The 4 Noble Truths & Their 16 Characteristics - Yeshin Norbu
2025-05-06 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-05-13 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-05-20 16:00 - 18:00 UTC
The 4 Noble Truths & Their 16 CharacteristicsThe 4 Noble Truths & Their 16 Characteristics
This in-depth intermediate level course will deepen your understanding of the Four Noble Truths and their 16 characteristics. The Four Noble Truths are the foundational teachings of Buddhism, offering profound insight into the nature of suffering, its causes and the path to liberation.
Course Details
About This Course
The course will offer a comprehensive exploration of these core teachings, guiding you through their profound implications for both personal transformation and spiritual practice. Learning the Four Noble Truths can offer a range of profound benefits that can transform your approach to life and spiritual practice, such as:
Clarity on the nature of suffering: By gaining insight into why suffering arises, you can begin to release attachment to things that are impermanent and avoid unnecessary suffering in your life.
Path to liberation: Learning this path helps you cultivate ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom, fostering a life of greater peace and fulfillment.
Deepened compassion & wisdom: By understanding the interconnectedness of all beings and the causes of suffering, you naturally develop greater compassion and empathy. The teachings also lead to wisdom by showing you how to see things as they truly are, beyond the surface-level appearance of phenomena..
Transformation of perspective: Instead of viewing difficulties as obstacles, you begin to see them as opportunities for spiritual growth and a means of developing resilience and inner strength.
Your Teacher
Venerable Khadro brings years of experience teaching Buddhist philosophy and meditation in the tradition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Her clear and practical approach makes profound Buddhist concepts accessible to modern students.

16G L1 | Building Inner Strength: An innovative Co-facilitated Online Course - Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom
2025-05-08 17:00 - 2025-05-29 18:30, 2025-05-15 17:00 - 2025-06-05 18:30, 2025-05-22 17:00 - 2025-06-12 18:30, 2025-05-29 17:00 - 2025-06-19 18:30, 2025-06-05 17:00 - 2025-06-26 18:30, 2025-06-12 17:00 - 2025-07-03 18:30, 2025-06-19 17:00 - 2025-07-10 18:30, 2025-06-26 17:00 - 2025-07-17 18:30 and 5 more dates
16G L1 | Building Inner Strength: An innovative Co-facilitated Online CourseAre you ready to transform the way you think, act, relate, and create meaning in your life?
About the Course
The 16 Guidelines for Life – Level 1 is a dynamic and interactive course designed to help you cultivate inner wisdom, emotional resilience, and deeper connections with yourself and others. Based on ancient wisdom and modern science, the 16 Guidelines offer practical tools for personal growth, mindfulness, and ethical leadership—empowering you to bring more clarity, compassion, and purpose into your daily life.
Who Should Attend?
This course is perfect for anyone seeking personal growth, mindfulness practitioners, educators, coaches, leaders, and changemakers who want to bring positive transformation into their lives and communities.
What you’ll learn:
An ethical framework that inspires more purpose in life and deepens experience in mindfulness as an embodied practice.
Practical tools to build inner strength which will benefit relationships and embrace community
A fresh perspective on daily life, available choices and actions
Enhanced capacity for reflection, resulting in more well-being, emotional resilience and creative action
Schedule:
Four Thursdays in May 1, 8, 15, & 22, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM (UK Time)
Bookings
For more information and bookings, please email Kitty on: kitty_dcosta@hotmail.co.uk.
Concessions are available upon request, no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
Facilitators
Claudia van Zuiden – An international speaker, coach, and trainer, Claudia is the CEO & Founder of Solution Ways and Co-Founder of Conscious World Agents. With over 30 years of experience in holistic leadership, personal development, and mindfulness education, she integrates neuroscience, ethics, and solution-focused approaches to help individuals and organizations thrive. She is accredited to facilitate Level 1, 2, and 16G for children and teens, as well as Unlocking Your Potential. Claudia is passionate about compassionate leadership, mindfulness, and empowering people to lead with purpose.
Kitty D’Costa – A dedicated 16 Guidelines Trainer with over 20 years of experience in mindfulness, meditation, and mental health support. Kitty has worked extensively in the field of substance misuse and mental well-being, bringing deep insights into self-awareness, emotional resilience, and personal transformation. Her facilitation style is warm, engaging, and deeply practical—helping participants integrate mindfulness into their daily lives.
