The Program
2026 Study Group _ Guide to a Bodhisattvas Way of Life
Resuming: 2026 Dr Sonam Thakchoe Study Group ~ Suitable for all levels of interest - online only 
We are very happy to announce a new topic for this year's study forum
Shantideva's classic text "Guide to a Bodhisattva's Way of Life."
Wednesday evenings 6.30 pm-8.30 pm AEST
April 29, May 27, June 24, July 29, and August 26.Sept TBC, October 28
To ensure that everyone interested remains informed of all details for this course, we are now requesting REGISTRATION to attend. Once registered, you will be added to the group mailing list to receive all updates, course resources, and information. Please Register here
Reading preparation: May 27 Session 2 - Chapter 2 June 24 Session 3 - Chapter 3
Who is Shantideva, and why should I study this classic text? :
According to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (HHDL), studying Shantideva’s 8th-century text, A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Bodhicharyavatara), is essential for cultivating compassion, wisdom, and the altruistic mind of enlightenment (bodhichitta). The Dalai Lama has frequently stated that his own understanding of compassion and the bodhisattva path is based entirely on this text
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join these sessions, which will utilize discourse, discussion, and contemplation together - each session commencing with a mindful breath meditation.
2026 LOSAR Blessings of Maitreya Buddha
LOSAR ONLINE with GESHE TENZIN ZOPA via Zoom and livestreamed on CTCT YouTube
February 18 - 1.30 pm AEDT Find your time here. The Zoom event has now passed
2026 Losar blessings of Maitreya Buddha - teachings to inspire Universal Love, Generosity, and Kindness - opening CTCT 2026 Program - celebrating Tibetan New Year
Everyone is welcome from wherever you are in the world - live - or at a time that is suitable for you
"Maitreya is the manifestation of the love of all the buddhas—the supreme beings who have achieved limitless, universal love. When we practice the yoga method of Buddha Maitreya, we unify with the universal love energy that is Maitreya by developing to their ultimate extent the limited qualities of love, compassion, and purity that presently lie within us."
Read More: Oral Transmission text
Meditation Retreat 2026 with Geshe Thubten Sherab
'Foundations for Successful Meditation Practice - An Experiential Retreat'
With Geshe Thubten Sherab
2026 Easter Retreat - Friday 3rd April - Monday 6th April ~ Hybrid event
silence sitting walking talking enjoying learning sharing
Exploring a variety of beneficial meditation techniques & interactive discourse/discussion
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED ~ Become a SPECIAL SPONSOR for this event HERE ~ Your generosity enables the Retreat to be offered freely for everyone
If you wish to be kept informed of this event, please email to be added to the Enews list
- April 5: Easter Sunday - Potluck Lunch - 12.30 - 2.30 pm AEST
Non-residential Retreat - Accommodation readily available in the surrounding areas close to the Centre - daily shuttle service to and from the gompa offered. Vegetarian Lunch and refreshments are offered daily
Daily Retreat Schedule ...please read more :
LHA BAB DUCHEN with Geshe Tenzin Zopa ~ November 11
Lha Bab Düchen (Tib. ལྷ་བབས་དུས་ཆེན་, Wyl. lha babs dus chen), the 'Festival of the Descent from Heaven' — one of the four m
ajor Buddhist holidays. It occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth Tibetan month. Buddha’s mother Mayadevi was reborn in Indra’s heaven. To repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods, Buddha spent three months teaching in the realm of the gods. When he was about to return to this world, Indra and Brahma manifested three stairs of 80,000 yojanas each, reaching this world in Sankisa. As the Buddha walked down the central one, they accompanied him on either side, carrying umbrellas to honor him. He descended to earth in Sankisa, located in modern Uttar Pradesh and counted among the eight holy places.
JOIN GESHE TENZIN ZOPA ONLINE to celebrate the auspicious occasion of LHA BAB DUCHEN
Geshe la will lead us in Atisha's Light Offering Prayer ( have your candle light offering ready to offer together) and offer the oral transmission of Sutra Remembering the Three Jewels
JOIN US FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, YOUTUBE LIVE recording HERE
2026 Indonesian Pilgrimage
" In the Footsteps of Lama Serlingpa and Lama Atisha " through Java and Sumatra ~ in the company of GESHE TENZIN ZOPA
JULY 31 - AUGUST 15 2026 ~ In collaboration with Ekno Tours and Travel
JAVA | Yogyakarta - Borobudur - SUMATRA | Muara Jambi - Pekanbaru - SINGAPORE (Revised Itinerary)
Pilgrimage is now FULLY BOOKED - WAIT LIST only available @ 9/1/26
To be kept informed, please email with your EOI and to receive the required Pre-Registration Form ASAP - WAIT LIST only available
Experience ancient trails through Sumatra and Java
A quietly, deeply transformative heart journey to the very source of the Bodhichitta teachings
This Pilgrimage offers an introduction to and invites your generosity as a CTCT Compassion in Action fundraiser in support of The 80ft World Peace Stupa Project, Rachen Nunnery, Tsum Valley, Nepal
The LIFE OF ATISHA ~ recommended reading ~ A LAMP FOR THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT
Read on - Pilgrimage Highlights - Teachings at Borobudur and Muara Jambi ....
Three Jewels Special Sponorship Opportunity
Our invitation to you, with great love and gratitude 
We welcome all our new friends, old friends, and those we have yet to meet to bathe in the nectar of virtuous activity with us.
A special opportunity - rare like a star in the midday light - requesting your very special support so we can offer freely this opportunity of the upcoming "Three Jewels Retreat" with Geshe Tenzin Zopas' 2025 Program at CTCT to others ~ due to your wisdom of generosity, the Dharma will flourish and bring peace to the hearts of others ~ thank you
Discover Full Details HERE of our invitation to you of the "Three Jewels Special Sponsorship "opportunity
Every benefactor's name will be dedicated and prayers offered during the filling and consecration of our 1000-Arm Chenrezig Statue by Geshe Tenzin Zopa
What are the Three Jewels? Please read on.....
