Our Founder

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche

How to Enter Buddhism

Supreme Inner Protection

Mahayana Refuge Vow Ceremony, teachings and retreat on Buddhist refuge with Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab

29th March - 4th April 2024

By sincerely going for refuge to the Three Precious Jewels - Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha - we come under the protecting umbrella of Buddhism. We receive profound, powerful blessings which endow us with inner protection.

Following the traditional method passed through oral instructions by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for engaging in the great preliminary guide of Going for Refuge and including meditations on Lamrim, the stages of the path, from the book, The Mirror of Dharma with Additions, Gen la Kelsang Khyenrab will guide all retreat sessions after the teachings and Mahayana Refuge Ceremony.

Everybody is welcome!

Movie Night: The Life of Buddha

Friday 5th April 7:00-9:30pm

The Life of Buddha is a special dramatic presentation, inspired by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche and his teachings, that visually captures the essence of Buddha Shakyamuni's life story. Based on the twelve principal deeds of Buddha, it reveals in a clear and moving way the essential characteristics of a spiritual life.

Half-Day Course: Making Happiness a Habit

Saturday 6th April 10:00-1:00pm

Our thoughts create our world, so our mind can be our best friend or our worst enemy. How wonderful it would be to relate to ourself and our world in a way that allows happiness and joy to naturally arise from within. Join us to learn together how to make happiness a habit.

Everybody is welcome – no need for any previous experience of meditation.

NKT Day ~ Open Day at Tara IKRC

Saturday 6th April 1:30-3:30pm

On this day we will have two one-hour sessions which will include: free guided meditation, New Kadampa Tradition video showing and a talk on the history of Ashe Hall. Everyone is welcome to Tara IKRC Open Day. No need to book, just drop in.

On this day we will also offer in the morning a Half Day course: Making Happiness a Habit. If you wish to attend this course you will need to book in advance or pay at the door. Please make sure you arrive 15 minutes before the course starts.

Friday Night Lecture: Karma - Why do things turn out the way they do?

Friday 12th April 7:30-9:00pm

The law of karma is a special instance of the law of cause and effect. Karma means ‘action’, and refers to the actions of our body, speech, and mind. Every action we perform leaves an imprint, or potentiality, on our very subtle mind, and each imprint eventually gives rise to its own effect.

On this Friday Night Lecture, Gen-la Kelsanga Khyenrab will explain the law of karma, the idea that every physical, verbal or mental action we perform plants a seed, or potential, in our mind that eventually ripens as an effect. Negative seeds ripen as an experience of suffering, while positive actions ripen as an experience of happiness.

Nyungnay Fasting Retreat

Saturday 13th - Monday 15th April

A special method of purification in conjunction with the practice of One-thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion. Purify your negative karma and clear obstacles with this fasting retreat

Buddha's Enlightenment Day is April 15th with Offering to the Spiritual Guide puja at 7.30pm This day marks Buddha Shakyamuni demonstrating the manner of attaining enlightenment in 589BCE - our actions today are multiplied 100,000 times

Curry & Calm

Friday 26th April 2024

 Put the stress and tension of daily life behind you and enjoy an evening of relaxing guided meditation followed by a tasty, home-cooked, vegetarian curry meal at Tara International Kadampa Retreat Centre.

Finding Freedom and Peace with Kelsang Tharlam

May 3rd - 6th - a Getaway Weekend

(One Day Passes available)


A perfectly peaceful weekend of relaxing and refreshing guided meditation suitable for everyone. Learn to grow your inner peace and enjoy tranquility within your own mind. Easy sessions in beautiful countryside environment, walks and fresh air with lots of time to rest.

March -September 2024

All Retreats

From one day retreats to six week retreats
Post Festival retreats and more...

Classes in your local area

Derby City

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Burton upon Trent

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Lichfield

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Loughborough

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Newcastle-Under-Lyme

Classes in your local area

Uttoxeter

Classes in your local area

Ashbourne

Free Events

Chanted Prayers

Click through to learn more
Special opportunities to gather together and develop powerful positive intentions

Lunchtime Meditation

Mon - Fri 12.30pm || 20mins
Simple guided meditation to bring some inner peace and become familiar with the basics of developing our own meditation practice

Prayers for World Peace

Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm || 60 mins
An opportunity to join together in guided prayers, developing compassion and dedicating our prayers towards World Peace

Google reviews
I don't know if I can express with words everything I've lived in this wonderful place! I think as much as I try, I can't because it was just magical! The beauty of the place, the peace that the place brought me, the meditations, the people who lived there or just volunteered, everything was just perfect, everything was as it should have been. I just have to thank everything I've experienced and I highly recommend it! I will definitely be back too!
— Joseli
An oasis of calm and tranquility where you can learn and practice meditation. Everyone there is so laid back and friendly. The grounds are extensive and well maintained if you just want to wander around and enjoy the peaceful vibe of the place. Excellent cafe and gift shop too.
— Tim M
A beautiful centre with a lovely cafe, grounds and excellent meditation classes. The meditation hall is very peaceful and the teachers are wonderful. A very special place. I would highly recommend a visit.
— Catherine T
A beautiful spot to relax and refocus the mind. The grounds surrounding the building are beautiful and plentiful. The staff are super helpful, and very welcoming. It was my first visit recently, but fully intend to return again soon.
— Frankie's Aquatics
Loved it. Beautiful gardens and lovely teachings by the lovely Buddhists The cafe was great and food was healthy and tasty . Will be visiting again
— Wendi M
I have just returned from the weekend retreat and have to say I had the most wonderful time! I had never been anywhere like this before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Wow, it is such a beautiful place with beautiful people. The classes and meditations are very clear and eye opening. I will now be using these in my daily life and want to learn a lot more. I will definitely be back. Thank you so much for a life-changing weekend.
— Gemma H
What can I say about the most beautiful place I have ever been fortunate to have been a part of. The community, the grounds, the food, the love, the tranquility, second to none. If you can, you should. What a place.
— Greg H
Everybody Welcome

Tara International Kadampa Retreat Centre

Tara IKRC

Ashe Hall
Ash Lane
Etwall
Derby
DE65 6HT