200 people gathered at KMC Australia in the Dandenong Ranges just outside Melbourne for a long weekend with a difference. They were attending the 2019 Australia Dharma Celebration with Gen Kelsang Rabten, the National Spiritual Director of Australia and New Zealand.

Gen Rabten gave the blessing empowerment of Buddha Shakyamuni and taught the art of successful meditation.

Before the empowerment, Gen Rabten explained Buddha's incredible kindness in showing us, step by step, the path to complete and permanent freedom, and he encouraged us to open our heart to Buddha's blessings.

The theme of the teachings over the weekend was how to prepare for meditation. By preparing well, our meditations will be successful. Our preparatory prayers are like signposts that show us where our mind should be, and help to transport us to the minds that will lead to our enlightenment.

Gen Rabten also encouraged us to remember that Buddha is with us all the time. We just need to ‘tune in’ to his blessings.

In the mornings Gen Ani, Resident Teacher at KMC Perth, guided us in meditations to help us put the teachings into practice immediately, and to start our day with clear and peaceful minds.

It was a blissful Easter weekend with a very special Teacher and very special Sangha.

Please enjoy this brief excerpt from Gen Rabten’s teaching and the photos of this special weekend.