Kadampa Festivals
Venerable Geshe-la’s vision in creating festivals is to give practitioners the means to put down their daily life problems and distractions and step into a world focused solely on the practice of Dharma. When our only job is to think about and talk about Dharma, something amazing happens: we see what it’s really like to practice purely and we experience the incredible effects.
Meaningful Holiday
Geshe Kelsang calls festivals “meaningful holidays.” We are taking a relaxing and enjoyable holiday in wonderful company, but we are also creating something of lasting value to bring home with us.
Making the choice to dedicate some time to our spiritual life in this way feels meaningful. It gives us the opportunity to partake of many teachings and meditations — many more than in any normal week, month or even year of our life. As a result, the experience is very rich.
Festivals in the U.S.
U.S. Festival
Our annual Kadampa U.S. Festival takes place in Spring or early Summer at the Kadampa World Peace Temple in upstate New York, and is a chance for the American Sangha to come together.
California Dharma Celebration
This celebration is an annual special regional event taught by the Western National Spiritual Director, Gen Kelsang Rigpa. Whether new to Buddhism or an experienced practitioner, everyone is welcome to this weekend celebration.
International Festivals
Spring Festival
The International Spring Festival takes place at the end of May each year at the NKT mother center, Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, in Ulverston, England.
Summer Festival
Also held at Manjushri Centre (from the end of July, through to the beginning of August), Summer Festival is arguably the biggest festival on the annual Kadampa calendar.
Fall Festival
The International Fall Festival is held somewhere different in the world every year in the late Fall.