FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Tharpa Publications?
A: Tharpa Publications is a non-profit Buddhist publisher that is now part of the New Kadampa Tradition-International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU). It was established in 1983 with the main purpose of publishing books by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. The word 'Tharpa' (pronounced 'Tar-pa') means 'Liberation' and was suggested by Geshe Kelsang. for more information.
Q: I know nothing about Buddhism, which books do you recommend for a beginner?
A: We produce a range of books for beginners, which are headlined in our section of the website, all of which require no previous knowledge of Buddhism:
- is a clear and inspiring explanation of key Buddhist principles.
- is a special presentation of Buddha's teachings on compassion and wisdom that communicates their essence in a way that is easy to understand and put into practice.
- is an explanation of twenty-one essential Buddhist meditations that guide us step-by-step towards enlightenment.
- includes practical advice for transforming our mind, our relationships and our life.
- explains how Buddha's teachings can help us to solve basic human problems such as anger.
- is a clear and simple introduction to the very essence of Buddhist Tantric meditation.
Q: I want to learn to meditate, which books or CDs do you recommend?
A: is an explanation of twenty-one essential Buddhist meditations that guide us step-by-step towards enlightenment, and also includes practical information on how to begin and sustain a daily meditation practice. Our series includes a popular range of guided meditation CDs, which are a perfect way to learn to meditate. They include explanatory booklets with techniques on how to improve our meditation practice. The Meditation section of our website includes some basic information about and .
Q: I'm placing an order for an NKT Buddhist Centre. What should I enter in the 'Purchase Order' field at checkout?
A: You can enter whatever you like here. The information you enter as a purchase order number is entirely for your own use. It will appear on your order confirmation and invoice. Your Administrative Director or Treasurer may like to provide you with a purchase order number so they can match up the Tharpa invoice with their own record of the purchase.
Q: When will I receive my order?
A: We will endeavour to dispatch goods within 3-4 working days of receipt of your order.
Delivery times, however, cannot be guaranteed, especially in the case of severe weather conditions or other circumstances which delay deliveries by the mail services. If you have not received your order within 10 working days, and have received no notification from us giving reasons for delay, please contact us by telephone or email. (For deliveries to rural Queensland, NT, WA or New Zealand, please allow 14 days from dispatch.)
Delivery times, however, cannot be guaranteed, especially in the case of severe weather conditions or other circumstances which delay deliveries by the mail services. If you have not received your order within 10 working days, and have received no notification from us giving reasons for delay, please contact us by telephone or email. (For deliveries to rural Queensland, NT, WA or New Zealand, please allow 14 days from dispatch.)
Q: How much will postage cost?
Postage is calculated based on the weight of your order and the destination. Some regions are significantly more expensive to ship to and this will be reflected in the postage charge. If you want to calculate the cost of postage, add your chosen items to your cart and use the 'Shipping Estimate' feature in the shopping cart to calculate the cost.
Q: How do I return an item?
A: We want you to be delighted every time you shop with us. However, occasionally we know that you may want to return items. Provided that goods are returned to us in accordance with the conditions explained under our , and within 30 days of the date you received the item, we will refund any monies paid to us in respect of the cancelled order.
Q: I'm having problems placing my order over the Internet. What should I do?
A: If you are having problems ordering online we'd be happy to take your order over the phone. Please email us at info.au@tharpa.com to let us know when you are available for us to call you back (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) and we will get in touch.
Q: Can you recommend any meditation groups to learn to meditate?
A: The New Kadampa Tradition has over 1,000 meditation groups in many major cities throughout the World. To find your nearest group please
Q: I'm having problems with my download. What should I do?
A: If you have purchased a downloadable product but cannot access the downloads please ensure that you have enabled your Tharpa.com account.
New accounts need to be 'enabled' by clicking on the link in the confirmation email sent when you set up your account. Occasionally these emails are filtered into the spam folder so please check in there if you cannot find it in your email inbox.
Once you have enabled your account by clicking on the link in the email you should be able to access your downloads by logging in to www.tharpa.com/au and going to 'My downloadable products'.
if you need more detailed instructions on how to access your download.
If you have followed these steps but still cannot access your download please .
Q: Why does Tharpa only sell books written by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso?
A: There are many traditions of Buddhism and all are equally precious. The presentation of Buddha's teachings may change, but it is important that the lineage of these teachings remains pure and unbroken. The main purpose in establishing Tharpa Publications was to spread the Kadampa Buddhist teachings of the lineage of Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa as specially presented for the modern world by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Q: What happens to the profits from the sale of Tharpa products?
A: All profits received by Tharpa Publications are donated to the NKT-International Temples Project, which is part of the New Kadampa Tradition-International Kadampa Buddhist Union, a non-profit charity registered in England and established for public benefit.