Tara Institute
Encyclopedia
Tara Institute is a Tibetan Buddhist center located in the suburb of East Brighton
in Melbourne
which provides Buddhist teachings throughout the year. As of March 2010 the lama
, Venerable Geshe Doga has been the resident teacher at the center since 1984. The Center is a member of the FPMT
.
The location is 3 Mavis Ave, Brighton East VIC 3187.
meditation courses in Nepal
began to meet at a house in North Fitzroy
. Then in 1976 the group rented an old hotel in Carlton
which was named Tara House by Lama Thubten Yeshe. In 1977 the center moved to a rented house in Kew
and began to develop a retreat center at Noojee in 1978. The first resident teacher, Geshe Dawö arrived in 1980 with his translator, Kelsang Tsering.
Following the advice and persuasion of Lama Thubten Yeshe
in 1981 to "think big" Tara House bought an old mansion in East St Kilda
in 1983. By 1987 this location had become too small and so the current building at Marillac House, which incorporates an historic mansion, was purchased. The center was then renamed Tara Institute.
, special healing courses, social events and activities for children.
The Center has full-time residents as well as providing dormitory
accommodation for visitors. It is supported through residency, membership fees, donations and volunteer work. Amongst the facilities are a library and a bookshop.
Brighton East, Victoria
Brighton East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Brighton East had a population of 15,167....
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
which provides Buddhist teachings throughout the year. As of March 2010 the lama
Lama
Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
, Venerable Geshe Doga has been the resident teacher at the center since 1984. The Center is a member of the FPMT
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition is a network of Buddhist centers focusing on the Gelugpa tradition of Tibet. Founded in 1975 by Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, who began teaching Buddhism to Western students in Nepal, the FPMT has grown to encompass...
.
The location is 3 Mavis Ave, Brighton East VIC 3187.
History
Tara House, the forerunner of Tara Institute had its beginnings in Melbourne in 1974 when a small group of people who had attended one of the first Kopan MonasteryKopan Monastery
Kopan Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Boudhanath, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal. It belongs to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition , an international network of Gelugpa dharma centers, and once served as its headquarters.The monastery was established...
meditation courses in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
began to meet at a house in North Fitzroy
Fitzroy North, Victoria
Fitzroy North is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Yarra and Moreland. At the 2006 Census, Fitzroy North had a population of 11,069....
. Then in 1976 the group rented an old hotel in Carlton
Carlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
which was named Tara House by Lama Thubten Yeshe. In 1977 the center moved to a rented house in Kew
Kew, Victoria
Kew is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Kew had a population of 22,516....
and began to develop a retreat center at Noojee in 1978. The first resident teacher, Geshe Dawö arrived in 1980 with his translator, Kelsang Tsering.
Following the advice and persuasion of Lama Thubten Yeshe
Thubten Yeshe
Thubten Yeshe was a Tibetan lama who, while exiled in Nepal, co-founded Kopan Monastery and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition...
in 1981 to "think big" Tara House bought an old mansion in East St Kilda
St Kilda East, Victoria
St Kilda East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. It is located within the Local Government Areas of the City of Glen Eira and the City of Port Phillip. At the 2006 Census, it had a population of 12,188.St Kilda East is one...
in 1983. By 1987 this location had become too small and so the current building at Marillac House, which incorporates an historic mansion, was purchased. The center was then renamed Tara Institute.
Activities and facilities
There is a weekly program of meditation and Buddhist courses plus weekend courses, pujasPuja (Buddhism)
In Buddhism, puja are expressions of "honour, worship and devotional attention." Acts of puja include bowing, making offerings and chanting...
, special healing courses, social events and activities for children.
The Center has full-time residents as well as providing dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
accommodation for visitors. It is supported through residency, membership fees, donations and volunteer work. Amongst the facilities are a library and a bookshop.