CALIFORNIA DHARMA CELEBRATION 2025
MARCH 7-9

Kadampa Meditation Center Los Angeles

The Empowerment of Je Tsongkhapa
with Teachings on Heart Jewel

* Online registration opens Monday, February 3rd at 12pm

Join Gen Kelsang Demo, Western US National Spiritual Director and Resident Teacher @ IKRC Grand Canyon and hundreds of practitioners from around state and online for the California Dharma Celebration!

The key practice that Kadampa Buddhist practitioners have been engaging in for centuries is reliance upon the Wisdom Buddha Je Tsongkhapa through the practice of Heart Jewel.

During the upcoming California Dharma Celebration, Gen Kelsang Demo will grant the empowerment of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the new Kadampa lineage. An empowerment is a blissful guided meditation through which we receive Buddha’s inspiring blessings. The empowerment of Wisdom Buddha Je Tsongkhapa connects us to a powerful source of wisdom that will sustain us throughout our spiritual life. Further, this empowerment and subsequent commentary will open the doors to the sublime and blissful practice of Heart Jewel, a special way of relying upon the Spiritual Guide, through which enlightenment can be accomplished swiftly. Deepening our relationship with Je Tsongkhapa and creating a heart connection with him will increase our compassion, wisdom, and spiritual power in order to provide us with a continuous source of guidance throughout our life.

FULL SCHEDULE

WHAT IS AN EMPOWERMENT?

An empowerment is a blissful guided meditation through which we receive  Buddha’s inspiring blessings. Gen Demo will grant the empowerment of the Wisdom Buddha Je Tsongkhapa, connecting us to a powerful source of wisdom that will sustain us throughout our spiritual life.  The empowerment and subsequent commentary will open the doors to the sublime and blissful practice of Heart Jewel, a special way of relying upon the Spiritual Guide, through which enlightenment can be accomplished swiftly.

PRAYERS BOOKLETS

The following prayer booklets will be used during the Celebration: Prayers for Meditation, Request to the Holy Spiritual Guide Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, Wishfulfilling Jewel, and Heart Jewel.

If you would like to purchase any of these in advance, please visit Tharpa.com/us. These sadhanas are available both as booklets and as e-booklets.it Tharpa.com/us.

California Dharma Celebration
March 7-9, 2025 

Kadampa Meditation Center LA

Every year the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU) organizes regional Dharma Celebrations of modern Kadampa Buddhism taught by senior Teachers. This year’s California Dharma Celebration is held at KMC LA! Everyone is welcome.  See Terms & Conditions for more info.

Registration Opens Monday, January 6th at 12pm PST

Online viewing of the CADC: March 14 – 21

Attending the Dharma Celebration online

The California Dharma Celebration will be offered online to those who live within California, and who are unable to attend in person at KMC Los Angeles. See Terms & Conditions for more info.

Registration opens Monday, January 6th at 12pm PST

The replays will be available for streaming online Friday, March 14

The Empowerment replay will be available for one day ONLY, on Saturday, March 30.

All other teachings and meditations will be available for streaming for one full week — Friday, March 14 through Friday, 21.

Intro Teaching

Kadam Rebecca Gauthier is the Resident Teacher at Tushita Kadampa Buddhist Center in Thousand Oaks and has been studying and practicing Kadampa Buddhism under Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s guidance for over twenty years. Her heartfelt teachings are presented with clarity and humor that make them accessible to everyone. Through her kindness, humility and deep understanding of Buddha’s teachings, Kadam Rebecca provides an inspiring example of a contemporary Buddhist practitioner we can follow.

Guided Meditations

Gen Kelsang Lhadron is the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center San Diego. She has  been a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and practicing Kadampa Buddhism. Gen Lhadron’s sincere teachings are presented with humor and practical examples that make them accessible to everyone. 

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
Spiritual Guide & Founder of Modern Kadampa Buddhism

He has dedicated his life to laying the foundation for modern Kadampa Buddhism to flourish in this and future generations so that anyone regardless of nationality, culture, gender or age can easily understand the meaning of Buddha’s teachings and apply them to their daily life – and in this way find true, lasting inner peace.

Venerable Geshe-la is a truly international Teacher whose wish is to benefit everyone without exception. To this end, among his many extraordinary actions, Venerable Geshe-la has founded the three International Kadampa Festivals – the Spring Festival, Summer Festival and Fall Festival, which are organised every year and enjoyed by thousands of people from all over the world.