​His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born to a farming family on 6 July 1935, in Taktser village, Amdo province of northeast Tibet. At the age of two, then named Lhamo Thondup, he was recognised as the reincarnation of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The enthronement ceremony took place on 22 February 1940, in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. His Holiness began monastic education at the age of five. The curriculum, derived from the Nalanda Tradition, consisted of five major and five minor subjects.

In 1950, at the age of fifteen, His Holiness assumed full power as Tibet’s political leader. At twenty-three, He sat for His final examination in Lhasa’s Jokhang Temple, during the annual great prayer festival (Monlam Chenno) in 1959. He passed with honours and was awarded the Geshe Lharampa Degree, equivalent to the highest doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy. 

Since His first visit to the West in the early 1970s, His Holiness has become renowned as a scholar and a man of peace. Numerous universities and institutions, in both the East and West, have conferred peace awards and honorary doctorate degrees upon His Holiness, in recognition of His distinguished writings in Buddhist philosophy and His distinguished leadership in the service of freedom and peace. 

In 1989, He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. During His travels, His Holiness has spoken strongly for better understanding and respect among different world faiths. Towards the end, He has made numerous appearances at interfaith services, imparting His message of universal responsibility. 

He has visited more than sixty-seven countries on six continents, spreading His message of love and compassion and oneness for over eight billion human beings. Throughout His life, His Holiness has been committed to the promotion of universal responsibility, secular ethics, religious harmony, and awareness of climate change and global environmental issues.

A very meaningful and insightful weekend of teachings with Venerable Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe. The weekend began with an auspicious double rainbow before Khenpo la arrived, a sign of the magnificent teachings that followed. We received the transmission of Medicine Buddha mantra and detailed teachings on the benefits of this profound practice.

Khenpo la outlined very clearly the causes and conditions that give rise to sickness of body and mind and how to remedy these afflictions. The root cause of all our problems lies in the mind being afflicted by the three poisons of ignorance, greed and anger, the main culprit being ignorance. He then outlined how to reduce and ultimately eliminate these afflictions. Simply put, cultivate a kind heart imbued with wisdom and compassion for the benefit of all beings.

On Saturday after the teachings, Khenpo la gave refuge vows for thirteen people who wished to undertake the formal refuge vows to enter the Buddhist path. We rejoice in their good fortune to meet the precious Dharma and pray they find the path secure and their practice flourish. You can see the joy on everyone’s faces both from the refuge ceremony and the weekend teachings.

Many blessings,
~ Venerable Rinchen

Photos from 13 June 2026 – Rigsum Gonpo Empowerment bestowed by His Holiness Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Rinpoche as well as teachings bestowed by Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe.

Commencing on the weekend of 30 to 31 May, the Mantra Marathon was held in the Main Gompa, Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre, Tilba. For those living too far from the Centre and unable to attend physically, there was an opportunity to attend via Zoom. Everyone was encouraged to count their mantra recitations so that they could be collected at the end of the twenty-four hours. 

Saga Dawa Duchen is the most holy day, in the most holy of months, Saga Dawa, in the Tibetan Buddhist Calendar. It is a day that commemorates Buddha Shakyamuni’s enlightenment and passing into Mahaparinirvana. At the age of thirty-five Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya, India. At the age of eighty Buddha Shakyamuni demonstrated passing into Mahaparinirvana in the town of Kushinagar India, after saying “It is the nature of all things that take form to dissolve again. Strive with your whole being to attain perfection.” (Sakya Calendar)

Traditionally, the lay community conducts this mantra (marathon) recitation for a twenty-four-hour period. Due to this auspicious time, all our meritorious efforts are multiplied a million times over. It is a very virtuous time to enrich our heart and mind by cleansing our attachment and grasping mind. It is a time not to gain but to give to oneself to all sentient beings.

Meaning of mantras: Mantras in Vajrayana Buddhism are sacred sound vibrations representing the enlightened body, speech, and mind of a Buddha, acting as tools to guard the mind from suffering and negative karma. They are used for meditation, transformation, and connecting to the essence of specific deities to gain wisdom and compassion. The mantra recitations were carried out non-stop with a rotating group. The mantras recited were those such as Buddha Shakyamuni mantra, Healing mantra, Compassion mantra, Green Tara mantra and Vajrasattva mantra. 

On the Sunday morning Khenpo la led the group in a precepts ceremony. The Eight Mahayana Precepts are a twenty-four hour set of vows taken to purify negative karma, accumulate merit, and cultivate the Mahayana motivation to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. These vows, which closely resemble monastic training for one day only, are often taken on full/new moons or holy days, including strict restrictions on eating times, sensory pleasures and sexual behaviour. 

By the Sunday afternoon we completed our inaugural mantra marathon recitations at Kamalashila. Around fifty sangha attended in person and online, many staying the full twenty-four-hours. How special. With Khenpo la, Venerable Tsultim and Ani la leading the way, the sangha recited thousands of mantras dedicating for the benefit of others. During the twenty-four hours, many offerings were made to the shrine such as beautiful flowers, many home-grown, and fruits. We offered around five hundred candles. We had so many generous sponsors for the meals and teas, and offerings to the shrine. Plus, many sponsors offering the lamps. 
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Thank you to everyone, our wonderful sponsors, cooks and volunteers. Thank you to Khenpo la for extending this opportunity to participate in this amazing event on the most holy of days.

A large crowd gathered at Tilba oval at the foothills of Gulaga Mountain to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the handback in 2006 of the Gulaga and Biamanga National Parks to the traditional owners. The land and mountains within it, including Gulaga, are sacred to the Yuin people. 
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As many know Kamalashila nestles beneath the eastern side of Gulaga, referred to locally as Mother Mountain. Khenpo la and a group of sangha attended this very historic and important day for the local Aboriginal and wider community. It was wonderful to see everyone so joyful coming together as community with one intention.

