General Spiritual Director
Conishead Priory Grounds & Paths
Jun 5, 2026
Short retreats
in January:
Deeply meaningful experiences
January is a wonderful month for Kadampas. It is a time when centers often organise retreats on the essential practices of Lamrim and Highest Yoga Tantra, giving students an opportunity to experience the joy that comes from deepening their Dharma practice.
January Retreat Highlights at KMC Florida
Our January retreat month at Kadampa Meditation Center Florida was deeply inspiring and wonderfully successful. We began with a Lamrim retreat led by Gen Kelsang Lhadron, followed by a joyful and practical Lojong retreat with Gen Kelsang Demo, Midwest National Spiritual Director.
The month concluded with Meditations on Buddha Heruka Body Mandala guided by Kadam Michelle Gauthier, while five dedicated practitioners have also participated in the Vajrayogini Close Retreat, a counting retreat lasting throughout January.
Highlights included relaxed moments sharing burritos on the beach with Gen Demo and delicious vegetarian meals lovingly prepared by our working visitors. We are deeply grateful for a month full of meaningful practice, connection, community, and the blessings of practicing together in the beautiful Temple for World Peace.
As we reflect on this rich and joyful time, we give thanks to the kindness of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, whose wisdom and compassion make retreats like this possible for sangha members and friends from all walks of life.
blessed Heruka retreats AT KMC MADRID
During these past two weeks, we have had the immense good fortune to take part in two deeply blessed Heruka retreats—one focused on the generation stage and the other on the completion stage.
They were very special days in which we felt the constant presence of the Guru, accompanying us with clarity and protection. We experienced moments of silence and inner retreat, spaces for deep reflection, and also times of heartfelt sharing, creating a truly complete and transformative experience.
In addition, we had the great good fortune of receiving a very special visit from Gen Tonglam, National Spiritual Director for Hong Kong, and the Philippines. An exceptional teacher who guided us throughout the weekend of the completion stage retreat, bringing an inspiration and depth that deeply touched our hearts.
We conclude these retreats with minds filled with gratitude and renewed inspiration, certain that these experiences have left a profound and lasting imprint on our hearts.
Thank you so much, Geshe-la. What great good fortune it is to have found you and to be able to follow this path under your guidance.
Highest Yoga Tantra retreat in the Serra da Bocaina, Brazil
At the end of January, Kadampa Meditation Center Rio de Janeiro and Heruka KMC, jointly held a seven-day Highest Yoga Tantra retreat in the beautiful Serra da Bocaina, Brazil. The retreat was kindly guided by Gen Kelsang Dechog and Gen Kelsang Lodro, bringing together 19 practitioners from different regions of the country for several daily sessions of Quick Path to Great Bliss, as well as complementary activities such as a ritual workshop.
Throughout the retreat, participants had the opportunity to deepen their practice of Vajrayogini and clarify questions during dedicated question-and-answer sessions. The atmosphere was characterized by joy, harmony, and strong spiritual energy, and the venue provided ideal conditions for extended retreat enabling people to withdraw from ordinary activities and really focus on their spiritual practices.
Thanks to the immense kindness of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, events like this are arising more and more throughout the world, making the profound teachings of Sutra and Tantra widely accessible and bringing great benefit to countless beings.
We rejoice in this blessing and offer heartfelt gratitude to Geshe-la for his immeasurable compassion and wisdom.
