General Spiritual Director
Foundation Programs at Kadampa Centers around the world
Nov 15, 2024
2021 in retrospect
Part 1 ~ January-June
As 2021 draws to a close, we take a look back at some of the wonderful events that have happened during the year.
January 2021~ a month of retreats
The month of January, specifically 3-31, is a powerful time for practitioners of Heruka and Vajrayogini, the principal Tantric Deities of Modern Kadampa Buddhism, to make offerings and do retreat. Every year Kadampa centers around the world emphasise retreat during this month. Visit the links below to see some of these retreats in 2021.
follow the links to the previous posts to discover more
february 2021 ~ The Long life practice of Buddha Amitayus
Traditionally at Kadampa centers, February is a time to engage in the practice of Amitayus, the Buddha of long life, wisdom, and merit Some centers engage in short retreats, while others offer special pujas.
follow the link to the previous post to discover more
March 2021~ an international Burning offering
After performing close retreats of Heruka and Vajrayogini, it is traditional to perform a burning offering to purify any mistakes and complete the process of qualifying to perform self initiation.
This year, due to travel and other restrictions imposed by the pandemic, people who had taken part in close retreats, whether at a center or individually, were invited to join a special international burning offering online presided over by Gen-la Dekyong at Manjushri KMC.
follow the link to the previous post to discover more
april 2021 ~ Buddha's enlightenment day
April 15th marks the anniversary of Buddha Shakyamuni demonstrating the attainment of enlightenment in 589 B.C.E. It is an extremely important day in the Buddhist calendar because our actions are thousands of times more powerful than on other days. The event is marked by special purification and fasting retreats in Kadampa Buddhist centers worldwide based on the practice Drop of Essential Nectar.
follow the links to the previous posts to discover more
may 2021~ International Spring Festival
Once again this year, the International Kadampa Spring Festival was held at Manjushri KMC, but because of covid restrictions the event was online only and streamed to thousands of people worldwide. Gen-la Khyenrab granted the empowerment of Buddha Shakyamuni and gave a commentary to the Request to the Lord of All Lineages prayer.
follow the links to the previous posts to discover more
june 2021 ~ Venerable Geshe-la's birthday celebration
June 4, Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day, was the 90th birthday of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. Kadampa centers around the world joined in a special celebration of retreat and puja, thus inaugurating a new event that will now take place every year on that date.
