These courses can be taken in person at IBA, or online. To register, please contact us at 2register4iba@gmail.com
DETAILS of IBA’s 2025 Dharma courses
1. August 22 – August 26
Mettā: the Power of True Love and Goodwill
5-day course with Thomas Dhammadipa
DESCRIPTION: Discover the transformative power of mettā, the practice of cultivating boundless love and friendliness. In this illuminating 5-day course, led by the esteemed Tomas Dhammadipa, you’ll explore:
- The meaning and importance of mettā in Buddhist practice
- The methods of cultivation, based on ‘The Path of Liberation’ (Vimuttimagga) by Arhat Upatissa.
- The evolution of mettā in theory and practice in Indian and Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism
This course offers a unique journey through various Buddhist traditions, from ancient meditation manuals to Pure Land teachings and Mahāyāna sūtras and śāstras. It is suitable for newcomers and experienced practitioners alike, as well as for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their heart’s potential.
Please note: This course can be taken independently or paired with our following retreat (Aug. 31 – Sep. 6), for a comprehensive experience.
Thomas Dhammadipa is a lay Dharma teacher from the Czech Republic. His decades of meditation training as a Buddhist monk combined with his extensive scholarly and linguistic background make him an exceptional teacher. Thomas Dhammadipa has extensively taught Dharma in both theory and practice, and led students in meditation retreats in Europe, North and South America, India, China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.
A more detailed biography is at https://www.dhammadipa.cz/en/biogaphy/
DAILY SCHEDULE (day 1 will begin at 9am):
AM
6:00 Qi Gong or Yoga (optional)
7:00 Breakfast
8:00 Group meditation (40 mins)
9.00 Dharma talk 1
10.30 Tea Break
11.00 Self study and meditation
12:00 Lunch & Rest
PM
2:00 Dharma Talk 2 (with Q&A)
3:30 Tea break
4:00 Qi Gong or yoga (optional)
5:00 Self study and meditation
6:30 Dinner
2. August 31 – September 6
Becoming the Boundless Heart: Mettā & Śamatha Retreat
7-day silent meditation retreat, with Br. Tenzin and Christian Bernert
DESCRIPTION: This week-long silent retreat invites you to explore the practice of mettā, the heart’s capacity for boundless love and friendship. Mettā cultivation offers a path to healing anger, overcoming fear, and accessing deeper levels of concentration. When combined with the practice of calm abiding (śamatha), it becomes a powerful catalyst for transformation, opening doors to the limitless states of compassion, joy, and equanimity. Throughout these seven days, facilitators Br. Tenzin and Christian Bernert will lead you through:
- Theoretical foundations of mettā and śamatha practices
- Guided meditations and periods of personal practice
- Opportunities for individual practice consultations
This retreat welcomes both newcomers and experienced practitioners. The format offers conducive conditions to explore and deepen one’s experiential understanding of the ideal of mettā.
Please note: While it naturally complements our preceding course on mettā (Aug. 22-26), this program stands complete on its own, with all necessary instructions provided within the retreat setting.
The teachers
Br. Tenzin (Dr. Alex Anderson) began with an ecologist’s understanding of interdependence, but the rainforest soon led him to Buddhist meditation. Now ordained as a monk in the Sakya Tibetan tradition, he has also studied and practiced meditation under Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village in France, and Pa Auk Tawya in the Burmese Forest tradition. His approach is informed by Theravadin, Zen, and Vajrayana methods of meditation and mindfulness, as well as Hatha Yoga, Deep Ecology, and his love of wild places. He currently lives in Gumbaynggirr country on the Dorrigo Plateau, Australia, where he cofounded the Gaia Forest Project to co-create community space for meditation and nature connection (gaiaforest.org).
