General Spiritual Director
Spring Festival 2026 Day 6
May 27, 2026
Autumn Inspirations: Visits from US and German Spiritual Directors
This fall, Gen Kelsang Demo and Gen Kelsang Ananda shared Kadampa teachings with communities across the US and Germany. From talks on death, happiness, and impermanence in Indiana to practical guidance on creating inner and outer peace in Germany, attendees left motivated to explore and apply these methods in daily life.
Exploring Life and Happiness: Gen Kelsang Demo in Indiana
Gen Kelsang Demo’s Annual Visit to Indiana
Gen Kelsang Demo, US Western and Midwestern National Spiritual Director and Resident Teacher at the International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon, recently made her annual visit to Indiana.
She began the weekend at KMC Bloomington on Halloween night with a heartfelt talk, A Buddhist Perspective: Death and a Meaningful Life. One attendee, a man in a wheelchair, shared his gratitude for the clarity and comfort he found in her words.
The following evening, about 100 people gathered at the Indiana State Museum for Gen Demo’s public talk, Choose Happiness: Change Your Mind, Control Your Experience. Her practical teachings and guided meditation inspired many to begin applying these methods in daily life.
The weekend concluded at KMC Indianapolis with the launch of a new series, Impermanence: The Freedom to Change. Both in-person and online attendees explored the mind’s potential for transformation. The event ended joyfully with a taco bar and the International Temples Project video, a truly uplifting weekend for all.
Gen Kelsang Ananda’s Inspiring Autumn Tour in Germany
Inner and outer peace with Gen Ananda
Gen Kelsang Ananda, NKT National Spiritual Director for Germany, once again inspired many during the second part of his German tour this autumn, visiting Düsseldorf, Cologne, Wiesbaden
Building on his uplifting spring tour, Gen Ananda deepened the exploration of how lasting world peace can be achieved. In a time of global uncertainty, he reminded everyone that inner peace is the foundation for outer peace and that each of us has the power to contribute to it.
With warmth and clarity, he emphasized that now is the time to act for world peace. As Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso explains, prayer is the most powerful method for creating a peaceful world. Through inspiring and practical teachings, Gen Ananda showed how prayer, guided by sincere motivation and imagination, can transform our hearts and our world.
Attendees left feeling touched and uplifted, inspired to apply these methods in daily life. The autumn tour became a true spiritual highlight, renewing confidence that peace is possible when we nurture it within ourselves and share it with others.
