General Spiritual Director
Fall Festival 2024 ~ Day 8
Nov 2, 2024
Entering the New Year with Blessings & Joy 〜 Part 1
Centers around the world celebrated New Year's Eve in numerous ways, entering 2024 with blessings and joy. Communities gathered to enjoy courses, empowerments, chanted prayers, and festive buffets to start the year in the most meaningful way. See the article to hear from Manjushri KMC in the UK, KMC Montreal in Canada, KMC Durban in South Africa, Tharpaland KMC in Germany, and KMC France.
Manjushri KMC, United Kingdom
At Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in Ulverston, the Mother Centre of the NKT-IKBU, hundreds of people gathered to hear the inspiring teachings of Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong, the NKT-IKBU General Spiritual Director. We received wonderful advice for a Happy New Year: learn to cherish others. In the first part of the course, Gen-la Dekyong emphasized the importance of caring about others as a source of our happiness.
The introductory talk concluded with a buffet where everyone shared quality time discussing the teachings and expressing wishes for the coming year. At 11 pm, participants reassembled in the First Kadampa Temple for World Peace for the commentary to the Prayers for World Peace, which were chanted past midnight. This marked the entry into the New Year with an altruistic motivation to pray for permanent peace in our world.
Canada, KMC Montreal
Kadampa Meditation Centre Montreal marked New Year's Eve with an event dedicated to inspiring ourselves for the New Year entitled Transforming Wishes into Reality. During the day, Gen Kelsang Chögyan granted the empowerment of Buddha Arya Tara to many people, including those participating in an empowerment for the first time. We felt deep gratitude to Venerable Geshe-la for imparting this extraordinary knowledge that leads us beyond sorrow. Afterwards, we had lunch together - a warm and joyful moment in the tea room adorned with festive lights.
In the afternoon, Gen Chögyan provided an essential commentary on the sublime practice of Liberation from Sorrow, which we later engaged in during a 24-hour Tara retreat. Such a meaningful way to usher in the New Year. Happy New Year to all!
South Africa, KMC Durban
A wonderful group of individuals, spanning all ages and walks of life, gathered at KMC Durban to enjoy a 'Fresh Start' to 2024. Following an inspiring talk and guided meditation by our Resident Teacher, Gen Jampel, we relished a delicious brunch, concluding the morning with blessed and powerful chanted prayers to Arya Tara. In this way, we collectively initiated our year, contributing in a deep and meaningful way to the welfare of the people in this world.
Germany, Tharpaland KMC
On December 31, people from Berlin and the surrounding area gathered at Tharpaland KMC to celebrate New Year's Eve under the theme: A New Year, A New Beginning. Gen Ananda, the Resident Teacher of Tharpaland KMC, began with a teaching on the importance of letting go with wisdom, emphasizing the significance of correct insights and intentions. He highlighted that the quality of our experiences in the new year depend on the quality of our thoughts and actions. Gen Ananda concluded by explaining the benefits of a particular wisdom view: learning to cherish others for our own happiness.
Following the session, attendees enjoyed a delightful buffet, engaging in lively conversations. After a brief introduction, most guests participated in a Tara puja - Liberation from Sorrow to mark the transition into the new year. Blessed and joyous, they toasted the New Year in the foyer.
On New Year's morning, Gen Ananda led a meditation on cherishing others, concluding a particularly blessed and joyful event that highlighted the importance of making others happy. Guests and residents alike left extremely inspired, eagerly anticipating the next gathering!
KMC France
We celebrated a wonderful New Year's Eve in an atmosphere filled with joy, kindness, and goodwill! The inspiring teachings from our Resident Teacher Gen Eupamé and Romain Abjean on The Power of Love: A Powerful Force that Transforms Our Lives helped us to cultivate a deep love based on wisdom.
With this pure heart, we become capable of loving our dear ones, friends, and, more broadly, every being we encounter. We entered the year with wisdom, patience, and warmth. A heartfelt thank you to everyone for their kindness, presence, and immense contribution that made this event truly unforgettable.
