Featured Center, July 2019
Tharpaland KMC, Germany
The Center
Tharpaland Kadampa Meditation Centre (Tharpaland KMC) is a major Buddhist center located just outside Berlin that offers courses in meditation and modern Kadampa Buddhism at local, national, and international levels. The Founder and Spiritual Guide is Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, a world-renowned meditation master and author.
Occupying a grand 19th century mansion with a number of other distinctive buildings in beautiful parkland, Tharpaland is a stunning place to see, visit and stay. It is a perfect and very blessed environment for the study and practice of Buddha’s teachings, the Dharma.
Standing in 20 acres of grounds and woodland, the main building Schloss Sommerswalde is also known as ‘kleiner Reichstag’, a small scale replica of the German parliament building. This building houses a magnificent Temple with seating for 200 people.
Offering accommodation in single, double and shared rooms, Tharpaland is the perfect place for a getaway and retreat. The water and air are very pure, and just being there gives a sense of mental peace and relaxation. This special place is open for everyone to use and enjoy. It is an extraordinary gift from Venerable Geshe-la’s heart!
Resident Teacher
The Resident Teacher at Tharpaland KMC is Gen Kelsang Ananda.
He is a modern Buddhist monk and very experienced Teacher of the New Kadampa Tradition. He has been engaged in the study and practice of modern Kadampa Buddhism for 23 years under the guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.
Gen Ananda is the National Spiritual Director of NKT-IKBU in Germany and also Resident Teacher at KMC Berlin.
Spiritual Program
Local Classes
The center offers a comprehensive year-round spiritual program, which includes courses and retreats for people from the Berlin area, as well as national and international courses. It also offers national Teacher Training courses.
The emphasis is on weekend meditation courses, workshops and Buddhist practice retreats. Day visitors and school classes also frequent the center. There are also weekly classes in surrounding towns.
There is a special retreat house for Kadampa practitioners engaged in solitary retreat for prolonged periods.
National & International Events
Tharpaland KMC regularly hosts regional, national and international events such as Open Heritage days, German Dharma Celebrations and Festivals, and sometimes international Buddhist Festivals.
The Spiritual Community
Tharpaland is home to a warm-hearted international spiritual community.
There are residents and working visitors from Germany and all over the world, as well as local people who visit and help with the running of the Centre.
A diverse group of people you would not expect!
To find out more and register for courses, visit the center website.
