NW Dharma Celebration 2024

The Northwest Dharma Celebration is a special event held every year as a gathering of the Kadampa Buddhist Centers in the Pacific Northwest This event was created by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, founder of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union, to provide an opportunity for people from all over the Northwest to gather together as a spiritual community to receive empowerments, Dharma teachings and engage in meditation retreat.

______________________________________________________________________

About the teachings

The Blessing Empowerment of Green Tara

In a world of so much fear and anxiety, and where inwardly we have such a hard time panintianing peace, it is clear we need enlightened help - swift help and powerful blessings on the minds of all of us. Because of Arya Tara;s strong connection with Atisha, the Founder of Kadam Lamrim, she promised to give special care, protection, and blessings to Atisha's followers who sincerely practice Kadam Lamrim. 

If we rely upon Green Tara sincerely she will protect us from all obstacles and fulfill all our wishes. Since she is a wisdom Buddha, and since she is a manifestation of the completely purified wind element, Tara is able to help us very quickly. 

Everyone is welcome to this special Dharma Celebration! Western US National Spiritual Director, Gen Kelsang Rigpa, will bring us closer to Arya Tara with a blessing empowerment, and he will give special teaching on integrating Dharma into daily life through the practice of the five forces. 

There is no doubt that by practicing the five forces with Kadam Lamrim of Sutra and Tantra we will definitely accomplish our final goal - the ultimate peace for ourself and for the e\ntire world. As Dharmakirti says in Commentary to Valid Cognition, "If all the causes for something are assembled nothing can stop it occuring". 

We shoudl integrate all our daily Dharma practices into the five forces because this special method will cause our practice to bear fruit. 

- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Universal Compassion