About Us

Karuna Hospice Services is a specialist community-based palliative care charity. Our team supports people living with terminal illness in their homes for as long as possible. We support carers and family members and also assist them with service navigation, grief and bereavement counselling and spiritual care and guidance, no matter the religious or spiritual denomination. Karuna is an inclusive organisation and accepts referrals from a number of sources. Karuna offers a no-fee service accessible throughout Brisbane North and into Caboolture, Redcliffe and Bribie Island.

Our Vision:

A world where people with life limiting illness live well and die peacefully.

Our Purpose:

Supporting people affected by life limiting illness to receive person-centred care in their place of choice.

Our Values:

HOW WE THINK
Humility: To delight in providing noble service in an altruistic manner for the benefit of all with whom we connect.

HOW WE ACT
Kindness: With a generous spirit we will nurture relationships with grace and empathy.

HOW WE RELATE
Respect: We commit to freely offering and affirming the uniqueness of all we encounter.

HOW WE FIND MEANING
Courage: “Courage is about stretch, it’s about realising that something more or different can be done, developing the determination to do it, and then carrying through despite all obstacles.” 16 Guidelines for Life

Buddhist Values

Gently underpinning our work, our spiritual foundation derives from Tibetan Buddhism, specifically the teachings and practices of Lama Thubten Yeshe (1935-1983) and Lama Zopa Rinpoche of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Karuna is one of 200 global FPMT service and teaching organisations. Learn more about the FPMT here.

In serving the community we follow the inspirational ideals and examples set by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, whose own lifelong mission is to serve others with universal compassion and kindness. We are grateful that in 2007, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Karuna and accepted our request to be Karuna’s Spiritual Patron.

The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) is a world wide organisation with a large network of centres, projects and services. It is devoted to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values through teaching, meditation and community and other service. Its international network consists of buddhist education and meditation centres, retreat centres, and projects whose functions are dedicated to the FPMT mission.

FPMT was founded in 1975 by Lama Thubten Yeshe (1935-84) and Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, both Tibetan Buddhist monks. The Foundation is devoted to preserving and spreading Mahayana Buddhism worldwide by creating opportunities to listen, reflect, meditate, practice, and actualize the unmistaken teachings of the Buddha and based on that experience spreading the Dharma to sentient beings.

The organisation provides integrated education through which people can be transformed into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility and service. FPMT is committed to creating harmonious environments and helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion. FPMT, Inc. is the non-profit religious corporation incorporated in the State of California, USA. FPMT International Office is the the headquarters of the FPMT organisation, and the corporate office and principal place of business of FPMT, Inc.

FPMT Mission Statement
FPMT Ethical Policy
FPMT Protecting From Abuse Policy

Lama Thubten Yeshe

FPMT is committed to creating harmonious environments and to helping all beings to develop their full potential of wisdom and compassion.

The organisation is based on the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as taught by its founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe and spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche.