Everyone is Welcome

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition

The annual California Dharma Celebration is a wonderful opportunity for people throughout California to gather together to receive practical, inspiring teachings and meet spiritual friends. Whether new to Buddhism or an experienced practitioner everyone is welcome at this joyful event. The Celebration will take place in San Diego at the Town and Country Resort. San Diego is also an ideal destination for a family getaway.

During this special weekend event, Gen Kelsang Jampa, the New Kadampa Tradition-International Kadampa Buddhist Union National Spiritual Director in the US, will grant the blessing empowerment of Buddha Dorje Shugden, the Wisdom Dharma Protector of modern Kadampa Buddhism.

The weekend will entail an empowerment ceremony, during which special blessings are bestowed upon us, protecting our spiritual practice and awakening our Buddha nature. The commentary that follows will be accompanied by guided meditations that will help to deepen our experience of what we have learned.   He will also give teachings on how to increase our practices of faith and wisdom, helping us to transform all situations into opportunities for spiritual growth and development.

Those new to Buddhism will gain practical methods to solve life’s problems, while more experienced practitioners will be further inspired on their spiritual path.

Profits raised by the California Dharma Celebration are dedicated for public benefit to the International Temples Project and used for the development of the Kadampa Meditation Centers and Temple Projects throughout the world. This project was founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, with the aim to introduce the Buddhist faith and practice of the New Kadampa Tradition publicly.

Our founder, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is the inspiration behind the California Dharma Celebration. He is a fully accomplished meditation master and internationally renowned teacher of Buddhism.  He founded the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union in England in the early 1980s.  For more information on Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, visit the “Our Teachers” page.