General Spiritual Director
Booking for the Fall Festival 2026 opens 4 days
Jun 14, 2026
International Fall Festival 2025 diaries
At International Kadampa Retreat Center
Grand Canyon
Day 4 ~ a special blessed environment
There is so much to appreciate and enjoy at the International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon. It is set in such a beautiful natural location, and people enjoy walking amongst the trees, with the squirrels, chipmunks and birds. The appearance of the mountains on the horizon change with the time of day, as does the weather — from cold, clear and crisp in the mornings, to hazy in the warm afternoons. From radiant sunsets to luminous moonscapes, the views are impressive and ever changing.
Since the center opened 6 years ago there have been many wonderful developments and improvements. Dedicated Kadampas worked hard to finish these in time for the Festival. The grounds have been landscaped and the entire exterior of the building was re-painted along with many of the interior rooms ready to welcome visitors. The World Peace Cafe was remodelled and has proved to be a very popular spot during the Festival for a sociable morning coffee or in the evening to relax with friends.
faith and refuge
Follow three Kadampas attending the International Fall Festival 2025 as they describe their journey of faith and reliance upon the Three Jewels in general, and especially the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.
The Temple artwork has all been carefully cleaned and is gleaming, and the lotus for Venerable Geshe-la's statue was filled and added to the shrine. All this adds to the sense of purity and wonder both within the Temple and throughout the site. Especially the magnificent presence of the Temple brings a constant sense of awe. Its beautiful form lifts up the minds of everyone who beholds it as it is framed by the changing appearances of the mountains and sky.
It is such a special, blessed environment and, best of all, it is open to everyone and caters for every level of experience from basic meditation classes to in-depth courses and retreats.
Transforming difficult situations into the spiritual path
Today in the Festival teachings we learned so many important things from Gen-la Dekyong about how to practically transform difficult situations into the spiritual path, and in particular how, by relying on Dorje Shugden, he will bless our minds to be able to do this.
Through training in patience, compassion and wisdom we can experience everything as a favorable condition for spiritual growth, and in this way we become strong and can learn from everything. By doing this we become real Kadampas and can benefit and inspire others to solve their inner problems.
how to live without fear
"If we rely sincerely upon Dorje Shugden, he will arrange the conditions that are most conducive for our Dharma practice."
Festival Podcast
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This teaching presents the Kadampa view that suffering has good qualities and is inevitable in impure life. Through Dorje Shugden’s blessings, practitioners learn to courageously accept suffering and transform difficulties into spiritual fuel, developing renunciation, compassion, and wisdom rather than rejecting life’s challenges.
