General Spiritual Director
Offering our Faith | Celebrations 2026 ~ Part 2
Jun 10, 2026
Development of Dharma
in Penang & Tara IKRC
Two new developments at Vajrapani KBC in Penang, Malaysia, and Tara International Kadampa Retreat Centre, UK.
NEW MEDITATION HALL AT TARA IKRC
Tara International Kadampa Retreat Centre in Derbyshire, UK, has long awaited a space where Kadampas and guests from all over the world can gather together to receive teachings, empowerments and engage in meditation and prayers.
A temporary building - erected on the site during World War II by the Red Cross - has been used for such purposes in recent years. However, after many years of service, the structure ultimately became unsafe and was condemned in the winter of 2023.
Two years on, and the construction of the replacement building, called Tara Meditation Hall, is well underway.
The foundations and steel structure have been completed, with roof, walls, windows and doors to be installed over the coming weeks. This all culminates with an opening ceremony in the Autumn as well as the UK Dharma Celebration being hosted in the new hall October 31st - November 3rd 2025.
This is a beautiful new space that will be the home of Temple size statues and will be a place of refuge and inspiration for local practitioners and visitors, as well as Kadampas from around the world that visit Tara IKRC for retreat every year.
A schedule of the upcoming events in the new hall can be found at www.Taraikrc.org/hall where you will also find regular updates on the building progress.
Work is in progress
An auspicious event in Malaysia on Dharmachakra Day
Kadam Dharma first came to Penang, Malaysia, in 2003 when a Kadampa from France started teaching here. Initially, a series of six talks were given at a public venue. Then soon afterwards, a local businessman generously allowed us to use the premises above their vegetarian restaurant free of charge and Vajrapani KBC was subsequently formed.
In 2011, we moved to our current center, located in the heart of Georgetown, surrounded by major tourist attractions. In 2023, a leak developed in the ceiling of the meditation hall. When the owner, who had not visited us for many years, came to inspect the issue, we seized the opportunity to inquire whether he had any properties available for sale. To our delight, he offered to donate the current building to us!
He wished for Kadam Dharma to remain and flourish in Malaysia for generations to come.
It took two years to navigate the legalities of the transfer, but we finally received the official papers on June 4th, 2025—coincidentally, the Turning of the Wheel of Dharma Day and Venerable Geshe-la’s birthday!
Thank you Venerable Geshe-la for giving us Kadam Dharma and the opportunity to have a Kadampa center here in Penang.
