Special Events, Retreats and One Day Courses

Find out more about our special events, for one day courses or retreats periodically held at Drol Kar.

Upcoming Special Event - First Sunday of the Month class: The Four Noble Truths with Drol Kar Spiritual Director Venerable Geshe Sonam Thargye online on May 3 at 10:30 am 2020, continuing the series of teachings on the Four Noble Truths.

Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to receive teachings directly from Venerable Geshe Sonam. Email Drol Kar for zoom link.

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Watch out for this opportunity in future when the isolation measures due to the corona virus end. An interrogation of the Noble Truths, an experiential workshop with psychologists Micheal Anderson and Max Simmons.

Fully catered event, vegetarian lunch.

Don't forget Venerable Geshe Doga also teaches monthly.

Receive profound and inspirational teachings from Venerable Geshe Doga of Tara Institute teaches.

What a privilege to share lunch with Geshela on a sunny day in the beautiful garden.

Buddhist philosophy classes by experienced teachers.

Everyone is welcome – highly suitable for beginners and experience practitioners alike.

About us

Drol Kar is a beautiful place of established trees, secluded gardens, Japanese water garden and places to sit and reflect or stroll about.

Welcome to Drol Kar Buddhist Centre

Drol Kar is a very special place. Indeed it is blessed by a visit by His Holiness Dalai Lama in 2007, regularly attended by Venerable Geshe Doga and directed by Venerable Geshe Sonam Thargye .

What a day of anticipation and excitement it was in 2007 waiting for H.H. 14th Dalai Lama to arrive in the helicopter and to bestow his blessings after a teaching in the gompa followed by further teachings in Geelong at 'The Arena'.

Welcome

Drol Kar Buddhist Centre is a picturesque meditation and retreat centre approximately one and a half hours south-west of Melbourne, and only minutes away from the seaside towns of Anglesea and Torquay, the world renowned Bells Beach and the Great Ocean Road. Set in seven and a half acres of charming gardens and bushland, the Centre offers a variety of programs in the Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist tradition including philosophy and meditation classes and retreats.

Drol Kar Buddhist Centre celebrates 20 years 1999 - 2019

Drol Kar Buddhist Centre welcomes visitors for participation in the Centre’s programs, individual meditation, walks in the garden, and private consultations (by appointment only). The Centre is open to visitors between 10.00am and 4.00pm on weekdays and weekends. At other times visitors are requested to phone ahead on 52661788 to arrange a visit. . All visitors are requested to make their presence known to the residents before going to the gompa or the garden. .

Drol Kar Buddhist Centre is 20 years old this year!

Drol Kar is celebrating on October 26th with invited guests, members and friends attending a Puja with Sangha at 10.00 am to 12 pm. Then Drol Kar opens to the general public from 12 pm to 3 pm for Q&A session, visual displays, meditation and plenty of opportunities to reminisce or find out more.

Time to reconnect. Give us a call. Join in the celebrations.

When Drol Kar was young. This was our library and office

History.    

Drol Kar Buddhist Centre’s  very existence today is greatly attributable to the generosity and kindness of Geshe Sonam Thargye.

A  group of Tibetan Buddhist students who were regularly meeting in Barwon Heads met  Geshe Sonam through Geshe Sonam’s sponsor when he resided at Sera Jey monastery in India,  where he gained his Geshe Lharampa Degree,  equivalent to a Professor’s Doctorate .  The group requested Geshe  Sonam  teach them in 1999 and thus sprung forth the first humble Drol Kar Buddhist Centre in what was a previous shop fronting Verner St. East Geelong.

Geshe Sonam and the Drol Kar committee worked towards establishing a larger Buddhist centre in Moolap, Geelong and providing a resident teacher Venerable Tashi Nawang whilst Geshe Sonam founded Nying Jey Projects which supports nuns, monks and children in Tibetan communities. Geshe Sonam developed a direct relationship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama when seeking refuge in Dharamsala in India. Geshe Sonam requested His Holiness give teachings at Skilled Stadium in Geelong in 2002 and whilst here His Holiness blessed the Geelong based Drol Kar Buddhist Centre. The organisation of the visit was partly undertaken with the assistance of the Drol Kar committee, friends and members.

Growth in demand for a yet larger Buddhist Centre soon prompted another move in 2005, this time to the beautiful property of Tushita Paraparap situated between the coastal towns of Torquay and Angelsea and rural Moriac. Yet again His Holiness came to Geelong to teach upon the request of Geshe Sonam and the new Drol Kar Buddhist Centre received His Holiness’ blessings again in 2007. 

In 2013, Geshe Sonam Thargye supported by the Drol Kar Buddhist Centre and Quang Minh Temple was delighted to present a day long teaching by His Holiness in Melbourne on Wednesday 19 June. His Holiness taught on the Heart Sutra and Eight Verses of Mind Training. The teaching was conducted at the Quang Minh Temple in Braybrook, Melbourne with the support of the Drol Kar Buddhiat Centre and the Quang Minh community.

Drol Kar Buddhist Centre is a not for profit Incorporated Association with the sole purpose of providing Tibetan Buddhist teachings, dharma practice, meditation and study, in the Mahayana tradition.

Resident teacher Venerable Jampa Drolma offers regular Buddhist philosophy classes with senior students facillitating meditation and introductory classes.

Venerable Geshe Sonam Thargye

Geshe Sonam Thargye is Spiritual Director of Drol Kar Buddhist Centre and oversees the Drol Kar committee of management.

Geshela in the Japanese Water Garden

Puja held on the morning of 26 October 2019.