General Spiritual Director
Improving concentration and wisdom
May 10, 2025
South African National Festival and Southern Dharma Celebration in US
In March, the South African National Festival with Gen Rabten was held at KMC Durban and the Southern Dharma Celebration with Kadam Morten at Kadampa Meditation Center North Carolina.
South African National Festival 2025
THE BLESSING EMPOWERMENT OF AVALOKITESHVARA
with Australasia & Southeast Asia National Spiritual Director Gen Rabten
This past weekend, something very precious happened in South Africa, in Durban’s little Kadampa Temple. We held the South African National Festival and the blessing empowerment of Avalokiteshvara with Gen Kelsang Rabten.
The energy and anticipation were mounting as the introduction began in a packed meditation room. It was like stepping into a Pure Land emanated for all of us, from Venerable Geshe-la's heart, right here in our home!
The surge of joyful, compassionate energy of the empowerment pervaded Gen Rabten’s teachings and the whole Festival. He guided us into our hearts to identify and generate real compassion for all living beings. And then we received Ven Geshe-la’s precious teachings on the essential insights into the practice of Avalokiteshvara.
In between sessions, we deeply appreciated the joy and support of our Kadampa family, as new friendships were made and old ones rekindled.
A big thank you to the organizers for all their work and especially to our precious Spiritual Guide, Venerable Geshe-la, for this valuable Festival and for giving us such hope and confidence in difficult times.
the PREPARATIONS
The Actual festival
the Southern Dharma Celebration 2025
THE BLESSING EMPOWERMENT OF MEDICINE BUDDHA
with Kadam Morten, Eastern US National Spiritual Director
The sun shone last weekend as Kadampas gathered from all over the Southern US to attend the Southern Dharma Celebration with Kadam Morten at Kadampa Meditation Center North Carolina.
During the weekend our kind Eastern USA National Spiritual Director, Kadam Morten, granted the blessing empowerment of Medicine Buddha and gave a commentary on the practice. He offered inspiring, practical teachings on how to become Medicine Buddha to heal ourselves physically and mentally and to help others do the same.
Gen Kelsang Norbu, Resident Teacher of KMC North Carolina, gave the introductory talk on Friday night, asking us to consider, "What Dharma am I celebrating?"
On Saturday and Sunday, Kelsang Dechok, Resident Teacher of KMC Georgia in Atlanta, guided the morning meditation and Medicine Buddha practice, helping us to bring the teachings and blessings more deeply into our hearts.
KMC South Carolina, Je Tsongkhapa Kadampa Buddhist Center, Kosala Kadampa Buddhist Center, and branch students from Tennessee and Alabama also participated in the event either in person or online.
Volunteers from each of the centers offered their time and support to make this a meaningful and well-run event!
