Chag Tong Chen Tong Tibetan Buddhist Centre is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition FPMT http://www.fpmt.org/
An organization devoted to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.
Our organization is based on the Buddhist tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa of Tibet as taught to us by our founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and our spiritual director, Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche.
Chag Tong Chen Tong Centre welcomes everyone in search of methods to develop the good heart, a meaningful happy life, of any age or any cultural background, with a wish to engage within a harmonious and supportive community of like-minded friends and practitioners.
Chag Tong Chen Tong was established in 1999 with advice and blessing from Lama Zopa Rinpoche to start as a study group and see how the interest is ... and so, the interest has continued to grow and the benefits seem very far-reaching. Slowly, consistently we are building a strong foundation for the Dharma to flourish in Tasmania and to be accessible to countless peoples from all areas of our community and afar.
Chag Tong Chen Tong (the name given to us by Lama Zopa Rinpoche) translates as 1000 armed 1000 eyed Compassionate Eyed looking one ...
The many numbers of arms and eyes represent the ability to see the needs, and to be of benefit to many countless sentient beings simultaneously, to relieve their suffering, and bring them to Enlightenment as quickly as possible.
The development of the good heart, loving kindness, great compassion, bodhicitta, caring for others more than one’s self, is our primary job.
Methods to transform the mind and develop these qualities, which is where all peace and happiness originates, is our core activity at the Centre.
We have hosted many visiting Tibetan and western teachers presenting, complimenting and immeasurably enriching our program and will continue to do so until we have the fortune and means to host a resident teacher for Chag Tong Chen Tong in time to come...it is a constant wish and long term goal.
Our visiting teachers have also offered event opportunities at Schools and Community Centres, Prison facilities and Public Talks outside of the Centre venue and also have participated in health and wellbeing programs in the broader community. Visiting teacher invitations are sourced from an extensive choice of accredited and registered individual practitioners / teachers / Tibetan Western Ordained and lay, within FPMT Education Department http://www.fpmt.org/education.html
Dr Sonam Takchoe has kindly supported Chag Tong Chen Tong for many years and since 2008 has contributed on a regular bi-monthly schedule to the teaching program. Dr Sonam Takchoe is a resident of Hobart currently, having moved to Tasmania in 2002 from Sarnath India where he completed studies at The Central Institute of Higher Studies. He is a lecturer at University of Tasmania, within the philosophy Department. Author of The Two Truths Debate- Tsongkhapa and Gorampa on the Middle Way Foreword by: Jay Garfield and is a contributing scholar of the 'Cowherds' title -Moon shadows- Conventional Truth in Buddhist Philosophy plus many more papers. Sonam is an active member of Tasmania’s small but growing Tibetan Community and in the past has been a guest speaker during Mental Health Week events in Hobart being involved in hosting Mindfulness Meditation courses in collaboration with General Practitioners, Health workers’ and groups suffering from depression.
