Programs Short Courses

Short Courses

Drop-in morning meditations are cancelled during all Short Courses.

Registration in Tushita’s Office Required!

Upcoming Short Courses

 

Schedule

Approximate daily schedule for all 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!

 

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 (non-refundable, non-transferable). 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. Please note we cannot accept any registration by email.

Office hours: Monday – Saturday (closed Sundays)

  • 9:00 – 11:30am
    – lunch break –
  • 12:30 – 4:00pm

 

Accommodation Options

Since these are non-residential courses, 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.

 

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.
  • Our library sells books and other items, so you may want to bring some extra money with you. It may also be possible to borrow books, see more by clicking here.
  • 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.

 

Future Short Courses

Currently, these are all of the short courses we have planned. We’d be extremely grateful if you would use these pages as your first information source, rather than emailing us directly to ask about any other future short courses – as soon as we have any confirmed dates we’ll put them here first!

Please do take the time to read all the information on this page, especially the Practical Information (with Registration info!). Many thanks!

 

Course Discipline

To create an atmosphere conducive for reflection and meditation, participants are required to keep silence (no talking at all!) for the duration of the course, especially since there may be a retreat running parallel to your course.

  • Because we have monks and nuns living at Tushita, please dress respectfully (no shorts, sleeveless shirts, or tight/revealing clothing).
  • Participants must attend all sessions of the course and come to sessions on time.
  • Please be gentle in your behaviour and sensitive to fellow group members and staff.
  • Please remember to switch off your mobile phone.

Also, while at Tushita we ask people to observe the following precepts:

  • Respect all life: do not intentionally kill any living being, even small insects.
  • Respect others’ property: do not steal or take anything not freely given.
  • Be honest and straightforward: do not lie or intentionally deceive others.
  • Be celibate: no sexual activity. This also includes no holding hands, hugging, massages and other physical displays of affection.
  • Be alert and mindful: avoid intoxicants such as alcohol, drugs and cigarettes (if necessary, one can smoke outside Tushita property).

 

Gompa Etiquette

“Gompa” is the Tibetan word for Meditation Hall. Because a Gompa is the location of study, meditation and devotional practices, Buddhists consider them to be holy places. In this tradition, the following modes of behaviour are considered respectful in a Gompa and we ask you to follow them while here:

  • Do not point your feet towards the teachers, the altar or any holy object.
  • Do not put Dharma materials – prayer books, texts, Dharma books or notebooks with Dharma in them – on the floor, or sit or step over them.
  • Do not lie down or do any yoga exercises in the Gompa at any time.
  • No idle chit-chat in the Gompa.