Courses and events

Drogmi Buddhist Institute offers courses and events at Tilba and elsewhere. We also have advanced courses for experienced practitioners. 

​​For quick reference there is a list of the full 2026 program at the bottom of the page.

Support to attend Drogmi Buddhist Institute events

It is our sincere wish that the Buddha's teachings are available to all regardless of income. The Centre can offer support to those in need. So, if you wish to attend a course or event and do not have the income to allow that, please email the Spiritual Program Coordinator at [email protected].
Find out more:
Courses and events at Tilba
Online courses
Full 2026 program
Advanced courses
External courses
Sponsor a meal or tea at retreats
Cancellation of bookings

Courses and events at Tilba 

Courses held at the Kamalashia Tibetan Buddhist Centre, 9000 Princes Highway, Tilba NSW
​

Sunday Meditation

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

Every Sunday, 10-11 am
​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
11-11.30 am
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. 
​
By donation
Go to this page and scroll down to the Donations section.

Six dome White Tara practice

Six Dome White Tara Practice is held the first Sunday of each month at 12 noon to 1 pm.  

The practice is also available on Zoom. 

Open to everyone who has received the Six Dome White Tara empowerment from a qualified teacher. 

​For bookings, email [email protected].

By donation
Go to this page, and scroll down to the Donations section.

family retreat 19 - 20 September

​Starts 11 am on 19 September and Finishes 2 pm 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 and interactive 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. 
Cost includes accommodation, meals and program.
$70 per adult / $40 per child onsite dorms
$60 per adult / $30 per child camping/own tent/own van
$50 per adult / $25 per child off site
Members and Friends of Drogmi receive a 15 per cent discount. Concession Card Holders get a 20 per cent discount.
For Members and Friends, select the option you want then go to the checkout. Choose the 'coupon' option. Enter the discount code you have been given. Enter the discount code and click on ‘Apply’.

​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.
​
Where: Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre - 9000 Princes Hwy Tilba
When: 7 pm Friday - 2 October to 1 pm Saturday - 10 October 2025
Cost: On-site: $990 (Includes all meals, teachings and accommodation).
On-site camping or own van: $980 (Includes teachings, all meals
and centre facilities).
Off-site: $900 (Includes teachings and all meals).
Daily rates: $120 (please advise what days you will attend)
Members and Friends of Drogmi receive a 15 per cent discount. Concession Card Holders get a 20 per cent discount

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 Rinchen has kindly agreed to return this year after presenting this very successful workshop last year. In this workshop Venerable Rinchen will help us explore our fears around death and dying by opening up the conversations we need to have about it, openly and honestly.  
The day will include exploring  our own death and death in general. We will look at everything from the practical to the spiritual. This will involve looking into how we can bravely face our own mortality
 and use it as a way to live more fully and meaningfully. We are just temporary visitors here on this planet, how then to make it a more meaningful stay, so that when we die we can do so without regret.
The day will include, discussion, meditation and some creative exercises.
About the facilitator:
Venerable Rinchen is a fully ordained nun and the founder and resident nun at Khacho Yulo Ling Buddhist Centre Inc in Cairns.  Venerable Rinchen was ordained by the late HE Chogye Trichen Rinpoche in Nepal in 2001, then took full ordination in 2003 in the Vietnamese tradition at the Shakyamuni Buddhist Centre in Canberra.  Her passion is for working with death and dying and she has been a volunteer with the Palliative Care team for over 20 years.  Venerable Rinchen runs regular meditation workshops and retreats and coordinates the Buddhist program that runs at the Cairns Buddhist Centre.

