Drogmi Shedra Advanced Buddhist Philosophy Course Inaugural Retreat

HELD AT KAMALASHILA TIBETAN BUDDHIST CENTRE
7-10 May 2026

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. 

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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