New Kadampa Festivals

A special message
from Gen-la Dekyong

What will I get out of the Festival?
Gen-la Jampa

A joyful gift
Gen-la Khyenrab

Summer Festival Week 1

THE VERY ESSENCE OF MODERN KADAMPA BUDDHISM

The NKT-IKBU International Summer Festival 2021, July 30 – August 14 – two weeks of inspiring empowerments and teachings from the two most senior Teachers in NKT, with a short retreat in each week.

Week 1: July 30 – August 4
The Heart Practice

Dorje Shugden Empowerment and Teachings on Lamrim
With Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong, NKT-IKBU General Spiritual Director

The heart of Kadampa Buddhism is the practice of Lamrim, the stages of the path to enlightement, which is a special presentation of Buddha’s teachings that is easily integrated into modern daily life.

By relying on the Wisdom Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden we will quickly gain deep inner experience of Lamrim and transform our life into the very path to enlightenment.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ~ UPDATED APRIL 28

Due to the unusual situation, we have received permission to stream the entire Summer Festival including the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments of Heruka and Vajrayogini.

It is our intention if permitted by the UK Government Covid Guidelines in place at the time of the Festival, to also have an in-person event that will be streamed at the live UK time. The empowerments and teachings will also be streamed in several other time zones to give as many people as possible the opportunity to join. Live translation will be available in several languages. More details on the format of the Festival will be available soon.

In-person attendance (if permitted to go ahead) will have very limited numbers and will be determined by the UK Government restrictions. We strongly encourage you not to book travel yet as we do not know if we will be able to accept your in-person booking. Detailed guidelines for the in-person event are subject to UK Government clarification, the timing of which is currently unknown.

To receive all the Festival updates, announcements, and latest news, please make sure that you subscribe to the newsletter.

Summer Festival Week 2

THE VERY ESSENCE OF MODERN KADAMPA BUDDHISM

Week 2: August 6 – 14
Awakening our Buddha Nature

Highest Yoga Tantra Empowerments of Heruka and Vajrayogini
with Gen-la Kelsang Jampa, NKT-IKBU Deputy Spiritual Director

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche says, “The gateway through which we enter Tantra is receiving a Tantric empowerment. An empowerment bestows upon us special blessings that heal our mental continuum and awaken our Buddha nature.”

The empowerments and teachings in Week 2 will open the door to Highest Yoga Tantra, the very essence of Kadampa Buddhism and the quick path to enlightenment.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ~ UPDATED APRIL 28

Due to the unusual situation, we have received permission to stream the entire Summer Festival including the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments of Heruka and Vajrayogini.

To receive all the Festival updates, announcements, and latest news, please make sure that you subscribe to the newsletter.

Fall Festival

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Due to the uncertainty regarding the Australian governments restrictions on traveling and gathering, and to ensure the event will be open and accessible to everyone internationally who wishes to attend, the planned 2021 Fall Festival with Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments and teachings in Brisbane has been postponed until November 25-December 1, 2022. The event will be held at the same venue. More details available soon.
New information for the 2021 Fall Festival is given below.

The Path to Heaven

At the Fall Festival 2021, Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong, Spiritual Director of NKT, will grant the empowerment of Buddha Green Tara and give teachings on The Path to Heaven, the transference of consciousness (powa) practice of Arya Tara.

These teachings are open to everyone from complete beginners to those with previous experience.

Special blessing
Kadampa Buddhists have a special relationship with Arya Tara because she promised Atisha she would protect his followers in the future. How fortunate therefore to receive the blessings of Tara directly from the Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition.

Profound practice
The practice of transference of consciousness of Arya Tara is a special practice taught by Buddha. Based on self-generation as Tara, we train in special meditations to transfer our consciousness to the heart of Guru Tara. With faith and training we can can go to Tara’s Pure Land at the time of death using this profound practice.

Every year the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU) organises three International Festivals of modern Kadampa Buddhism taught by senior Teachers.

These Festivals provide a precious opportunity to study and practice the special presentation of modern Buddhism taught by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Rinpoche, the Founder of the NKT-IKBU.

The Festivals consist of teachings, empowerments and meditations, with short retreats to finish with. Everyone is welcome to attend regardless of experience.

Besides the teaching and meditation program, the Festivals also provide a precious opportunity to meet and practice with like-minded people from all over the world.

You will come away not only refreshed and relaxed but also spiritually re-energised.

Covid restrictions
Due to the present restrictions on travelling and gathering, the Festivals are currently being held online. We hope to return to in-person Festivals as soon as possible.