Today we honor the boundless compassion of Buddha Shakyamuni, whose enlightened wisdom continues to illuminate our world. Through his perfect attainment and profound teachings, he revealed the path that leads all living beings from the darkness of ignorance to the lasting freedom of enlightenment.

On the first Saturday in April, we celebrate NKT Day, a time to reflect on the profound kindness of our Spiritual Guide and Founder, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. We deeply appreciate his gift of the New Kadampa Tradition, which provides us with a pure spiritual path, guiding each of us towards a life of lasting happiness and deep meaning.

Today the booking opens for the International Spring Festival 2025. Get ready to book your place for this beautiful Spring Festival focussing on loving kindness. This is the perfect event for those new to Kadampa Festivals.

Most Kadampa centers around the world regularly organize retreats, so that everyone can have the opportunity to put aside their normal activities for a while and emphasize going deeper with particular spiritual practices. Some of these retreats are residential retreats, but many are right in the city.

The month of January is a special month in the Kadampa calendar during which we emphasize the practices of Heruka and Vajrayogini, the principal Highest Yoga Tantra Deities of modern Kadampa Buddhism.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso explains in the book Heart Jewel what a retreat is. ‘On retreat we stop all forms of business and extraneous activities so as to emphasize a particular spiritual practice’. In these times when the flow of new impulses, activities and tasks we have to perform is never-ending, a time of retreat is a very precious and rare opportunity to enjoy a real break. During this time we enjoy conditions that allow us to create space both physically and mentally.

Tharpa US offers a FREE 30-Day Meditation Challenge for those unable to attend in-person retreats. Receive daily guided meditations, tips, and inspiration to cultivate inner peace and build a lasting meditation practice from home.