General Information

The Easter retreat provides a peaceful and enriching experience for experienced Buddhist students and newcomers also. It includes a daily program of meditations and Dharma talks with time in between to refresh and relax. Like the Society itself, the retreat is run by volunteers.

To register, please complete details below and choose from the listed options, then pay with your credit card.

The form allows you to keep checklists of reminders/information if you wish.

Your name *

First

Last

Your email *

Your mobile phone number

Meditations

The daily program of six sessions of guided meditations and Dharma talks is the focus of the retreat. Attending all the sessions maximises the benefits of the retreat. The session times are below.

AM
7.00 – 8.00
9.30 – 10.30
11.30 – 12.30

PM
3.00 – 4.00
5.00 – 6.00
7.00 – 8.30

Attendance Options Available

We recommend you attend as much of the retreat as you can. Intermittent onsite attendance is not possible on this kind of retreat but various attendance options are offered. You can

Stay onsite — generally felt to afford the most complete experience
Commute daily — if you live locally, or wish to attend a reduced number of sessions each day
Link in Online — if you live interstate or are unable to attend onsite.

Choose how you will attend the retreat *

Staying Onsite at TBS

We have a limited number of rooms available onsite for residential retreaters. Accommodation will generally be in single rooms; however, if you wish to share a room with a family member or friend, you will need to obtain their agreement first and provide their name below. They will need to register and pay separately and include your name in their application.

Bedrooms are furnished with at least a bed, side table, chair, towel airer, and a heater. Your bed will be made up (unless you opt to bring your own linen) and a towel will be provided. Bathrooms are shared. Bring your own soap and toiletries.

If you wish to stay for less than the full retreat do not submit this form. You will need to complete a Provisional Registration. Please note that onsite stay is for a minimum of two consecutive nights and two full days. Room priority will be given to those who register early for the whole retreat. We will consider short stay requests in the final week before the retreat commences. If we are able to accommodate your request, you will need to clean and vacate your room before lunch on your final day. We recommend, especially if you are new to the topic or to Tibetan Buddhism, that you commence the retreat from the start.

Complete a PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION form here

For any other requests, for example, if you do not meet the concession eligibility requirements but don't have the means to pay the standard registration fee, complete the Provisional Registration form. We'll look at your request and get back to you.

Commuting each day

To preserve the retreat experience for all attendees, you will need to select one of the options below. Choose from:

Whole Days from 7am – 8.30 pm (which includes all meals) OR
Daytime from 9.30 am – 6pm (which includes lunch, plus morning and afternoon teas) OR
Half-Days from 9.30 am – 4pm (which includes morning tea and lunch)

Attending Online

To attend online you will need a Google account. If you don't have a Google account, you can create one using your existing email address. (See the information below).

We recommend you commence the retreat from the start. If you wish to attend onsite each day (eg, commuting) but cannot do so on one day for some reason, you can attend that day online. You will need to complete a Provisional Registration to request this.

Complete a PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION form here

Staying Onsite: Do you wish to share a room with a family member or friend?

Finalise your Stay at TBS

Finalise your Stay at TBS (Concession)

Finalise your Stay at TBS – Shared Room

Finalise your Stay at TBS – Shared Room (Concession)

Name of your room mate

Are you eligible for concession? *

Australian government Age and Disability pensions, Jobseeker and Newstart allowances, and Low-Income health care cards are accepted for concession. We do not accept Seniors cards for concession.

Thursday Arrival and Dinner

If you know it now, please advise your estimated time of arrival on Thursday (normally between 4 – 8 pm), and whether you will have dinner at the centre (served at approximately 6.15 pm). If you are not sure at the moment, please email events@tushita.org by Wednesday 5 April at the latest.

Commuting: How long will you attend the retreat each day?

Please note that the final day ends after lunch.

Commuting Whole Days: How many days will you attend?

Please note that the final day (Monday) is a half-day of 3 sessions.

Commuting Whole Days: How many days will you attend? (Concession)

Please note that the final day (Monday) is a half-day of 3 sessions.

Commuting Daytime: How many days will you attend?

Commuting Daytime: How many days will you attend? (Concession)

Commuting Half-Days: How many days will you attend?

Commuting Half-Days: How many days will you attend? (Concession)

Online: Do you have a Google account and have you used GoogleMeet previously?

Online: How long will you attend the retreat each day?

Online attending 5 –6 sessions: How many days will you attend?

Online attending 5 – 6 sessions: How many days will you attend? (Concession)

Online attending up to 4 sessions: How many days will you attend?

