General Spiritual Director
Improving concentration and wisdom
May 10, 2025
Away RETREATS:
THE PATH TO PERMANENT PEACE
This month, three centers in the UK, KMC Vancouver and KMC Fraser Valley in Canada, and KBC Sukhavati in Mexico organized retreats to help students cultivate the mental tools they need to develop lasting inner peace.
THREE UK CENTeRS AT the KADAMPA TEMPLE IN MALAGA
Three centers from different parts of the UK met at KMC Spain to enjoy a retreat on emptiness. It was guided by 3 UK Resident Teachers - Gen Chitta from KMC Northern Ireland, Gen Varahi from KMC Huddersfield and Ian McGlade from Lamrim KBC, Londonderry.
They gave inspiring teachings and meditations on the nature of mind and ultimate truth, emptiness, explaining how to follow the profound path to the permanent peace of enlightenment.
The Spanish Sangha joined the UK visitors, making it a wonderful time at the Malaga Temple.
Gen Chitta(RT KMC Northern Ireland Belfast)
Ian McGlade (RT Lamrim KBC)
Gen Varahi (RT KMC Huddersfield)
A MEANINGFUL AWAY RETREAT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Meditations on The Heart Sutra
KMC Vancouver and KMC Fraser Valley hosted another successful retreat in the most tranquil setting of Loon Lake in British Columbia, Canada!
It was beautiful to experience new acquaintances being made and Sangha friends reuniting. The participants enjoyed the most meaningful teachings, engaged with nature and delighted in delicious meals. The snow mountain experience complemented the silent period each morning
Gen Delek & Gen Sanden skillfully taught the participants the sacred practice of reciting and contemplating the words of the Essence of Wisdom Sutra, or Heart Sutra. The group also had the opportunity to engage in meditations to gain an experience of the wisdom realizing emptiness, and what it feels like to mix our mind with emptiness. How incredibly meaningful and practical!
Thank you to all those who made this retreat possible, especially to Venerable Geshe-la for showing us a clear and joyful path to enlightenment and for our dear Teachers for so skillfully passing on this rich wisdom.
TIME TO CONTEMPLATE IN QUERETARO
We enjoyed this weekend at Sukhavati Kadampa Buddhist Center with a course entitled Clear mind, good heart.
In ‘Espacio Ágora’, a beautiful, quiet place in the northwest of the city, a rural environment yet still inside Querétaro, 22 happy and fortunate Kadampas gathered (including 5 first-timers) to enjoy a refreshing and meaningful break.
We started with 3 guided meditations where Gen Wangchog helped us create the foundation of love, compassion and bodhichitta. These minds gave deep meaning to the next 3 meditations, which were based on the Buddhist Mahamudra tradition: body of light, clarity and the root mind.
There was time to listen, contemplate, meditate and put into practice love for others, with a relaxed, inspired and very blessed mind.
We shared smiles, talks, moments of silence and rest, delicious food, the dry and clean air, the joy of being so close to our Spiritual Guide and part of this warm and respectful tradition that welcomes us all without exception. We had time to learn more about Lamrim and Lojong, and to taste the joyful promise of Mahamudra.
There was harmony and friendship from beginning to end, and now as we leave we can continue with this practice leading to deep and true happiness that Geshe-la offers us from his infinite love.