Karl Grey – A qualified counsellor, engineer, and experienced 16 Guidelines facilitator. With a diverse background across multiple fields, Karl brings a unique and insightful approach to his work. His deep understanding of the 16 Guidelines allows him to integrate their principles effectively, offering valuable guidance and support in both personal and professional settings. Karl’s broad expertise and thoughtful approach empower others to navigate life’s challenges with clarity and purpose.
Gillian Watt – An experienced mindfulness practitioner, facilitator, and educator, Gillian has a background in community development, coaching, and personal growth. With a strong focus on creating positive change through mindful leadership, she helps individuals and teams build resilience, enhance well-being, and cultivate a deeper sense of meaning in their lives. Gillian is passionate about empowering others to unlock their potential through the 16 Guidelines framework.

Sunday Morning Meditations for a more Peaceful Life Organized by Maitreya Institute - Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom
2025-05-11 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-05-18 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-05-25 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-06-01 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-06-08 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-06-15 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-06-22 08:00 - 09:00, 2025-06-29 08:00 - 09:00 and 4 more dates
Sunday Morning Meditations for a more Peaceful Life Organized by Maitreya Institute“Many people think excitement is happiness…. But when you are excited you are not peaceful. True happiness is based on peace.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
About the Sessions
Join us on Sunday morning for an hour to pause, center, and restore to a happier and more peaceful mind to support you in being a bit more resilient in a world which does not always make sense anymore. These guided meditations are to help you calm your mind, explore your own nature and develop a more peaceful perception on life. When you are well with yourself, you will be more able to be well with others and the world.
These meditations are very practical, they are not within a religious context, so they are suitable for people of different beliefs, ages and abilities, for beginners as well as for those with more experience.
Registrations are not required.
What are the meditations based on?
They are based on a set of values and principles aimed at helping individuals cultivate a more peaceful and meaningful life. They are divided into four categories:
how we think (humility, patience, contentment and delight)
how we act (kindness, honesty, generosity and right speech)
how we relate to others (respect, forgiveness, gratitude and loyalty)
how we find meaning (aspiration, principles, service and courage).
These guidelines provide a framework for personal growth, encouraging individuals to think, act, relate, and find meaning in ways that foster a harmonious and fulfilling life.
How to Join
The sessions are offered online:
TIME: 10.00 – 11.00 am CE(S)T,
DATES: Sundays from 19th January – 4th May 2025
ONLINE: Join Zoom here – Passcode: [REDACTED]
The meditations are freely offered but if you would like to make to support Maitreya Institute, please make a donation using this link . The meditations will be recorded and made available to you to use them during the week. Please send us an email if you would like to join us to get access to the recordings.
Why meditate?
When you control your mind with wisdom you create the space you need to discover peace and joy. Your life then becomes peaceful and joyful and somewhat protected from the ups and downs of the external world. For beginner to advanced meditators.
Facilitator
Ven. Gönpo is an accredited FDCW facilitator and a Buddhist monk based in Australia. He discovered Buddhism as a child through martial arts movies and TV shows, this was the inspiration for the childhood dream of becoming a wandering kung fu monk. It was a few decades before part of that dream could be realized with many other life adventures distracting him from the spiritual path in his teens and twenties.
It wasn’t until he was in his thirties that Gönpo began to really understand the power of Buddhist teachings when he used them to navigate the emotional roller-coaster of life’s many experiences such as a marriage break down and raising children alone. Fortunately, due the kindness of his teachers and great good karma, after his children finished school, Gönpo was able to fulfil the long-held dream of becoming a monk, albeit without the kung fu. Ending a 20-year career as a high school teacher of languages, he become a wandering monk spending time studying and meditating in Europe, India and Nepal before returning to his hometown, Brisbane, to take up the role of Spiritual Care Practitioner at Karuna Hospice Services, giving care and support to people with life limiting illnesses and their families.
In his time as a school teacher, it was the feedback from students around mindfulness practices and life lessons that had the biggest impact on Gönpo, motivating him to become a 16 Guidelines for a Happy Life facilitator. In his sessions, Gönpo encourages discussion and deep engagement in the topics, challenging participants to examine their own ways of thinking. Through understanding how we are now, we are better equipped to develop the habits that will bring us closer to how we want to be, interacting with our own minds and the people around us in ways that will make us and the communities we live in, happier and healthier.
More info
For more information please visit the Maitreya Institute website

Annual Advanced Course: Four Tenets
2025-06-27 13:00 - 2025-07-07 13:00
Annual Advanced Course with Geshe Kelsang Wangmo: Four TenetsJune 27 – July 7, 2025
11-Day Advanced Course Led by Geshe Kelsang Wangmo
This is an intensive 11-day advanced study course! As a prerequisite, we strongly recommend completing at least an Introduction to Buddhism course and an intermediate course or equivalent studies.
