E-Vam Institute's Activities
Membership
Donations

" The Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute in Melbourne is indeed now one of the most progressive centers in Australia. Offering seminars on 'East-West psychology' and wider social and ecological issues....... Despite it's contemporary orientation, the Institute has not lost touch with it's tradition."

Excerpt from 'History of Buddhism in Australia', Paul Croucher, New South Wales University Press, 1989, p114.

The Venerable Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche is the Spiritual Director of E-Vam Institute and has overseen the program, retreat activities and publications since his arrival in Australia in 1980.

The Institute has a busy program, with more planned for the future. Since the Institutes inception in 1982, more than 140,000 people have participated in the ongoing courses and meditations session. The regular weekly group meditation sessions are free and open to everyone and take place at the Carlton Centre (673 Lygon Street, Carlton Nth, 3054) three times weekly as follows:

• Wednesdays 7.30 to 8.30pm at the Carlton Center
• Fridays 7.30 to 8.30pm at the Carlton Center
• Sundays 11 am to 1pm at the Carlton Center

Other regular events include weekly teachings for Ngondro students who have committed themselves to the Kagyu practices; and courses and retreats which are run frequently through the year on Buddhism and related subjects.

One of the major events in E-Vam Institute's calendar is the annual Buddhist Summer School. Since it's inception in 1984, this week-long seminar has attracted more than 6,000 to a variety of courses and the Institute regularly hosts a number of distinguished teachers from overseas in the Kagyu and other Buddhist traditions.

The Maitripa Contemplative Center, purchased early 1997, now provides invaluable support to many who wish to practice in tranquil foot hills of the Yarra Ranges National Park. An annual three-month retreat is underway as part of the comprehensive and traditional Three-Year Three-Month Kagyu Retreat.

Bi-annual Buddhism Psychotherapy Conferences commenced in 1992, being the first of their kind in Australia. As part of a steady growth in the interest in Buddhism over the past 20 years, many psychologists and psychotherapists have seen that it is possible to engage in fruitful dialogue with Buddhists and use Buddhist insights in their own therapeutic practice with encouraging results. The last Wisdom & Compassion conference took place in October 2001.

E-Vam Institute's facilities include Akshara Bookstore which contains an excellent range of books on Buddhism, related philosophies and ritual items for practice. The KEBI Library for members also includes a range of rare titles and has an ever burgeoning tape library of teachings conducted by teachers visiting the Institute.

Other significant projects include the transcription of teachings in order to make the wealth of material gathered from courses and retreats more widely available. The translation of significant texts in Buddhism will also commence in 1999. Many of these tapes are available through E-Vam Recordings.

One significant way to support E-Vam Institute is to become a member. Membership helps to pay for the running costs of the institute. Fee schedules, which will include the GST from 1 July, are as follows:

• Full Membership per person is $256 per annum (including GST). You are then eligible for a 20-25% reduction in the cost of courses, retreats and major events such as the Buddhist Summer School. There is 10% reduction in cost of books, cassettes and ritual items.
• Associate Membership per person is $88 per annum (including GST). This entitles you to a 5% discount on salable items.

All members receive copies of the KEBI Teaching Program and Newsletter every quarter, and the Ordinary Mind magazine bi-monthly, and are entitled to full borrowing rights from the KEBI library.

The Venerable Traleg Rinpoche and E-Vam Institute members welcome your support either in the form of a single donation or through regular support such as pledges and membership.

Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Donations can also be made to the new Assembly Hall - Achala - which will be built at the Maitripa Contemplative Centre.