Welcome to the HBC Blog. Scroll down to see what’s been happening at HBC over time. Posts are presented in reverse chronological order (most recent first). To view a post on its own, click on its title. To go back in time, click on Older posts at the bottom of the page.
Chökhor Düchen – 1st Turning of the Wheel – 1 Aug 2022
Known in English as “Turning the Wheel of Dharma,” Chökhor Düchen commemorates the anniversary of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s first teaching. It is said that for seven weeks after his enlightenment, the Buddha did not teach. Afterwards, Indra and Brahma offered a Dharmachakra and a conch shell and requested Guru Shakyamuni Buddha to teach. Accepting, Guru Shakyamuni Buddha turned the wheel of Dharma for the first time at Sarnath by teaching the four noble truths.
This is a merit multiplying day.
Read advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for practices to do on merit multiplying days.
International Sangha Day
Chökhor Düchen is also the FPMT’s International Sangha Day when we pause, remember, and maybe make offerings to our monks and nuns.
Our Spiritual Director, Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche said the Sangha are the real heroes because they are defeating the delusions.
Geshe Tenzin Zopa’s Lojong Teachings
Every Sunday at 2pm (AWST) Perth time
Geshe Zopa continues to give a commentary on the Collection of Mind Training teachings (Lojong Teachings) as a “livestream” on YouTube every Sunday at 2pm.
Hayagriva invites you to join this “livestream” teaching. If you are unable to attend, a recording of the session can be viewed later on Youtube. Use the links provided below.
These teachings, arranged by FPMT Australia, are free. Offerings are welcome and can be made using the link below.
Links to
Meditations on the Nature of Mind:
Caring for your mind
Saturday 22 Jan 9am-5pm
“We all have the same human mind—each and every one of us has the same potential. Our surroundings and so forth are important, but the nature of mind itself is more important.
To live a happy and joyful life, we must take care of our minds.”
— His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Venerable Chökyi, our resident teacher, will lead this retreat. This practice day is open to all and fulfils the retreat day requirements for students completing the Discovering Buddhism Mind and Its Potential module.
There will be breaks between sessions with free tea and coffee.
Bring Your Own lunch
Facilitation fee: $30 (HBC Member) $40 (Non-member)
Places are limited – book now
Click here to BOOK ONLINE in advance
Note: Due to COVID-19, all registrations must be made online.
Compassion & Wisdom in Action
Online Conference 15-20 Nov 2021
Join a fantastic line-up of speakers online as they explore the potential for compassionate and wise action in all aspects of our lives, our relationships and the world around us. Click here for more information and to register to attend any of the sessions (using Zoom). The sessions are taking place on London time (GMT). Perth is 8 hours ahead of London. For convenience, the dates and times in the list of sessions below are adjusted to Perth time (AWST = Australia Western Standard Time).
Lhabab Düchen this year takes place on 27 October 2021. It marks the day when Shakyamuni Buddha descended from the Heaven of the Thirty-three after giving teachings to his mother who had been reborn there. On this auspicious day, all virtue created is multiplied 100 million times as stated in the Vinaya text “Treasure of Quotations and Logic“. Join us in celebrating this day with auspicious and merit making activities.
Program at Hayagriva Buddhist Centre for Lhabab Düchen on Wed 27 Oct 2021:
Offerings of unopened packages of food only, flowers and donations are most welcome.
By Donation
Wisdom and Compassion
One-Day Meditation Retreat
Saturday 20 Nov 9am-5pm
The bliss and clarity of the mind in all sentient beings is temporarily obscured. The degree to which we are obscured is the degree to which we suffer. Conversely as we become less obscured we become more naturally happy. The goal of practice is to reduce these obscurations – of which there are two: self grasping ignorance and selfish concern disregarding others. Tibetan Buddhism has come up with a range of practices to counter these. On this retreat day we will sample these techniques which include formal meditation, mantra practice and walking meditation so that natural happiness may start to arise.
There will be breaks between sessions with free tea and coffee.
Bring Your Own lunch
Facilitation fee: $20 per person
Places are limited – book now
Click here to BOOK ONLINE in advance
Note: Due to COVID-19, all registrations must be made online.
The Rising of Natural Happiness
Friday Night Talk: 19 Nov 7pm-8pm
Join us as we officially welcome Venerable Chokyi in her first teaching event at HBC. All welcome.
Our New Residential Teacher – Venerable Thubten Chokyi
October 2021
After 49 colourful years working in theatre and academia, Venerable Thubten Chokyi became a Buddhist nun so she could devote the rest of her life to the service of others.
Read about Venerable Chokyi and why she became a nun in her own words which appeared on the SBS Website on 31 January 2017.
Official biography extracted from Chenrezig Institute website
Venerable Chokyi’s Arrival
Venerable will arrive at HBC on 19 October and will begin a 14 day self-quarantine. Accompanying her will be her protégé, a newly ordained nun. According to the rules of self quarantine, both will be able to go out in the garden to get fresh air. In view of this we respectfully request that people do not enter the property or try to knock on her door because then we will make it difficult for the two venerables to come out when it suits them. Immediately after the quarantine Venerable Chokyi and her protégé will travel to Bunbury to begin teaching there for two weeks and will return on Monday 15 Nov.
Flower Offerings in The Park
Sat 18 Sep 2-4pm
Venue: Pioneer Women’s Memorial, Kings Park by the fountain
To celebrate the glorious spring wildflowers we are organizing a special event with walking and meditation practices at Kings Park. We meet at the park by the fountain of the Pioneer Women’s Memorial at 2pm sharp. From there we move to our first meditation venue to look at the beautiful flowers and meditate on and transform them into extensive offerings to the Buddhas, all the time expanding our minds. Short sessions will be conducted as we shift from venue to venue. Geshe Zopa will guide us through the practice.
BYO mats, wear a hat, bring a water bottle, umbrella and don’t forget to slip, slap, slop on your sunscreen.
Weekly Tantric Orchestra Practice CANCELLED
Every Friday at 7pm
First Session: Friday 6 Aug 2021
This event has been cancelled until further notice.
Every Friday evening there will be a practice session of Tibetan musical instruments comprising conches, cymbals, horns, bells and drums whilst focussing on aspects of the Guru Padmasambhava Puja. The strong rhythm generated by these instruments builds good energy in participants and also creates merit and the devotional aspect can lead our minds into deep concentration and joy.
The aim of these sessions is to develop proficiency in these instruments and form an orchestra to accompany the Guru Padmasambhava Puja, which will be organized for a later date when everyone is ready. All are welcome to learn how to use these musical instruments. No one here is an expert.
About Guru Padmasambhava Puja
We are introducing a Guru Padmasambhava Puja to the Centre’s program; this is a lively puja dedicated towards world peace, relief from pandemics, famine and obscurations to spiritual progress. Padmasambhava is recognised by all the Tibetan schools so we are aiming eventually to see if we can use this as a bridge between all the Tibetan centres in Perth. This is also a chance to experiment with multi-faith participation; the universal, current, and topical nature of the prayers will make this attractive.
