Discover the ideal place to get away from it all: relax and be inspired by the many interesting and exciting programmes of Je Tsongkapa’s tradition offered in many Shugden centres around the world this March.

[Editor's note: If you would like your Dharma centre's activities to be featured on DorjeShugden.com, please write in to our editors at ds@dorjeshugden.com]

USA & CANADA

Florida Dharma Celebration

Prajnaparamita Empowerment

Requirement: Open to the public
Date: 6 – 8 March 2015

During this special event, we will receive the blessing empowerment of Buddha Prajnaparamita, the Female Buddha of Wisdom, from Gen Kelsang Jampa, the Eastern US National Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition. An empowerment is a beautiful blessing and guided meditation that enables us to create a special connection with an enlightened being.

Join the Florida Kadampa Buddhist community for a weekend of guided meditations and instruction on the practice of Buddha Prajnaparamita, which is a method that strengthens our own wisdom.

For more information, visit http://floridadharmacelebration.org/program/

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa Meditation Centre

Empower Your Inner Potential

Requirement: Open to the public
Date: 13 – 15 March 2015

Over the course of this inspiring weekend, Gen-la Dekyong will be granting the Blessing Empowerment of Buddha Shakyamuni and special teachings on training the mind. Through this, we can open our hearts and cultivate the limitless potential that exists within our own minds.

Gen-la will teach special methods that enable us to grow love, acceptance, joy and freedom, so we see our daily life as a natural expression of these beautiful qualities.

For more information, visit http://meditateinsa.org/empower-your-inner-potential/

EUROPE

Kalpa Bhadra Buddhist Centre

The Empowerment of Buddha Manjushri

Requirement: Open to the public
Date: 13 – 15 March 2015

In our busy daily lives, we experience many unpleasant feelings such as anger and stress, and we long to be free from them. To accomplish this, we need to understand how all our experiences arise from our mind, and how we can control our mind by relying on Buddha’s wisdom. We can then cultivate positive states of mind that protect us from suffering and create happiness for ourselves, both now and in the future.

This blessing Empowerment is an opportunity to make a special connection with Buddha Manjushri, who is the synthesis of the wisdom of all the Buddhas. Kadam Bridget Heyes will explain how, by applying this wisdom to our everyday life, we can solve our problems and attain a happy, meaningful life.

For more information, visit http://www.meditatenorthwales.com/welsh-dharma-celebration.html

Albagnano Healing Meditation Centre

Naro Cho Druk, Commentary on the Six Yogas of Niguma, Part I

Requirement: Open to the public
Date: 14 – 15 March 2015

This teaching is based on the commentary on the six yogas by the yogini Niguma, which are similar to those of Naropa. This first part will deal with the Lineage and Trulkor yoga, the Yoga of Sleep and Tummo.

For more information, visit http://ahmc.ngalso.net/events/naro-cho-druk-commentary-on-the-six-yogas-of-niguma-part-i/?lang=en

Madhyamaka Kadampa Meditation Centre

Life Is But A Dream

Requirement: Open to the public
Date: 20 – 22 March 2015

Milarepa said:
Last night’s dream is my Teacher. Is it the same for you?
During this special weekend course, Gen-la Dekyong will give a commentary to this beautiful and profound quote revealing Buddha’s teachings on emptiness.

Sunday morning will be a guided retreat on the teachings with Gen Kelsang Thekchen.

For more information, visit http://www.madhyamaka.org/special-events/

Albagnano Healing Meditation Centre

Initation and Practice of Singamukha: the Lion-Faced Wisdom Dakini

Requirement: Open to the public
Date: 21 – 22 March 2015

Lama Gangchen elaborated this practice on the base of the ancient text “Guru Yoga of the Dakini with the Face of a Lion” of Gyalwa Ensapa. Singamukha subdues the distressing forces of the subconsciousness that try to invade the waking consciousness and represents the primordial aspect of female energy.

For more information, visit http://ahmc.ngalso.net/events/initation-and-practice-of-singamukha-the-lion-faced-wisdom-dakini/?lang=en

Madhyamaka Kadampa Meditation Centre

Mindfulness & Concentration Weekend Course

Requirement: Open to the public
Date: 27 – 29 March 2015

This course will look at how to develop and increase our mindfulness and concentration during meditation and in daily life, so that we can strengthen our meditation practice, experience a calm and peaceful mind, improve our relationships and have a happier, meaningful life.

For more information, visit http://www.madhyamaka.org/beginners-weekend-retreats/

Rabten Chödarling

The 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas

Requirement: Open to the public
Date: 28 – 29 March 2015

For more information, visit http://www.rabten.eu/eventsLiberec_en.htm

I am a student of Buddhism and I am very happy to say that I have also received teachings from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, including initiations. I have followed his teachings for many years, and even been to Dharamsala and other Tibetan settlements in India to visit the many monasteries there. Buddhism has literally saved my life and I will be Buddhist for the rest of my life.

Imagine how saddened I was when some of my friends questioned me about the Dalai Lama recently. They are not Buddhist, but they have browsed the Dalai Lama’s website and seen many discouraging and negative articles about Dorje Shugden. They asked me why the head of Buddhism talks in this way about other religions and beliefs. I didn’t believe them until I also saw this section on the website with my own eyes. If you don’t know what I am talking about, please see this link www.dalailama.com/messages/dolgyal-shugden

I explained to my friends that the Dalai Lama has advised people not to do this practice. But then my friends said, even if he does not agree with this practice, how can he put up a whole section on his personal and professional website to talk badly against people who do the practice? They said it is not very compassionate, not Buddhist and not kind at all. They asked me what kind of monk this is if he can talk badly about other religions and beliefs on such a public space. My friends told me they will never join Buddhism because Buddhism is like this – it looks like Buddhists put down other religions and don’t practice any tolerance or kindness.

Actually, it is very true what they said. This is how it looks like for people who are not Buddhist or who don’t know that much. I feel very embarrassed. I am also a devotee of the Dalai Lama. I have loved him and listened to his teachings for over 20 years of my life. But when I see these kinds of writings on his website, it makes me feel very confused and sad. Why would the Dalai Lama do this? It makes him look so bad. It makes Buddhism look very bad, like we have hatred against other people who do different practices that we don’t agree with. It even makes the holy Sangha look bad.

Personally, I don’t practice Dorje Shugden because my root Lama has already given me the holy protector practice of Palden Lhamo and I follow his advice. It is not my business if someone does this practice or that practice. What is most important is that they follow the advice from their Gurus. I am sure many people received the Dorje Shugden practice from their Gurus so how can they just give it up if Dalai Lama says so? Maybe Dalai Lama is not even their Guru. If they give up their practice, they break their samaya. How can we encourage that? But Dorje Shugden practitioners are still Buddhist and they are still good people. What bad things have they done towards the Dalai Lama that he needs to put up a section specially on his website to criticise them and say they are wrong?

I am writing to you because you are the head of the Tibetan community and advisors to the Dalai Lama. Please do something about this and take away this section on the website. The Dalai Lama has already talked about this Dorje Shugden issue in his teachings. It is enough. You don’t need to also put it publicly like this all over the website. It brings the Dalai Lama down so much. It is very sad for all the people who love the Dalai Lama.

I do not mean any offence to you. But I hope you will listen to my request. It is very sad to know that there are many people who will think badly about the Dalai Lama and all Buddhists when they see this kind of negative writing on his website. It will totally ruin all his pure and excellent teachings about peace and compassion.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I wish you Tashi Delek, good health and long life.

Yours sincerely,
(YOUR NAME)