End-of-the-year celebrations in Mexico, UK and Canada
Dec 24, 2024
April 15 is Buddha’s Enlightenment Day, when we celebrate Buddha demonstrating how to attain enlightenment. Enlightenment is the inner light of wisdom that is completely free from mistaken appearance and whose function is to bestow mental peace upon each and every living being every day. It is the source of all living beings’ happiness.
To celebrate NKT Day this year, Kadampa Centers in Spain opened their doors with special events. Nine of them shared their celebrations. See this post to get inspired!
The first Saturday of April of each year is NKT Day, during which we celebrate the founding of the New Kadampa Tradition by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche in 1991. Kadampa Centers around the world organize special retreats, events, and prayers. At the Mother Center, Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Center, the following dedication was made…
Spring is here, and at Manjushri KMC this means the time has come to prepare the center for the first International Kadampa Festival of the year. For two days everyone comes together to thoroughly clean the Temple, main building and grounds.
Kailash IRC in Switzerland and IKRC Grand Canyon in the United States hosted Dharma Celebrations featuring Buddha Manjushri empowerments. Both celebrations created a positive and inspiring environment for the participants, allowing space for like-minded people to connect and celebrate!
The eleventh Dharma Celebration at KMC Argentina gathered about 150 people from Argentina and Uruguay, celebrating Kadam Dharma with Medicine Buddha empowerment and teachings from Gen Kelsang Rinchung. The Southern Dharma Celebration took place in the US at KMC Georgia in Atlanta. Kadam Morten granted White Tara empowerment to participants from the Southern states of North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.
In late March, two retreats were held – one at Madhyamaka KMC near York in the UK and the other at Tharpaland KMC in Germany. Both included teachings and meditations on cultivating love and compassion. Such retreats are a great way for people to relax and reconnect with their good heart, giving them an opportunity to improve their relationships in a lasting way.
At the end of March, KMC New York City welcomed over 150 participants for their special event, the Refuge Vow Ceremony. On the same weekend, Kadam Dharma was taught for the first time in Punta del Este; the event was organized by the recently opened KBC Mahamudra in Uruguay.
Two National Festivals are taking place in April. These special events are a cherished opportunity to break from our daily problems and recharge spiritually, as well as creating causes for Dharma to grow in our countries. KMC Deuachen, in Sintra, is hosting the Portuguese National Festival on 19 – 21 April, while KMC Mexico is hosting the Mexican National Festival on 19 – 21 April 2024.
The first Saturday of April each year is NKT Day, when we celebrate the founding of the NKT by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche in 1991. With the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union, Venerable Geshe-la has created a global community of Dharma centers that are united by a common goal, practice the same path and follow the same internal guidance. This tradition is Venerable Geshe-la’s heart.