Nordic National Festival with Gen-la Dekyong
Mar 17, 2024
Modern Kadampa Buddhism
New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union
Founder:
The Founder of Modern Kadampa Buddhism is Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, affectionately known as Venerable Geshe-la, a world-renowned meditation master and Teacher. He inspired thousands of people around the world to apply the pure teachings of Buddha to their modern lives to solve their personal problems and discover a deep and lasting inner peace and happiness. Today, the legacy of his life's work touches the lives of people of all nationalities and cultures.
"The day will come when you will do my job."
VENERABLE GESHE KELSANG GYATSO RINPOCHE
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche devoted his entire life to making the pure teachings of Buddha available in a modern form to people throughout the world.
Now Venerable Geshe-la's followers holding him at their hearts continue his work with auspicious projects in every region of the world.
Practitioners from throughout the Nordic Region, as well as from the Netherlands and the UK, came together at KMC Oslo for the Nordic National Festival 2024. Gen-la Dekyong granted the blessing empowerment of Arya Tara and gave commentary to the practice of Tara Powa.
At the beginning of March, we welcomed back our National Spiritual Director, Gen Rabten who did a tour of New Zealand. Almost 300 fortunate people from all over the country attended a total of 4 events.
At KMC Mexico Gen Sangden granted the Bodhisattva Vows and teachings on the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life in a course entitled ‘Becoming a Friend of the World’. The event consisted of three teachings followed by the Bodhisattva Vow Ceremony where more than 80 people took the vows in person and many more online.
The Mid-Atlantic US Dharma Celebration took place at KMC Maryland in Baltimore from March 8-10th, with over 100 people in attendance from the 6 Kadampa centers in the region. East coast US National Spiritual Director, Kadam Morten Clausen granted Medicine Buddha empowerment and gave some inspiring teachings. Gen Kelsang Demo, Midwest US National Spiritual Director, guided us in morning meditation sessions.
The stunning new metal Buddha Shakyamuni statue created at the Kadampa Art Studio first appeared at the International NKT-IKBU Summer Festival 2023.. Following the Festival Madhyamaka KMC received the news that the center would be the statue’s home. As a prototype statue for Kadampa Buddhist Centers worldwide, it seemed appropriate that this precious statue would be coming to Madhyamaka KMC, the first Kadampa Center opened by Venerable Geshe-la, back in 1986.
Always rely upon a happy mind alone. The measurement of having trained our mind is that we are always calm and happy. Before we have trained our mind, it changes according to our circumstances. When times are good, we are happy, but when they change for the worse, we become unhappy. Our mind is so unstable that it can change in an instant, one moment happy and excited and the next downcast and despondent. A controlled mind will remain happy and calm no matter what the conditions. Some scholars and meditators have called training the mind "the city that is the source of happiness".