May 14 – 15, 2025
2-day non-residential course led by Venerable Karma Tsondru (Yaki Platt)
Open to all levels of practitioners: beginners and experienced alike.
“Commit no negative action,
Cultivate perfect virtuous,
Subdue your mind thoroughly –
This is the teachings of the Buddha.”
In this course Venerable Karma Tsondru will explain the gradual approach for subduing the mind thoroughly, thus fully utilising the mind’s potential.
Teacher
A Short bio of Venerable Karma Tsondru (Yaki Platt)
Born in Israel in 1971, I grew up in a secular family. I came across Buddhism in my first visit to India as a backpacker – in 1997. I started travelling back to India every year and in 2001 I left my job as a software engineer and made my way to India to focus on studying Buddhism.
After encountering a lama that would later on become my main teacher, I decided to study Tibetan language so that I would be able to study from him and other lamas directly and so in 2003 I joined the FPMT’s LRZTP translators programme and upon completion in 2005 I was invited to Chenrezig Institute Buddhist Centre in Australia to take the position of the translator/interpreter for the new Geshe at the centre.
I lived and worked at Chenrezig Institute for 18 years, translating mainly for the team of Geshes of the centre – covering everything from entry level Buddhist to the advance study programme. Over the years I started also teaching at the centre, teaching courses at entry level, intermediate level (the FPMT Discovering Buddhism and more), the teacher-assistant for the advance study programme and teaching at other centres as well. I had the opportunity to work on tours with lamas, mostly from the Gelug tradition – lamas such as Ganden Tri Rinpoche, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Jhado Rinpoche, Serkhong Tsenshab Rinpoche, and more.
In 2014 I took a Gelong ordination with Tai Situ Rinpoche.
I left my job as the translator for Chenrezig Institute in 2023, and since I’ve been travelling between India, Taiwan, Israel and Australia – studying, doing retreats, translating and teaching.
Schedule
This course will be in silence.
Approximate daily schedule for both days:
| 09:00 – 09:45 | Meditation |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Teaching |
| 12:00 – 14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00 – 16:00 | Teaching |
| 16:00 – 16:20 | Tea Break |
| 16:20 – 17:00 | Meditation |
Please note: This schedule might change on short notice!
Registration in Tushita’s Office Required!
Practical Information
Tushita’s Donation Policy
Tushita Meditation Centre operates entirely on the basis of donations, most of which come from people attending our courses and retreats. We will ask you to please give your full donation for the course in our reception office in the days before the course starts, payable in Indian Rupees only (unfortunately we cannot accept Foreign Currency, Travellers Cheques or Credit / Debit Cards).
For example, the minimum amount that Tushita needs to cover our costs for a 2- / 3-day course is 1500 / 2000 Indian Rupees per person. This includes lunch and afternoon tea on this day. It does not include any other meals or accommodation, since it will be a non-residential course. Of course, extra donations to help Tushita are always welcome!
Course Registration
For our non-residential courses, registration is only possible in our reception office by making your full donation of 1500 INR for this 2-day course.
Office hours are: Monday – Saturday (closed Sundays)
- 9:00 – 11:30am
– lunch break – - 12:30 – 4:00pm
Closed Sundays
Accommodation Options
Since this is a Non-Residential course, it will not be possible to stay here at Tushita. There are many guest houses and hotels nearby however, varied enough to meet all comfort levels and budgets. Here are some tips for finding accommodation in McLeod Ganj.
What to Bring
- Warm clothing which can be worn in layers and a shawl/blanket for using in the meditation hall are advisable. Bear in mind that we are at a slightly higher altitude than in McLeod Ganj, it is noticeably colder here.
- You are welcome to take notes during the course, so you may find a notebook, pen etc useful.
- It is handy to have your own water bottle. Filtered water is available in our dining hall and out of concern for the environment, we strongly discourage students from buying water in plastic bottles.
- An umbrella or rainwear, depending on the weather that day.
- Please read our Library page: we sell books and other items, so you may want to bring some extra money with you; or check conditions for borrowing.
- Please DO NOT bring: any musical instruments, camera, radios / tape / CD / MP3 players or mobile phones as you will be asked not to use them while you are here.
Read more on our Short Courses page.