Celebrating Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day and the Birthday of our Spiritual Guide
Jun 4, 2026
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.
The conclusion of the 2026 Spring Festival offers us an opportunity to reflect on this truly inspiring event.
The temple is full of dedicated practitioners from around the world meditating in two final sessions on deepening our mind of compassion until it transforms into the compassion of a Buddha. In this way we awaken our Buddha nature – wishing to attain Enlightenment for all living beings.
The path leading to the attainment of enlightenment is a steady development of our positive qualities of mind. Each step of spiritual training brings us closer to the goal. Of all the practices on the path, the simplest and most effective is to rejoice in virtue.
June 4 is the Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day on which we celebrate Buddha’s first teaching in this world – the first Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. It is also the birthday of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, the Founder of NKT.