On Tuesday 26 May 2026, Khenpo la along with Jack Heath attended the NSW Parliament hosting of the Vesak Ceremony organised by the Buddhist Council of NSW. The ceremony involved a light offering and is now an annual event bringing together the many different Buddhist communities across NSW. 
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Very generously, the NSW Multicultural Minister the Hon Steve Kamper MP jointly hosted the event with shadow minister Mr Mark Coure MP. This year it was made special with an address by the Premier Chris Minns who spoke of his own connections to NSW Buddhist communities along with an address by the Opposition Leader Ms Kellie Sloane MP.

​It was also a chance for Khenpo la to catch up again with the Rev Bill Crews who was recently back to Sydney after his annual pilgrimage to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala.

The fifth Uluru Retreat with Khenpo Ngawang Dhamchoe took place in May. During the retreat Khenpo la gave instructions on Shamatha and Vajrasattva practices, and each day we visited Uluru. Everyone was so very happy at this sacred place.

The morning on the seventh day of the fourth lunar month, being the anniversary of the birth of the Blessed Buddha Shakyamuni, Khenpo la led a group of pilgrims to Uluru for a meditation session at sunrise. On this very auspicious day, many auspicious rainbows appeared over and around Uluru. Then as we drove back to Yulara there were rainbows over Kata Tjuṯa (formerly known as The Olgas). We also cheered Sonam la as she completed her lightning run around Uluru. Later in the morning Khenpo la gave a deep teaching and led Vajrasattva meditation.

From Uluru in the morning to Kata Tjuṯa in the afternoon, Khenpo la led the pilgrims for a second wonderful expedition. We had planned to view the sunset over Kata Tjuṯa but after Khenpo la improvised to keep the flies away, the rain clouds arrived and our picnic dinner was consumed with the rain pounding down on the Colorbond roof over the picnic tables. We concluded the day with Vajrasattva practice and chanting Buddha Shakyamuni mantra and then Buddha of Compassion mantra for dear Dharma friends who have passed and Medicine Buddha mantras for all those facing health difficulties.

The final evening, we experienced another exquisite sunset in front of Uluru bathed in beautiful pink light, while Khenpo la gave the students the transmission of Lord Amitayus mantra and a succinct teaching on The Seven Limb Prayer. 
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The next morning we returned to Uluru for sunrise before everyone departed for home. Thank you Khenpo la for such a wonderful experience of teachings and meditation at this retreat and to all our sangha for being a beautiful group to be with.

Early May 2026 saw the start of the new three-year Drogmi Shedra Advanced Buddhist Philosophy Course with the first three-day intensive study retreat held at Kamalashila Tibetan Buddhist Centre from Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 May 2026. 

Khenpo la led the retreat with Semester 1 focused on the meditation chapter of Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life – Bodhicharyavatara. Each day involved two teachings from Khenpo la, self-directed study time and student-led evening sessions involving either presentations or Q&As on the daily teachings. 

Forty-four students have enrolled in the Shedra program, including some international students from Canada and New Zealand joining via Zoom. 
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Semester 1 is continuing with online monthly Zoom teachings in June, July and August to complete the meditation chapter. Semester 2 will focus on the wisdom chapter from Shantideva’s text and involves a ten-day intensive study retreat in September 2026.

Some student reflections about the Shedra course are provided below.

Late enrolments are being accepted until mid-July 2026 so please contact Giovanna via [email protected] if you would like further information. This is an incredible opportunity to participate in a structured three-year program which adopts key elements of the traditional Shedra (higher learning) program still taught in Buddhist monasteries and nunneries today. 

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of life,
Or whether there even is one?
How many times will we live a life without understanding its nature,
Preoccupied with meaninglessness and disappointment?
So… Here it is.
A Tradition, a Teacher, the right course, and a group of friends, just like you.
So, if not now, when?
Doubt is debilitating. Dharma is medicine.

Thank you Khenpo la and the Drogmi Gang for making the Shedra Course possible. It means SO much to me. Let’s Go! 
~ Lance

After completing the three-year Autumn Buddhist Philosophy Course, I had always planned to do the Drogmi Shedra Course that Khenpo la was planning. When it was first advertised, I enrolled immediately. When the final daily outline for the first retreat arrived, I took one look and thought “I’m not sure I am able to do this – what have I taken on here!”

However, during the first evening Khenpo la dispelled some of those concerns in explaining the point of SHEDRA – how to view this world in a different way and how to respond to things in a different way. 

Khenpo la outlined the traditional Shedra format in monasteries:

1. Study
2. Compose 
3. Debate

Using these three methods to get the accurate point – the crystal-clear treasure of the Dharma.

Khenpo la tried to keep the tradition of Shedra as much as possible and as time would allow. With formal teaching sessions, self-study and reflection. In the evenings we presented our own interpretation of various verses of the text and answered the other students’ questions about the day’s teachings. Again, Khenpo la emphasised the importance of these presentations – that we are not competing with fellow students but getting the wisdom out of the teachings for our own minds. 

Further traditional elements were employed during the retreat. During self-study a student was chosen at random to be the Ge khu (blessings in doing the virtuous), to check that the students were in fact studying during the appointed time. 

Finally, on the last evening, students were chosen at random to explain verses of the text chosen by Khenpo la. Here the aim was not so much to explain the literal meaning, but to look at one’s own interpretation, and how it is useful in one’s own life.

So, until the next on-line teaching we rear, re-read, ponder and try to apply this Dharma to our own daily lives.

Thank you Khenpo la. 
~ Evelyn