NB Please bring a notebook, tissues and your sense of humour, they will be needed on this journey towards facing our own mortality.
​

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)

During the day we will use a combination of shamatha practice and insight practice to explore the conditioning factors of the 5 aggregates in relation to our understanding of self and suffering.  The day will be a combination of teaching, guided meditations and silent exploration of our direct experience of these heaps of clinging, how they arise and pass away.

shamatha - vipassana (calm & insight) retreat
12 - 15 november 2026
​with ayyas jitindriya and jayasara

​Developing Meditation from Wisdom 
​
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 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.
This retreat spans over 4 days, running from 4pm on the afternoon of Thursday 12th through to lunchtime on Sunday 15th. It will engage the practice of noble silence for the most part, and include periods of group Q&A with the teachers. Attendance for the whole retreat is a requirement.

​Where: Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre ~
9000 Princes Highway, Tilba NSW
When: Thursday 12 November 4 pm to Sunday 15 November 1 pm 2026
Cost:
On-site: $450 (Includes all meals, teachings and accommodation).
On-site camping/or own van: $420 (Includes teachings, all meals
and centre facilities).
Off-site: $390 (Includes teachings & all meals).

​Members and Friends of Drogmi receive a 15 per cent discount. Concession Card Holders get a 20 per cent discount.
​
All proceeds from this retreat go to support Kamalashila Buddhist Centre, our host.

Accommodations offered onsite at Kamalashila, while comfortable, can be rustic, either in caravans or dorm-style rooms. Being off-grid, the amenities are outdoor compost toilets & outdoor private hot showers. This is reflected in the very reasonable cost for the onsite accommodation option on retreats.
If you require something more for your retreat accommodation, there are plenty of holiday rentals in the area: Tilba, Wallaga Lake, & Mystery Bay are all within a 10 min drive from the centre; Bermagui & Narooma are about 15 mins away, so there are many options to choose from online.

Full DBI program 2026

Come and join us for these enriching events that cater to both beginners and experienced practitioners. These retreats and gatherings are designed to provide a space for deep reflection, meditation, and community connection. Whether you are seeking spiritual growth, peace of mind, or a supportive community, these events offer something for everyone.
12 Feb - 12 Mar
Thursday nights for 5 weeks. Online Family Meditation Course led by Zara (7-7:30pm). Open to families with young children. 

18 Feb
Losar Celebrations

20 - 22 Feb
Vajrayogini Retreat Pre-requisite Vajrayogini Blessing and 7 Day Teachings on the sadhana.

28 Feb
Kamalashila Open Day

3 - 31 Mar
Introduction to Meditation Course - Tuesdays for 5 weeks
10 - 11.30am

6 Mar
Sydney Public Talk - Newtown. 6.30pm-7.30pm

7 - 8 Mar
​Sydney Teaching Program - Croydon

20 - 22 Mar
Karma Yoga Group Retreat (Starts: Fri at 8am, Finishes: Sun at 3pm). Open to all

31 Mar - 5 Apr
His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin Ratna Vajra Rinpoche visit to KTBC

21 Apr - 19 May
Meditation for Well-being 5 week course
​Tuesdays 10-11.30am
With Venerable Tsultim

25 - 27 Apr
Mindfulness Retreat with Ayya Jayasara

30 Apr - 28 May
Thursday nights for 5 weeks. 2nd Online Family Meditation Course led by Zara (7-7:30pm). Open to families with young children. 

2-3 May
1st Family Retreat (Starts: Sat 2rd at 11am, Finishes: Sun 3th at 1pm) Open to all.

20 - 25 May
Uluru Retreat 

17 - 31 May
Saga Dawa - Holy Month
Daily light offering sponsorships

17 May - 10 am-11.30 am
Saga Dawa - Regular Sunday practice with 108 light offerings followed by morning tea to share.
​
30 - 31 May
Saga Dawa Special weekend retreat

9 - 12 Jul
Vajrapani Bhutadamara Retreat - Fire Puja 12 Jul
Pre-requisite Vajrapani Bhutadamara Empowerment.

30 Jul - 27 Aug
3rd Online Family Meditation Course Thursday nights for 5 weeks with Zara (7-7:30pm). Open to families with young children. 

