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About Chandrakirti | Directors | Meditation Hall | Stupa
About Chandrakirti Meditation Centre
The Chandrakirti Centre is a Tibetan Buddhist study and meditation centre, situated on a beautiful 5 acre property in the rolling hills of the Nelson Countryside. The Centre is a member of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), a world-wide network of over 120 centres under the guidance of renowned Tibetan master, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Inspired by the visits to Nelson of Lama Zopa and his Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1996 and 2002, the centre aims to promote the wisdom, compassion and love that is at the core of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and practice.
The Centre is fortunate to host important Buddhist teachers from around the world, and is motivated by a vision of developing the facilities and environment that will help as many people as possible to overcome suffering and achieve wisdom and happiness.
Our centre is named after the great Indian scholar Chandrakirti, a student of Nagarjuna's and Nalanda University's most famous Abbot. In the 6th century Chandrakirti wrote the Madhyamikavattara, "The Entrance Into the Middle Way" a root text for the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism.
The directors of the Chandrakirti Centre are Bruce Farley and Phillipa Rutherford. They have been supporting and spreading Tibetan Buddhist teachings for many years and played a central role in bringing His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Nelson in 1996 and 2001. They bring strong business backgrounds to their work on developing and funding the Centre and are committed to promoting the teachings of the Tibetan lineage masters and supporting their refforts to help others attain true happiness and peace of mind.
Center Director Values
- Fulfilling the wishes of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and practising guru devotion
- Maintaining the integrity of the teachings, the lineage, teachers and tradition
- Harmony and unity -- working together
- Having something to offer others that will uplift their lives
- Always aiming for the highest good
- Assisting more people to find the true path
- Members contributing more to general operating of the centre
- The value of having a resident teacher
Nalanda Hall was named and opened by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 29 May 2002. Sitting in a grove of trees high on a ridge, with views out over the surrounding gardens and the western mountains, Nalanda Hall is the focal point if the Centre's activities. The building combines traditional Tibetan architecture with modern design and serves as an education centre for Buddhist studies, a gathering for regular meditation groups and a wonderful environment for hosting visiting teachers.
Unique among all forms of sacred architecture, the stupa is the quintessential symbol of enlightenment, and the primordial sacred structure for all Buddhist traditions. Blessed by mantras and prayers that represent the body, speech and mind of the Buddha, the Chandrakirti Long Life Stupa is empowered by the relics of holy beings and filled with many statues and paintings. The Stupa was consecrated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 29 May 2002.
Holy objects such as stupas create the cause of success and happiness. Because holy objects exist, sentient being make offerings to them. This helps them to create the causes of happiness and this is how they experience happiness up to the highest happpiness of enlightenment.".........Lama Zopa Rinpoche
May whoever sees, remembers, thinks or talks about this site never be born in the lower realms, receive only perfect human rebirths, meet a perfectly qualified spiritual friend, and quickly achieve Guru Buddha's enlightened state.The Chandrakirti Centre gratefully acknowledges Tasman Solutions for hosting this website.
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