General Spiritual Director
Portugal National Festival 2024 ~ with Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong
Apr 30, 2024
Open House & Volunteer Efforts at IKRC Grand Canyon
The International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon recently organized a series of community-oriented events, featuring a welcoming open house and a dedicated volunteer service weekend. The open house offered an insightful glimpse into Kadampa Buddhism and meditation practices, attracting a diverse group of attendees. Prior to this, a team of volunteers from various Kadampa centers devoted their time to enhance and maintain the temple & environment.
Open House
On Saturday, September 23, 2023, the International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon welcomed the general public with a complimentary pancake breakfast and open house. The event saw an attendance of approximately 70 individuals, including representatives from local fire departments, High Country Fire Rescue, and Sherwood Forest.
Gen-la Kelsang Jampa, along with two other instructors, conducted four meditation sessions in the Temple from 8:30 am to 12 pm. Additionally, Kelsang Samsang and Mary Harvey led informative Temple tours, addressing queries about the Temple's artwork, meditation practices, and the principles of Kadampa Buddhism. The residents of IKRC collaboratively ensured the serving of a delightful breakfast and managed the bookstore/café, offering a pleasant experience for guests to shop and relax.
Volunteer Weekend
Eighteen volunteers from various Kadampa Meditation Centers, including KMC-LA, KMC Colorado, KMC Arizona, KMC Phoenix, KMC Florida, and KMC New Mexico, dedicated their weekend from September 15-17 to serve at the IKRC Grand Canyon. They diligently aided the residents and managers in conducting the first extensive cleaning of the Temple since its inauguration in 2019.
To ensure thorough cleaning, a lift was used to access and clean the windows across all five tiers inside the Temple, up to the Dharma Wheel, making the glass on the shrine sparkle. Meanwhile, volunteers took to the ladders to clean the outer windows from the roof. Additional helpers engaged in diverse landscaping projects around the extensive grounds. The collaborative efforts were deeply appreciated by IKRC, marking the fulfilment of crucial center-maintaining tasks with the help of cherished sangha friends.
