Celebrating Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day and the Birthday of our Spiritual Guide
Jun 4, 2026
During a mild autumn weekend in Athens, Gen Kelsang Ananda, National Spiritual Director for Germany, visited KMC Athens to give a series of teachings focused on the self-cherishing mind. He began with a public talk titled Who Am I? introducing Buddhist view and presenting Geshe-la’s teachings on the view of the transitory collection in a clear and practical way. The following day, a day retreat on How to Understand Your Ego offered four sessions explaining equalizing and exchanging self with others. The weekend concluded with Wishfulfilling Jewel prayers with tsog, with everyone dedicating their merit to the flourishing of Dharma in Greece.
KMC Fort Collins welcomed visiting Teacher Gen Kelsang Lingpur from KMC Tucson, Arizona, for a special day course titled The Art of Enlightenment: Drawing the Face of Buddha on November 15. Participants spent the day learning traditional methods for drawing and painting the face of Buddha, a beautiful way to practice concentration while enjoying time together with Sangha. The course was a joyful and blessed experience for everyone involved.
On Saturday, November 22, students of the Foundation Program gathered at KMC Vajravarahi in Toulouse to practice The Blissful Path with a tsog offering. Having just completed their study of The New Guide to Dakini Land—the commentary to the practice of Vajrayogini—they wished to conclude by expressing gratitude and devotion to their precious Spiritual Guide, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. The gathering was filled with joy, positive energy, and appreciation for the meaningful study they had shared.
KMC Fort Lauderdale held its annual fundraiser on November 15 with the joyful theme All You Need Is Love. Guests enjoyed a beautifully prepared meal by a guest chef, starting with mocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the patio before gathering indoors for a seated dinner. The evening brought the community together in a spirit of warmth, connection, and generosity, supporting the center’s ongoing mission to help people discover the true source of peace and happiness.
Dharmachakra KBC in Millburn, New Jersey, hosted a special day of blessings on November 15, as Gen Chogyop granted Avalokiteshvara empowerment and provided afternoon commentary. This was the first empowerment at the new location, making the occasion especially meaningful for the community, which had been renting spaces since their former center was lost to flood damage. The event brought practitioners together to receive powerful blessings and inspiration.
Practitioners from Bodhisattva KBC in Tarragona visited the nearby city of Reus to present the book How to Solve Our Human Problems at the municipal library. Attendees received clear and practical teachings on how to address inner problems and create a meaningful life. It was a special opportunity for the people of Reus to encounter Dharma, and everyone expressed deep gratitude to Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, whose wisdom and compassion make such events possible.
June 4 is the Turning the Wheel of Dharma Day on which we celebrate Buddha’s first teaching in this world - the first Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. It is also the birthday of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, the Founder of NKT.