Of Franco-Austrian background, Christian Bernert’s connection with the Buddhadharma was formally forged in 1999, when he met his first teacher, the late Khenchen Sherab Gyaltsen Amipa Rinpoche. Since 2001, Christian has also participated in the yearly summer programs at the International Buddhist Academy (IBA) in Kathmandu, studying important philosophical texts and receiving training in a variety of practice traditions. Christian received an MA in Tibetan studies from the University of Vienna in 2009, followed by a two-year translator training at the International Buddhist Academy (IBA) in Kathmandu. He currently translates for Khyentse Vision Project (khyentsevision.org) and Chödung Karmo Translation Group (chodungkarmo.org), coordinates Dharma programs for IBA, and teaches yearly seminars at the European centres of Khenchen Sherab Gyaltsen Amipa. His publications include Words of a Gentle Sage: Collected Teachings of Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, vols. 1 & 2 (2018 & 2022), Adorning Maitreya’s Intent: A Commentary on the Madhyāntavibhāga by Rongtön Sheja Kunrik (2017), and various sūtras for 84000, as well as ongoing translation of the works of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.
DAILY SCHEDULE (day 1 will begin at 2pm, day 7 will finish at noon):
AM
5:00 Wake up
5:30-6:00 Silent meditation, brief morning chanting (30 mins)
6:00-7:00 Physical exercise (Qi Gong, Yoga)
7:00 Breakfast
8:00-8:45 Silent meditation (45 mins)
8:45-9:00 Break
9:00-10:30 Dharma Talk 1 & meditation (30 mins)
10:30 Tea break
11:00-12:00 Meditation (45 mins sitting & 15 mins walking)
12:00 Lunch
PM
2:00 Dharma Talk 2 & meditation (30 mins)
3:30 Tea break
4:00-6:30 Meditation period (alternating sitting and walking meditation, and rest)
6:30 Dinner
7:30-9:00 Q&A (45 mins), meditation & evening chanting (45 mins)
9:30 Bed time
3. September 11 – September 18
Discovering the Buddha’s Path of Wisdom and Compassion
8-day immersive introduction to the foundations of Buddhism, with Br. Tenzin and Christian Bernert (including a 2-day meditation retreat)
DESCRIPTION: Journey into the heart of Buddhist wisdom with this immersive 8-day course. Led by an Australian Buddhist monk, Brother Tenzin, and an Austrian lay practitioner with over a decade of experience translating Tibetan texts, this course offers a unique blend of traditional teachings and contemporary relevance.
This retreat provides a precious opportunity to pause, reflect, and cultivate inner peace. Over five days of engaging classes led by the facilitators, you’ll explore the foundational principles of Buddhism, from the four noble truths to the art of mindfulness, all while learning practical techniques to navigate life’s challenges with grace and wisdom. The course culminates in a two-day silent meditation retreat, allowing you to deepen your practice and integrate your learnings in a supportive environment.
Whether you’re seeking to reduce stress, find clarity and meaning in your life, or are simply curious about Buddhism, this course offers something for everyone. With a balanced schedule of meditation, lectures, group discussions, and body work, you’ll experience firsthand the transformative power of Buddhist practices.
DAILY SCHEDULE (day 1 will begin at 2pm, day 8 will finish at noon):
5 days main course:
AM
6:00 Qi Gong or Yoga
7:00 Breakfast
8:00 Calm abiding meditation
9.00 Dharma talk 1
10.30 Tea Break
11.00 Self study and meditation
12:00 Lunch & Rest
PM
2:00 Dharma Talk 2 (with Q&A)
3:30 Tea break
4:00 Qi Gong or yoga (optional)
5:00 Discussion groups and self-study
6:30 Dinner
7:30 Guided meditations
8:30 Retire
2-day retreat:
AM
5:00 Wake up
5:30-6:00 Silent meditation, brief morning chanting
6:00-7:00 Physical exercise (Qi Gong, Yoga)
7:00 Breakfast
8:00-8:45 Silent meditation
8:45-9:00 Break
9:00-10:30 Dharma Talk & meditation
10:30 Tea break
11:00-12:00 Meditation (sitting & walking)
12:00 Lunch
PM
2:00 Dharma Talk & meditation
3:30 Tea break
4:00-6:30 Meditation period (sitting, walking, and resting)
6:30 Dinner
7:30-9:00 Q&A, meditation & evening chanting
9:30 Retire