Golden Light Sutra for World Peace
To conclude the auspicious month of SAKA DAWA on June 25
th , CTCT will host an online recitation of the text, The Golden Light Sutra
Enjoy information about this amazingly beneficial Sutra HERE & download the text - The Sutra takes approximately 3 hours to recite in full - 2 sessions will be hosted on Wednesday, June 25
Anyone is welcome to join us for all sessions in full or whatever time/session is most suitable for you - you can just drop in and continue the recitations together wherever we are up to ~ no prerequisites are required
Session 1 - 3.30 pm - 5 pm AEST Session 2 - 7.30 pm-9 pm AEST
Join Us via recurring ZOOM LINK: HERE Meeting ID 895 4802 3114 Passcode 067093
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said about the Sutra of Golden Light, “This text is very precious; it brings peace and happiness and is very powerful to stop violence. By hearing this text, one’s karma is purified.” Rinpoche has made a personal vow to propagate the Sutra of Golden Light and give oral transmissions of it in many parts of the world. Having the sutra recited as much as possible is also one of Rinpoche’s Vast Visions for FPMT.
Rinpoche has said,
“I would like to make this request with my two palms together, to please recite the Sutra of Golden Light for WORLD PEACE as much as you can.”
HHDL BIRTHDAY ~ Year of Compassion 2025-26
Honouring His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday,
A special occasion to honour an extraordinary life of compassion,
wisdom, and tireless service to humanity All around the world, there will be celebrations honouring His Holiness' 90th birthday
Expressing our deep gratitude for HH's presence in the world - a beacon of peace and the embodiment of the Buddha's teachings - an irreplaceable source of inspiration and guidance for millions around the globe, CTCT will acknowledge the YEAR of COMPASSION for HHDL by scheduling a monthly Chenrezig Practice and accumulation of mani mantras together
Sunday, August 3, was our first monthly session within Geshe Tenzin Zopas' recent program in person at CTCT, offering the transmission of the Chenrezig Sadhana - 1st of each month, following in 2025-26 will be ongoing dates for scheduled Compassion Buddha Chenrezig practice dates
Next session Activity in person/online TBA
A day to contemplate the qualities of the Compassion Buddha, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
H H s' request for his birthday to us: Be Kind to yourself - Be kind to others - fill your day with the thought of Bodhichitta - the welfare and happiness of all sentient beings without exception
Three Jewels Retreat with Geshe Tenzin Zopa ~ August 1,2,3 - 2025
CTCT wholeheartedly welcomes once again the return of Geshe Tenzin Zopa to CTCT in person during his Annual FPMT Australia National Tour
THREE JEWELS Retreat ~ Refuge in THE BUDDHA DHARMA & SANGHA
Registration closed August 1. Chenrezig Statue filling & consecration, August 2-3,Refuge Retreat:
'In a world that feels unpredictable and often overwhelming, where do we turn for real peace and stability? In Buddhism, taking refuge isn’t just a ritual or tradition—it’s about finding a reliable foundation for inner growth and transformation.' ( quote from TNL Buddhist Centre )
2026 Annual CTCT Saka Dawa MANI Retreat June 1-15
'Introducing you to your own goodness' CTCT Annual SAKA DAWA MANI Retreat June 1-15 - Registration OPEN HERE to join us 
An at-home daily retreat practice of Compassion Buddha, Chenrezig, and mantra recitations - dedicated especially towards world peace and the long and stable life of HH Dalai Lama and the swift recognition of the unmistaken reincarnation of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche during the auspicious month of Saka Dawa - celebrating the Birth, Enlightenment, and Paranirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha. Includes supporting weekly online group practice sessions and an interactive WhatsApp group
Join us for the entire 2 weeks or just a day - everyone welcome to join us in whatever way is suitable for you and your daily life commitments of family, work, etc., from wherever you are in the world. Participation is free or by donation of your choice. If you'd like to make an offering to Geshe Tenzin Zopa during Saka Dawa Month at CTCT, please visit our DONATE page - thank you very much in advance for your generosity
REGISTER HERE * Schedule, practice materials, and online links will be available once registered
This year we will use the text: "Avalokiteshvara Guru Yoga - The Inseparability of the Spiritual Master and Avalokiteshvara" composed by HHDL
Recommended Reading - Teachings from the Mani Retreat - Lama Zopa Rinpoche
2026 Continuation : Study Forum with Dr Sonam Thakchoe
The Long Discourses of the Buddha ~ ONLINE ~ Interactive discussions & commentary 
Suitable for all levels of interest. 1st Saturday Monthly sessions will include commentary, interactive discussions, and meditations.
April 20, May 18, June 15 - Monday Evenings 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm AEST
2026 Sutra Study Forum with Dr. Sonam Thakchoe - online only
ZOOM link to be added closer to the date
If you wish to join the mailing list for this study group and receive relevant monthly updates, please email
- The Sublime Continuum of the Mahayana -THE TATHAGATA ESSENCE
- LHA BAB DUCHEN with Geshe Tenzin Zopa ~ November 22
- 2024 Chokhor Duchen July 10
- JULY 20-24 MOTHER TARA RETREAT with Geshe Tenzin Zopa
- 2026 NEW DATES ~ Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
- Return to Stillness ~ Yin Yoga | Breath work Weekend
- A Taste of Peace ~ Meditation Day May 26
- Chotrul Duchen ~ Medicine Buddha Puja ~ Feb 24
- Chanting the Names of Manjushri together
- The Two Truths in Indian Buddhism with Sonam Thakchoe
