New Year Meditation Festival

For a kinder, more compassionate world.

The Tibetan Buddhist Society is welcoming everyone to the Peaceful Land of Joy Meditation Centre in Melbourne to relax and unwind on Saturday 29 February and Sunday 1 March. 
 
This 2020 New Year Meditation Festival combines a wonderful celebration of Tibetan New Year, centred around the magnificent, traditional Tibetan temple and 10 acres of beautiful and colourful gardens, with a strong focus on meditation. 
 
According to His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama of Tibet, "we can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves". Therefore, the festival has a focus on meditation as a journey to inner peace and clarity of mind.

Venerable Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, the founder of the Tibetan Buddhist Society, said "many people, especially young people, are looking for a kinder, more compassionate world that values our common humanity and transcends issues of race, politics and war. From a Buddhist perspective, this change starts with us and our world. "We can use meditation to develop the qualities of compassion, kindness, strength and wisdom, and we can build a world that cares for everyone, regardless of race, gender or religion," said Geshe Loden.
 
Visitors, both adults and children, can join talks and guided meditations by experienced Buddhist meditation teachers from around Melbourne. Tours of the magnificent traditional Tibetan temple and the beautiful Peaceful Land of Joy gardens are offered throughout the weekend. The temple is filled with Tibetan paintings and an 18-foot statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. 
 
The gardens are exceptionally peaceful with an abundance of flowers and trees—beautiful varieties of roses, salvias, golden robinias, Californian redwoods, olive trees, birds and wildlife. Geshe-la promoted care for the environment through the use of clean energy and a water strategy, including recycling: the means used for the care of the gardens.
 
The New Year Blessing Ceremony on Saturday 29 February at noon, held in the Society's magnificent traditional Tibetan temple, is open to the public. The ceremony brings together different religious traditions, community groups, and local, state and federal government representatives to join as a community. 
 
Guest speakers at the Ceremony will explain how meditation, combined with love and compassion, are powerful tools to transform our lives. 
 
Other festival highlights include:
- Sunday’s 1 pm Q and A session where you can ask all you want to know about the art of meditation
- Guided tours of the magnificent traditional Tibetan temple and the beautiful 10-acre gardens
- Tibetan crafts and gift stalls featuring books on meditation and Buddhist philosophy
- Second-hand bookstall to support our local community food program
- Daily children's meditation and activity session under the trees 
- Delicious vegetarian food served at the rear temple food stall  
- Coffee, home-made chai and cakes
- The temple 'Enjoyment Shop' with a huge selection of beautifully selected products and gifts

The daily entry includes free admission to all lectures, meditations for adults and children, Saturday's New Year Blessing Ceremony, garden and temple tours and Sundays Q&A session. All proceeds support the maintenance of the temple and gardens.

We are pleased to acknowledge the Victorian Multicultural Commission's support of this event.
 
The Tibetan Buddhist Society's Peaceful Land of Joy Meditation Centre is 35 minutes from the Melbourne CBD and 10 minutes from Tullamarine Fwy. exit, 20 Cooks Rd (access from Mickleham Road), Yuroke, VIC 3063.