Opening at Vajrasattva KMC in Dumfries with Gen-la Dekyong

Opening Vajrasattva KMC
in Dumfries

Gen-la Dekyong, our General Spiritual Director, travelled to Scotland to open and bless our new center.

Many years ago Venerable Geshe-la engaged in a very special three year retreat at Tharpaland Retreat Centre in the forest of Ae close to the town of Dumfries in Scotland. On Saturday May 3, over 30 years later, through Venerable Geshe-la’s great kindness and continuous blessings a beautiful, qualified center for the people of Dumfries and Galloway was opened by Gen-la Dekyong, our General Spiritual Director.

As Gen-la Dekyong cut the ribbon to open the doors of the new center she invited us to feel we are entering the door to the Pure Land. Named by Geshe-la, Vajrasattva Kadampa Meditation Centre finally has a home after many years of weekly classes in rented venues.

the ribbon-cutting

During the Blessing Ceremony Gen-la gave powerful, deeply encouraging teachings on the true purpose of Dharma centers, and how they are as precious as Dharma itself, benefitting people spiritually and enabling them to meet and enter the spiritual path. Then in the afternoon she gave teachings on the Buddhist way of life and in particular on the importance of actively seeking refuge in all three Jewels correctly.

Gen-la reminded us that although an opening is the completion of a lot of work, it is also the beginning of a new chapter. Through relying on Sangha with respect and cherishing love, pure society will develop; and through practicing Dharma and through receiving blessings from Buddha and our Spiritual Guide this center can bring great benefit and be a real refuge, a real solution to suffering for the people in this area.

On Sunday the Resident Teacher, Gen Tubchen, guided a short retreat to take the teachings to heart.

People from all over Scotland and the North of England attended the opening, which was an extremely joyful occasion, with lunch in the sunshine and lots of time to enjoy being together and to rejoice in the birth of a beautiful new center for Scotland.

Enjoy this video review

The blessing and teachings

The power of sangha

A BEAUTIFUL AND QUALIFIED NEW CENTeR

Located in the heart of Dumfries, Vajrasattva Kadampa Meditation Centre is a peaceful oasis that has been lovingly renovated over the last four years into a beautiful, modern and vibrant space. The center includes a number of residential rooms for those wishing to live in a Buddhist community and is also only a few minutes away from peaceful walks along the river Nith.

Vajrasattva Centre would like to thank all those who have worked so hard on the construction of center and its shrine, those who prepared the beautiful Buddha images and internal decorations at the Kadampa Art Studio, those who have sponsored the building of the center by contributing directly or indirectly to the International Temples Project, and all those who in so many unseen ways have made possible this wonderful offering to the the people of Scotland.