Beginning Thursday evening Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong, Resident Teacher and General Spiritual Director of NKT-IKBU, gave a truly inspiring introduction celebrating Venerable Geshe-la's amazing deeds and qualities and introducing us to a special retreat to be held the following day. Besides those in the Temple, hundreds of people around the world tuned in to watch this talk online.

INAUGURATING AN EXTRAORDINARY ANNUAL EVENT
Then on Friday 4, Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day and the 90th birthday of Venerable Geshe-la, we engaged in the first of what will now become a special annual event - a one-day retreat celebrating the kindness of Venerable Geshe-la and offering our faith.

The center was closed for the day during which we engaged in three sessions of retreat using the sadhana Hundreds of Deities of the Joyful Land combined with Request to the Holy Spiritual Guide Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche from his Faithful Disciples. We recited and collected Venerable Geshe-la's name mantra during the sessions.

From this time forth this event will be celebrated every year on June 4 in perpetuity.

SUBLIME OFFERING TO THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE
The day concluded with a sublime Offering to the Spiritual Guide puja for Venerable Geshe-la's long life.

What an incredibly special day!

Thank you Venerable Geshe-la for your extraordinary presence in this world.  May you remain with us until all suffering has permanently ceased.