The Four Schools of Tenets is an essential topic in Buddhist study. It is particularly vital for developing a correct understanding of selflessness and involves examining the delineations of the four Buddhist philosophical tenet schools:
1. The Great Exposition School (Vaibhashika)
2. The Sutra School (Sautrantika)
3. The Mind-Only School (Cittamatra)
4. The Middle Way School (Madhyamika)
Studying the four tenet systems is highly beneficial as it enables us to identify the innate misapprehensions we hold—both consciously and subconsciously—so they can be analyzed and understood. This process helps us realize that many perspectives fundamental to our daily lives lack a valid foundation and are merely constructions of the mind. By understanding these misapprehensions, we can replace invalid assent to deceptive appearances with well-founded views. This is achieved by first studying the tenets, then reflecting on their meaning until clear understanding is attained, and finally meditating on these insights through focused analytical practice.
Furthermore, systematic study—starting with the so-called lower tenet schools— enables us to develop the capacity to appreciate the profound views of the so- called highest tenet systems. Understanding the less subtle concepts of the lower tenets serves as an essential foundation for grasping the subtlest insights of the highest tenet system. This approach is evident in the considerable amount of time traditionally dedicated in India and Tibet to exploring the perspectives of the lower tenet schools.
Thus, the study of tenets provides an inner strength that allows us to discern between correct and incorrect perspectives, enabling us to penetrate the nature of reality. It also offers a comprehensive worldview that serves as a framework for those wishing to further explore Buddhist philosophy, including the traditional geshe study of the Five Great Canonical Texts.
During this 11-day Tushita course, we will examine each of the four tenet schools and engage in discussions and guided meditations on their central assertions regarding selflessness and other related topics.

Exploring Death and Finding Life - a Residential retreat with with Bruno Rizzi - Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom
2025-07-03 15:00 - 2025-07-06 12:00
Exploring Death and Finding Life – a Residential retreat with with Bruno Rizzi« All Events
July 3 @ 17:00 – July 6 @ 14:00 CEST
£325
Life and death are not separate—they are deeply intertwined. What nourishes one inevitably supports the other.
About the retreat
This retreat in an invitation to to explore the profound wisdom of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in approaching death and impermanence, integrated with practical insights from palliative care. Together, we will confront life’s impermanence with courage and clarity, unlocking opportunities for growth, joy, and meaning.
Why this Retreat?
Preparing for death starts with embracing life as it truly is—without illusions, romanticism, or fear. By recognizing the dynamics of our projections, hopes, and anxieties, we can live more fully in the present and meet the end of life with peace and dignity.
Through this exploration, we can transform our relationship with death and, in turn, transform how we live each day.
What you will learn:
A deeper understanding of death and impermanence through the lens of Tibetan Buddhist teachings.
Insights from palliative care practices to support the dying and enhance compassionate presence.
Practical tools to cultivate awareness, presence, and connection in your daily life..
Who Should Attend?
This retreat is open to anyone interested in exploring the themes of life, death, and impermanence—whether for personal growth, spiritual development, or professional practice in caregiving roles.
Language
The sessions will be offered in English with Spanish translation.
Bookings
This is a residential retreat and the price includes accommodation, all meals ( vegetarian) and the teachings. Spaces are limited to ensure a safe and intimate group setting.
➡️ For more information and to reserve your spot, please visit the Nagarjuna Alicante website
We encourage early booking to secure your place in this meaningful exploration.
Join us on this journey of deep reflection and transformation. Together, we will explore how to live—and die—with greater awareness, compassion, and peace.
“Death in itself is not fearful, it is our mind that makes it terrifying”
-Lama Zopa Rinpoche-
Facilitator- Bruno Rizzi-
Bruno has been practicing Buddhism since 1980, when he met Ven. Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Italy. He lived as an ordained monk for seven years, studying at Nalanda Monastery in France, as well as in India and Nepal.
For the past 22 years, he has worked as a palliative care nurse at Christophorus Hospiz in Munich, Germany. For the last 15 years, he has been leading workshops and retreats on the topic “Confronting Death, Finding Meaning in Life.”
He is an accredited 16 Guidelines facilitator and collaborates with Universal Education – FDCW (Foundation for the Development of Compassion and Wisdom).
