Drogmi Buddhist Institute

Our Teacher

Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe is one of the most knowledgeable and respected teachers of the practice and philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism in Australia.

Our home

Drogmi Buddhist Institute's home base is the Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre at the foot of Mount Gulaga, near Tilba on the far south coast of New South Wales, Australia.

News

Sunday meditation at Tilba

Everyone is welcome to our Sunday practice.

Every Sunday
8.30-9.30am
Green Tara Puja in the Tara Gompa

10-11am
Shamatha or "Calm Abiding" Practice led by Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe. Learn and practice the fundamentals of meditation by an accomplished meditation master. Stay for a cuppa and chat afterwards.

Every second and fourth Sunday of the month
11-11.30am
Medicine Buddha Practice led by Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe. Medicine Buddha is effective in healing physical and mental sickness, for oneself and others. You do not require any pre-requisite when attending this practice in the group setting.

DROGMI SHEDRA

Drogmi Shedra - Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe is conducing this three year study program at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Tilba Tilba, New South Wales, Australia. The focus of this advanced course is the in-person intensive study residentials with a different text studied each year.
Bookings for Semester 2 are detailed below.
You need to have completed Semester 1 to book for Semester 2.
The Drogmi Shedra commenced in May 2026 and concludes in September 2028. Khenpo la has expressed his wish to turn the wheel of Dharma as often as possible to help sentient beings and believes this new advanced course will strengthen our practice and Sangha. The structure of the course is modelled on the previous three year ‘The Compete Path Course’ which ran from 2017 to 2019..

2026 dates
The intensive study residential dates for Semester 2 are 4 to 13 September 2026.

The next three-year shedra cycle will start in 2029.

In-person attendance at both residential retreats is strongly encouraged, however, overseas students or interstate students unable to travel can participate online via Zoom

Click here for more information

family retreat 19 - 20 september

Starts 11am on 19 September and Finishes 1pm on 20 September
with Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe
This retreat offers families the opportunity to spend quality time together, strengthening and deepening relationships and opening our hearts to each other.
In this retreat Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe will lead us on short meditation sessions and Q&A for parents, interspersed with fun family activities for all ages led by Zara Kaye, a local primary school teacher.
It is a great follow on from the Family Online Course.

Click here for more information

annual shamatha retreat 2 - 10 october
with khenpo ngawang dhamchoe

Shamatha Meditation translates as “tranquillity of the mind” or “calm - abiding”. It helps stabilise the mind by cultivating awareness of the object of meditation. The traditional practice of shamatha uses different kinds of supports or anchors for practice.

During this nine-day retreat Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe will give detailed teachings on Shamatha Meditation. This is a great opportunity to learn and practice these methods of meditation that have been tried and proven through the centuries to help relax and focus our concentration, leading to improved mental health.
Bookings now open.

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making friends with death: a creative workshop exploring death and dying
saturday 24 October

With Buddhist nun Venerable Rinchen.

When: Saturday 24 October 9.30 am-4.30 pm
Where: Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre, 9000 Princes Highway Tilba Tilba NSW
Cost: Workshop only: $80 for the day includes lunch and refreshments
Workshop & 1 night's Accommodation: $130 (for those travelling)

Venerable Rinchin has kindly agreed to return this year after presenting this very successful workshop last year.

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Mindfulness day
sunday 25 october

With Venerable Rinchen - following on from her Making Friends with Death workshop the previous day, Venerable Rinchen will present this workshop on Mindfulness.

When: Saturday 25 October 9.30 am-4.30 pm
Where: Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre, 9000 Princes Highway Tilba Tilba NSW
Cost: Workshop only: $80 for the day includes lunch and refreshments
Workshop & 1 night's Accommodation: $130 (for those travelling)

Join us for a day of contemplation and meditation on the 5 Aggregates: Form, Feeling, Perception, Volitional formations, Consciousness.

The Buddha said: "Now this, bhikkhus, is the noble truth of suffering: birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation from what is pleasing is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering; in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering." (SN 56.11)

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SHAMATHA - VIPASSANA (CALM & INSIGHT) RETREAT
12 - 15 NOVEMBER 2026

Developing Meditation from Wisdom
With Ayya Jitindriya and Ayya Jayasara

Shamatha and Vipassana (calm and insight) are the two main factors of meditation that allow the mind to see clearly into the nature of reality. Though they appear to be two different things they are closely linked, as it is due to the stillness of mind that the clarity of insight can emerge; and in turn, this clarity can deepen stillness. However, if our practice is to ripen in fruition, both factors must be supported by the wisdom of right-view — the first and most fundamental factor of the Buddha’s path of Awakening — which orients the mind toward understanding and letting go of suffering.
In this 4 day meditation retreat we will explore just how these factors of the path support each other, in theory and in practice, and learn how, as these qualities mature together, our meditation can go to deeper depths of seeing clearly and freeing the heart.
Bookings now open.

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News from our FAcebook page

News from The Wisdom Age

The Wisdom Age newsletter has more news from the Drogmi Buddhist Institute. You can read recent news and catch up on past issues.

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As well as providing support for Drogmi Buddhist Institute, becoming a friend gives you concessional rates for all teachings and retreats.
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