KMC Bulletins photos

KMC New Mexico ~ October 2009

2009-10-25T18:52:23+00:00

This fall many of our branches around the state are teaching "The Wisdom of Loving"

Our East Mountain branch is taught by Brad Braden

at La Luna Studio in Cedar Crest

Some of the local students help set up

Gwen McCloskey teaches just south of Albuquerque in Los Lunas

One of Gwen's assistants, Troy, directs students to the classroom in the Wellness Center

Everyone likes helping to set up for class

Kadampa Gallery's photo

Gwen shares pure Kadam Dharma

David Vaughan travels weekly to Rio Rancho, one of the fastest growing cities in the United States

David and his assistant, Val, enjoy the view as they prepare for class

David shares the Dharma with warmth and enthusiasm

His students appreciate being able to hear teachings

And afterwards students discuss what they've learned

What a fun way to spend a Tuesday evening

Once a week, Gen Gomlam teaches "Compassion for Everyone" at the University of New Mexico's Continuing Education building

Students often catch up with each other before class

And listen attentively during class

Chuck records the teachings for our correspondence students

Teachers and assistants happily pick up and drop off branch supplies weekly. We are grateful for all of their hard work to flourish Dharma in New Mexico

KMC Mexico ~ October 2009

2009-10-25T18:49:41+00:00

Dharma for kids class at our Satelite branch

In perfect concentration

Praying from the depths of their hearts

This is how Sofia's Dharma Center looks

Meanwhile, FP students concentrate on their object of meditation ...

which is followed by qualified debate about the teaching subject.

Special event in Satelite: 'Liberation from Suffering'

Preparing the venue

The shop, perfectly arranged

Gen Kelsang Kunsang gave practical and inspiring teachings ...

to a very attentive audience

Everybody wants be free from suffering

The event was managed by a well organized team

Attendees took many notes...

and engaged in meditation

Back at KMC Mexico, students engaged in the purifying retreat of Vajrasattva

Creating collectively very auspicious causes

We really need to purify sincerely

Once more our shop is very busy; this time preparing items for the NKT International Fall Festival in Italy

'Fortunate blind turtles' symbolising the great good fortune of human beings are prepared for the Festival shop...

What would you like to choose?

Kinkara retinue ready to fly to Italy

Mexican lord of death

Thank you Gueshe-la for our beautiful Sangha

KMC Switzerland ~ October 2009

2009-10-25T18:00:19+00:00

Kadampa practitioners in Austria and Switzerland joined together for the Dharma Celebration of 2009 - with empowerment of Medicine Buddha

It took place in this hotel ...

in Bregenz (Austria) on the border of the big lake called Bodensee ...

with old boats ...

and boats of the latest design!

Also with nice promenades to take walks ....

or have a ook at the big flower compositions.

In the mornings nobody was around ...

.. oh yes there is Kelsang Daosang walking to the ....

morning meditation led by Gen Lachpa

Over the 4 days of the event we received ....

inspring teachings from Gen Losang with his amusing nature

and the empowerment of

Medicine Buddha

Markus, one of the translators ...

Philipp, the man behind the sound ...

The Tharpa shop

Some attendees had their accommodation in the nearby Youth Hostel ...

others stayed in the hotel just in front of ...

the Opera of Bregenz

Our group photo ... bye bye see you next year!

Kadampa Gallery's photo

KMC Canada ~ October 2009

2009-10-25T17:57:50+00:00

October has been a busy month at KMC Canada. First of all, the rest of the kitchen was installed

The kitchen cupboards were finally installed

The new meditation room was set up in the mezzanine

This room will be used for small courses and retreat

With a beautiful view of the shrine in the meditation room below

The guard rail is etched with the 8 auspicious symbols in the glass

Meanwhile, Tharpa Publications has been set up in the basement

Finally, it was time to finish the landscaping

First we created a path with river stone

Kim was in charge of the design

And the rest of us followed instructions

A weeping white pine was planted by the window

It was a long day of digging to loosen the earth that had been buried under concrete for several years

By the end of a long Sunday, the garden was finished

In time for the study program in the Temple

The following weekend in October was an Open House with delicious food

Almost 200 people came through the doors to take a tour of the Temple

Kadampa Gallery's photo

KMC Australia ~ October 2009

2009-10-25T15:33:54+00:00

During 2009 Tharpa Australia hosted bookstore talks throughout the country

Gen Rabten travelled far and wide...

...

Displays of Venerable Geshe-la's books began to appear throughout the country

How wonderful!

Preparing for one of the talks

The bookstore manager introduces Gen Rabten

Distributing wisdom - what a pleasure!

Everyone who comes is keen to find out more... Many books are sold

Hundreds of people around the country have attended...

Giving Gen Rabten a wonderful opportunity to meet the locals...

...!!

Maybe we should have warned him to not get too close!

Gosh... Australia is a very big country

Who can I get to help?

Dornying!

and Nampur!

"Wisdom, Australia-wide. How wonderful!"

