout the year.

A General Assembly for KPC Australia was held the day following Dakini Day with the following Board members elected; President-Lungtog; Secretary-Ani Sherab; Treasurer-Sarah McMullen, Board Member-Sherida Carrick. We hope that we can work well together so that Jetsunma’s teachings and the Palyul lineage can flourish in Australia.

We received this message from our members in Australia:

With Jetsunma’s blessings, six Australian retreatants attended a three-day Ngondro retreat in Canberra, Australia, in early November.  Ngondro is Preliminary Practice for Vajrayana Buddhists, the first stage of committed practice on the path to enlightenment.  Retreatants came from Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra.

We were fortunate in being able to have the retreat in Sakya Lama Choedak Rinpoche’s Centre on the outskirts of Canberra. Canberra is the capital of Australia and is surrounded by beautiful bush land–and lots of kangaroos! We had good weather and a full schedule from 7:00 in the morning until 9:30 at night, with breaks in between.

The retreat focused on the practice of Ngondro (Refuge and Bodhicitta) and the opening practices of the New York Palyul Retreat. We also listened extensively to Jetsunma’s teachings on Refuge and Bodhicitta.  We started and finished the retreat with a Tsog offering.  We were very grateful to have the blessings of the Lama for this retreat.

A KPC group Ngondro practice has not happened for many years in Australia and we hope this retreat is the beginning of new growth and beneficial change. Even a local kangaroo who was inspired to do at least one prostration!

Recently, following Ani Kunzang’s visit to Australia, Lungtog, Kunzang and Wangmo took the opportunity to circumnambulate a 13 foot (4 metre) high consecrated statue of Guru Rinpoche blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The statue is the first statue to be be built as part of the first stage of The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion being built in Bendigo, Victoria under the direction of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The statue of Guru Rinpoche, resplendantly covered in gold leaf, will no doubt remove obstacles of all kinds including obstacles to the completion of the Stupa. During our visit we prayed for the long life and good health of our kind root teacher and all sentient beings. As well as circumnambulating Guru Rinpoche we also practised Guru Yoga together at the base of Guru Rinpoche and during that time, for a moment, the rain and wind ceased. Here is a picture of Ani Kunzang gazing up at the statue of Guru Rinpoche. the statue is housed in temporary accommodation while the rest of the Stupa is being built.

Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC) Australia