Soup & Serenity
Friday 10th April
12:30pm Meditation with Cheryl Choong
1:00pm Meal in the Dining Hall
Step away from the busyness of daily life and enjoy a deeply peaceful and nourishing experience.
We begin with a guided breathing meditation, using Living Meditations series created by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, drawn from ancient Buddhist wisdom. These gentle methods help calm the mind, release tension, and bring a natural sense of inner stillness and clarity.
After the meditation, you are warmly invited to enjoy a delicious home-made soup, lovingly prepared and served in our cosy Dining Hall — a perfect way to continue the experience of peace, contentment, and quiet enjoyment.
Curry & Calm
Friday 10th April
6:30pm Meditation with Kelsang Sama
7:30pm Meal in the Dining Hall
Let go of the busyness of the week and ease into a peaceful, uplifting evening.
We begin with a short, practical teaching followed by a gentle guided meditation to help you unwind, release tension, and reconnect with a sense of inner calm. It’s the perfect way to leave behind the stresses of daily life and arrive at a place of quiet relaxation.
Afterwards, enjoy a delicious home-cooked vegetarian curry, freshly prepared and served in the peaceful surroundings of Tara International Retreat Centre. A truly nourishing experience for both body and mind.
Why do We Get Angry?
Saturday 11th April | 10am - 1pm
with Gen Kelsang Dema
Buddha taught clearly that anger undermines our happiness and disturbs our inner peace. It serves no real purpose other than to harm us and those around us.
By learning to recognise how anger arises and understanding its true causes, we can begin to loosen its hold on our mind. With this insight, we naturally develop the motivation to let go of this destructive habit and cultivate a calmer, more peaceful way of being.
How to be Truly Patient
Saturday 11th April | 2 - 5pm
with Kelsang Tharlam
On this half-day course, discover practical methods to develop the most beautiful and powerful state of mind — patience.
Rather than being a weak or passive response, patience is a source of inner strength and clarity. It enables us to face life’s challenges with confidence, remain peaceful in difficult situations, and respond to others with wisdom and kindness.
By training in patience, we gradually free ourselves from anger and frustration, creating the inner space needed to grow and fulfil our deeper spiritual potential.
A Patient Mind
Sunday 12th April | 10am - 1pm
with Edward Degg
In today’s fast-paced world, patience can feel increasingly out of reach. Even with the best intentions, it often seems as though people, situations, and daily pressures are constantly testing us.
On this half-day retreat, we will explore how patience is a virtuous and powerful state of mind, one that protects our inner peace and allows us to respond to life’s challenges with clarity and strength. Rather than reacting with frustration, we can learn to remain calm, positive, and in control.
Through guided meditations, we will learn how to become familiar with a mind of patience, gradually transforming the way we experience difficult situations and relationships. As this inner quality develops, we naturally experience greater peace, resilience, and acceptance in our daily life.
Special Retreats
How to Come to Terms with Our Death and Enjoy a Meaningful Life
Fri 24th - Wed 29th April 2026
with Guest Teacher Gen Kelsang Chökyong
Many of our everyday problems — stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction — arise from overlooking the truth of our impermanent nature. By gently learning to accept this reality, we can release deep-seated fears and discover a more peaceful, meaningful way of living.
On this special retreat, we will explore how to align our mind with the truth of our life, opening the door to a deeply fulfilling and purposeful future. Through guided meditations based on Buddha’s Lamrim teachings, we will begin to uncover our potential for limitless inner growth and lasting happiness.
Suitable for everyone — no previous experience needed
Weekly Drop-in Classes at Tara IKRC
Lunchtime Meditation Class
Monday to Friday 12:30-1:00pm
Suitable for Beginners
Tuesday Evening Meditation Class
Tuesday 7:30-9:00pm
with Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab
Suitable for Beginners
Wednesday Morning Meditation Class
Wednesday 11:00-12:15pm
with Donna Healey
Suitable for Beginners
Friday Morning Meditation Class
Friday 10:30-12:00pm
with Kelsang Sama
Suitable for Beginners
Meditation Classes in Your Area
Ashbourne || Belper || Burton-upon-Trent || Lichfield || Loughborough || Newcastle-under-Lyme || Spondon || Stafford || Swadlincote || Uttoxeter
Each class of the term is self-contained, so you are welcome to join at any point. Each class is followed by complimentary refreshments and the opportunity to ask questions.
You do not need to be a Buddhist to attend, and no previous experience of meditation is required. Everybody is welcome!
Free Events at Tara IKRC
Prostrations to the 35 Confession Buddhas
The Bodhisattva’s Confession of Moral Downfalls
Thursdays 7:30pm
One of the most powerful methods for purifying negativity is The Bodhisattva’s Confession of Moral Downfalls, also known as the Mahayana Sutra of the Three Superior Heaps.
In this practice, we visualize the Thirty-five Confession Buddhas and engage in purification in their presence. Through the power of their blessings and prayers, we can quickly purify even heavy negative actions by sincerely reciting their names with faith.
Prayers for World Peace
Sundays at 10:30-11:45am
(except during retreats, so please check the calendar)
Take a break from your day and find some inner calm.
Enjoy relaxing guided meditations, a short teaching on love and compassion, and the beautiful Prayers for World Peace that will help you navigate life with a more peaceful, positive mind. No need to book. Just drop in! Everybody welcome!
More of Kadampa Buddhism
Kadampa Podcasts: Living Clarity
Welcome to Kadampa podcasts, where we explore the art of living a happier and more fulfilling life through the teachings of Kadampa Buddhism.
Each episode is an inspiring extract taken from a teaching given by various Kadampa Buddhist Teachers worldwide. Whether you're new to Buddhism or have been practising for years, these podcasts are for anyone looking to live a more peaceful and fulfilling life.
The Modern Buddhism Podcast
Welcome to the Modern Buddhism Podcast, where we explore how meditation and Buddha's timeless wisdom can help all of us to cultivate a deeper inner peace, happiness, and resilience in daily life.
Listen to inspiring conversations with people who live these teachings every day.
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!
A very special and beautiful place. The people are incredibly sweet and welcoming. The meditation classes and retreats are well-designed for all levels, and the rooms are very comfortable for a long-term stay. I have a transformational experience every time I visit here.
Such an amazing place. You can feel the calming influence as soon as you get there. Lovely staff and the food and drinks are great too.
Such an amazing place. Have stayed there twice now, once for a retreat and once during the week just so I cpuld be in the energy of the teachings and get reconnected again. I highly recommend the teachings and even if you don't follow Buddhism it's a beautiful energy to be in
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
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.
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.