Meditate in Melbourne
“It
is my deep wish that this centre will be of great benefit to many thousands of people
for years and years into the future.”
-Venerable Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, Spiritual Leader and Founder of the
Tibetan Buddhist Society
The main aim of the Tibetan Buddhist Society is to make the methods taught by
Tibetan Buddhism available to people living in the West and benefit the
community by encouraging the practice of meditation.
The renowned Tibetan Buddhist master and scholar, Venerable Geshe Acharya Thubten
Loden, now 85, founded the Tibetan Buddhist Society in Australia in 1979. A
charitable, non-profit organisation, the Society has five centres in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and
Brisbane.
The Peaceful Land of Joy Meditation Centre in Melbourne exists to:
- Provide instruction on Buddhist psychology and meditation for relaxation, clarity and a happier,
more meaningful life.
- Enrich the community by cultivating appreciation of diversity, compassion, ethics, inspiration and
positive energy.
- Enable visitors to experience the peace and tranquility of a Buddhist temple and gardens.
- Maintain an international centre of learning embracing the philosophy and values of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, and connecting our community with the true
legacy of Tibet.
Geshe Loden (Geshe-la) first came to Australia in 1976 and has since presented
meditation and lecture courses to thousands of students, including subjects
never previously taught in Australia.
Under Geshe-la’s guidance and energetic example, the Society’s students and residents
have worked to make the Peaceful Land of Joy a beautiful haven, with 2000 rose
bushes in 400 varieties, 2500 trees, flowering courtyards and lake and bird
life.
Activities at the centre in Melbourne include:
- Five classes and a discussion group each week.
- Retreats for concentrated periods of meditation and study.
- Book publishing through Tushita Publications, established by Geshe Loden to provide international
access to classic Buddhist texts and teachings in English.
- The annual Tibetan New Year Festival in February/March and Buddhist Spring Festival in November.
- Rose Garden Open Weekend in Spring and Autumn each year.
- Community fundraising to help alleviate suffering caused by natural disasters or personal tragedy.
Traditional Tibetan temple
An important stage in Geshe Loden’s vision for the Society was realised in 2000
with the construction of a magnificent traditional Tibetan temple, the first in
the Southern hemisphere.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed the temple in 2002, describing it as a place
for continuing study and practice of the rich Buddhist philosophy, prayers and meditations.
With its 18-foot tall golden Shakyamuni Buddha statue, hand sculpted decorations,
paintings and auspicious symbols, the traditional Tibetan temple is a Melbourne landmark
and the main venue for the Society’s teaching programme.
Tours are conducted throughout the Tibetan New Year Festival, Buddhist Spring
Festival and Rose Garden Open Weekends.
The temple is open from 3-4pm on Sundays and other times by appointment.
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