KMC Germany ~ October 2009

2009-10-25T15:07:05+00:00

The autumn season has started ...

at KMCD ...

with the call of wild geese ...

and the beautiful colours of nature

We enjoy the last warm days together and say goodbye to Ngadron who is moving to Taiwan to become an NKT Resident Teacher there

People from the area enjoy our little cafe on the terrace ...

and a guided tour through the building with Gen Ananda

Some are interested in the statues and admire our meditation room ...

which recently received its final golden touches by our kind French working visitor, Romain

We enjoyed a wonderful Guru-Yoga Mandala Retreat ...

such a precious opportunity to come together, support each other ...

and remember the kindness of our Spiritual Guide

KMCD is a beautiful and blessed place to live ...

but there's still so much to be done as you can see...

Some walls cry for paint ...

some parts of the ceiling still need to be paint stripped ...

repaired and repainted.

There are a vast number of doors ...

and windows that need to be paint stripped, sanded and repainted

It's a huge building and we need many hands to transform it into a warm and welcoming place

If you have some spare time we invite you for a working visit

No special skills are needed,

we can find a suitable and enjoyable job for everybody!

As a working visitor you can participate in our teachings and weekend courses

enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in our centre ...

and get to know what it means to be part of a truly international Kadampa community

Find out more - www.nkt-kmc-germany.org

KMC Canada ~ September 2009

2009-09-25T18:54:51+00:00

Welcome to the Canadian Kadampa Buddhist Temple

Saturday morning Temple Cherishing Days usually start with coffee and muffins

Rabjor, Brenda and Milob wait for the coffee to be brewed

before going out to distribute publicity around Toronto

The temple gets a very good clean for the beginning of the term

Kelsang Kunden works the high areas - very high!

Kelsang Rigden works the low ground

and Kunden cleans as low down as possible

Kelsang Chondzin does some sweeping of the lobby

Cindy vaccuums the stairs

And Adam does some bookkeeping in the office

Kelsang Milob sets out lunch

Lunch time

There is a good selection of books by Tharpa Publications

The Dharma Shop is now ready

Art, books and statues are on display

There are mandala kits and other ritual items on offer

Come and take a look

120a place to develop inner peace and happiness

We invite you to the Temple

KMC Switzerland ~ September 2009

2009-09-25T18:54:36+00:00

Welcome to ...

Vairochana Buddhist Center in Sitterdorf (Switzerland)

The entrance of Vairochana Center

with many beautiful details like this vajra on the roof of the temple ...

and the nice pond with beautiful flowers

The beautiful Temple where the weekend course ....

with Gen Tharchin - The Power of Love - took place in September 2009

Many people attended and received his precious teachings

After the teachings Kelsang Demo prepared delicious food

and also fine desserts were made in the small kitchen for all the people

The food distribution system was well known from the English international Festivals

Everybody enjoyed!

and smiled!

Happy conversations ...

she is talking to someone who does not exist!

Some booked in to the nice rooms offered at the center

while others prefered the camp-site, not quite the size as in Manjushri (only 3 tents)

but at least with one very original (or patriotic) tent.

KMC Mexico ~ September 2009

2009-09-25T18:48:22+00:00

It is time for Kadam Dharma to come to Pachuca

We found a place for a new branch Centre

Of course, it needs some improvements!

In general, we are not against green...

but we prefer them white!

We continue removing obstacles...

by doing some preliminaries ...

with pure motivation

practising patience ...

eliminating obstructions ...

applying effort...

and purifying.

Creating a clean environment with...

new paths.

Now, pure appearances can arise...

in our pure environment...

generated from pure intention...

and the effort of Sangha

everyone in Pachuca can now enjoy Kadam Dharma

Everybody is ready to study and listen

to Pure Kadam Dharma

through the kindness of Je Tsongkapa

This is the proof that everything can be transformed

KMC Germany ~ September 2009

2009-09-25T18:39:18+00:00

Immediately after the NKT International Summer Festival ended the work on the facade of our Castle came to an end and preparations for the German Festival began

There was a lot to do!

The front door was prepared for receiving its new dark red colour ...

and the cafe received ts final touches.

Gen Ananda prepared the grounds ...

while Janice gave a helping hand preparing the rooms.

Legden helped make preparations for the Festival empowerment

and Resident Teachers from all over Germany came for the preparatory work.

With everybody's help, finally everything was ready for our guests to arrive.

Gen-la Khyenrab gave us inspiring teachings on 'Advice from Atisha's Heart' ...

and granted us the Empowerment

of Buddha Arya Tara - the manifestation of wisdom and compassion

Gen-la encouraged us not to be intellectual with Dharma but to be real Kadampa's and put the teachings into practice in our daily lives

and Gen Ananda guided two days of retreat which helped us understand how we can practice from the depths of our heart

People from all over Germany enjoyed receiving such precious advice ...

meeting their friends ...

making new friends ...

having some time to read ...

and relax together.

What a precious opportunity to receive advice from other practitioners ...

and discuss the Dharma in our freshly painted cafe!

We enjoyed some beautiful summer days

... even the campers were warm and happy.

Everyone enjoyed their time at KMC Germany.

The atmosphere was very peaceful and relaxed

But with meeting comes parting - time to say good bye -

what a beautiful and meaningful event!