Online attending up to 4 sessions: How many days will you attend? (Concession)

Attending online: which days will you attend

Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday

Select all which apply

Staying-Onsite checklist (Keep a copy if you wish by clicking in selected boxes at left)

Commuting checklist (Keep a copy if you wish by clicking in selected boxes at left)

Check the route online before coming — there may be roadworks on Mickleham Road
Arrive 10-15 minutes before the first session
Be on time for each session and stay for the whole session
Wear comfortable clothes
Take a shawl or small blanket if it's cool
Take my favourite cushion or use temple cushions or chair
No shoes, water bottles, drinks or hats in the meditation room
Switch mobile phone to silent/do not disturb in the meditation room
Smoking is not permitted on the property

Online checklist (Keep a copy if you wish by clicking in selected boxes at left)

TBS will send me the GoogleMeet link the day before the retreat
Set up a suitable retreat space beforehand for watching and meditating
Link-in 10 minutes before the first session
Give each session my complete attention
Mute my microphone once the session starts
Avoid online commentary, it reduces the benefit for myself and others

Online (New to GoogleMeet) checklist (Keep a copy if you wish by clicking in selected boxes)

TBS will send me the GoogleMeet link the day before the retreat
Set up a suitable retreat space beforehand for watching and meditating
Link-in 10 minutes before the first session
Give each session my complete attention
Mute my microphone once the session starts
Avoid online commentary, it reduces the benefit for myself and others
View video on how to join a GoogleMeet session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUXbgDOfrfY
View video on how to pin and mute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1d-g_TqRDs
View video on how to change the layout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miuyPOi0YCg

How to Create a Google account using your existing email address (Keep a copy if you wish)

1. Go to the Google Account page: https://myaccount.google.com/?utm_source=sign_in_no_continue&pli=1
2. Click: Create account
3. Enter your name
4. Click: Use my current email address instead
5. Enter your current email address
6. Click: Next
7. Verify your email address with the code sent to your existing email
8. Click: Verify
If you think you might need help, email Events@tushita.org

What to expect onsite

A retreat is a special time to enhance your Dharma understanding and practice. Respect the purity of the temple environment and your own and others' retreat experience. While it is not a silent retreat, please avoid distractions such as singing, yoga, etc while inside the meditation room.

Many onsite attendees prefer their retreat experience to stay separate from the “outside world”, so, particularly if you are commuting, please be mindful to leave the activities and events of life outside the retreat at the gate.

Onsite retreaters will be rostered to assist with meals, dishes, dining room cleaning and so on. Please check what's involved with your team leader each day and remember to arrive on time to help.

You're welcome to get involved in onsite activities if you're interested and the weather is agreeable – such as helping set up tables and chairs outside, working in the garden, etc.

Meals and Refreshments

Meals will be prepared onsite with some assistance from retreaters. All meals will be vegetarian.

Light refreshments will be available between sessions. Dairy and soy milk will be available.

The retreat is run by volunteers, and we are unable to cater for preferential diets; however if you have a particular dietary requirement let us know below in case we are able to accommodate it.

Dietary requirement

Other practical matters

To protect others, please do not attend onsite if you have cold or flu-like symptoms or if you still test positive to recent COVID. If you wake up unwell on the day, you may choose to attend online and we can refund the additional cost of onsite attendance or give you a full refund if you would prefer not to attend.

Emergency Contact

If you are staying onsite please provide the name and phone number of your preferred contact (eg, family member) in case of emergency. If you are commuting or attending online, you may also choose to do so.

Queries

Please include any queries here. If there is something we should be aware of or you might need assistance with, please include it here. As a volunteer organisation we are not always able to cater for all requirements, but our volunteers will do the best where they can.

TBS membership discount: are you a (financial) member of the Tibetan Buddhist Society?

Yes, but I've already used this year's voucher, OR, I do not wish to use it for this retreat
Yes, and I wish to use my annual $30 membership retreat discount voucher
No, not a member

DO NOT SUBMIT THIS FORM. Annual membership of the Tibetan Buddhist Society includes a single retreat discount voucher. If you have not already used this year's voucher and wish to do so for this retreat, you will need to register in two steps, initially completing a Provisional Registration. Our memberships officer will check your retreat voucher number is still available to use. We'll then get back to you so that you can pay the correct amount and confirm your registration: Complete a PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION form here.

Payment details

Please enter you credit card details

Credit Card *

Card

Name on Card

Total

$ 0.00

will be charged to your credit card

Cancellation policy

A requested refund will incur a 3.5% fee to cover credit card charges incurred by TBS.

Easter Retreat 2023 Registration