31 Jul -2 Aug
Karma Yoga Group Retreat (Starts: Fri at 8am, Finishes: Sun at 3pm). Open to all

19 - 20 Sep
Family Retreat. Open to all.

2 - 10 Oct 
Annual Shamatha Retreat (Labour Day long weekend) (Starts: Fri 2nd at 7pm, Finishes: Sat 10th at 1pm) Open to all.

24 Oct
Death and Dying Workshop with Venerable Rinchen
25 Oct
Mindfulness based on the five aggregates teachings with Venerable Rinchen.

12 - 15 Nov
Shamatha - Vipassana Retreat (Starts: Thu 12th at 4pm, Finishes: Sun 15th at 2pm). Open to all

14 - 15 Nov
Sydney Teaching Program with Khenpo la. Topic "The Four Noble Truths".

5 Dec
Annual General Meeting

27 Dec - 1 Jan
Healing and Purification Retreat. Open to all.

Advanced courses

Autumn Buddhist Philosophy Course 2026-28

This is a precious opportunity to join a three-year comprehensive spiritual training in the three main Buddhist traditions. ​The course is presented in the true spirit of ‘rime’ or non-sectarianism. 

The inaugural Autumn Buddhist Philosophy Course ran successfully from 2022 to 2024. The course will run again from 2026 to 2028, beginning in March 2026.

In the first year the course will cover the Shravakayana tradition, and in the following years the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.

The course will be conducted over two semesters each year with regular online teachings by Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe, teachings by guest speakers drawn from the different traditions, online mentor sessions with Drogmi Buddhist Institute-trained mentors, especially prepared readings by Khenpo and two retreat sessions each year. 

The course is open to anyone who is interested in Buddhist philosophy and practice.
 
The course is presented in the true spirit of ‘rime’ or non-sectarianism. In the first year the course covered the Shravakayana  tradition, and in the following years the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions are covered.

Click here for more information

Drogmi shedra course 2026-28

Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe will lead a new three year studies program at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre.

The Drogmi Shedra will commence in May 2026 and conclude in September 2028. ‘Shedra’ is the Tibetan word for ‘centre for teaching’ and is the traditional higher learning provided to monks and nuns to study the most important Buddhist texts. 

The course comprises two semesters per year and includes in-person intensive study residentials at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre; three days in semester 1 (in May) and 10 days in semester 2 (in September). The study residentials will involve teachings, personal study, discussion and a mix of group and individual presentations.

The text for 2026 will be Bodhicharyavatara (Chapter 5: Contemplations and Chapter 6: Wisdom) by Shantideva (8th century) and any version of the text can be used. 

2026 Dates:
Semester 1 study residential: 7 to 10 May 2026  
Semester 1 online Zoom teachings: June, July and August (one session per month)
Semester 2 study residential:  4 to 13 September 2026

Click here for more information

The Complete Path

The International Buddhist Academy in Kathmandu, Nepal, has launched an international seven year training program that encompasses the Tibetan Buddhist path in its entirety. This unique course is for Dharma practitioners of all levels to study and experience training on the theory and practice of the Mahayana and Vajrayana path as transmitted by the founding masters of the Sakya school ofTibetan Buddhism.

Drogmi Buddhist Institute offered the first three years of the international training program. Kamalashila Buddhist Centre, Tilba, from 2017 to 2019. The final four years are offered at the International Buddhist Academy at Kathmandu.  

Read more

Sponsor meal or tea

Consider sponsoring meals or morning and afternoon tea at DBI retreats. It is considered virtuous to provide food to sangha in retreat. This is a way to contribute for those who can’t attend and. for those taking part to make an extra contribution. You can sponsor meals for $100 or tea for $50. When you go to the checkout, write a note telling us the retreat you want your donation to be used for.

Cancellation of bookings

A cancellation fee will be charged for bookings which are cancelled. The fee is 10 per cent of the total price, with a minimum of $10 and a maximum of $50.
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