Special events

Meditations from Fall Festival

In challenging times we need to find protection from dangers and worries so that we can make continual spiritual progress. Dorje Shugden is a Wisdom Buddha who destroys all our obstacles and gathers all the conditions we need to practice Dharma and transform life’s difficulties into stepping stones to enlightenment.

Dorje Shugden is also known as the “great Protector of the Guru’s words” because he helps us penetrate the profound wisdom of Kadam Dharma, ensuring its light continues to shine for generations to come.

In this day retreat, Resident Teacher Gen Dorje will focus on the teachings and meditations from the recent NKT-IKBU International Fall Festival to deepen our experience. 

About the teacher

Gen Kelsang Dorje is the resident teacher at the Kadampa Meditation Center Madison. As the resident teacher Gen Dorje is responsible for teaching and leading meditation classes, retreats, and workshops at the center and in branch locations. He has received extensive training under the guidance of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the founder of the New Kadampa Tradition. Gen Dorje is known for his warmth and humor in making Buddha’s teachings relevant to our modern life. He is an inspiring example of how to integrate these teachings into a joyful life and is committed to helping people improve their daily lives through meditation and mindfulness.

Registration details

Cost: $30, free for members. Lunch available for an additional $15 (optional). Livestream available for members.

Lunch orders will be taken when you check in at the front desk for morning session. You must be present for the first session to place your lunch order.

with Gen Kelsang Dorje

The teachings of Tantra, or Secret Mantra, are the most rare and precious within Buddhism.  They show us how to open our minds and overcome the limiting views that we hold of ourselves, others, and the world around us which often lead us to experience frustration and disappointment. Tantra shows us how to create an abundance of positive energy and deep wisdom through understanding the true nature of things. By putting the teachings of Tantra into practice we can bring a more profound spiritual awareness to our daily activities, creating a purity and bliss that benefit not only ourselves, but others as well. 

This introductory course is suitable for anyone who wishes to deepen their knowledge of Buddha’s Tantric teachings and perfect preparation for the Blessing Empowerment of Buddha Maitreya next weekend. 

About the teacher

Gen Kelsang Dorje is the resident teacher at the Kadampa Meditation Center Madison. As the resident teacher Gen Dorje is responsible for teaching and leading meditation classes, retreats, and workshops at the center and in branch locations. He has received extensive training under the guidance of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the founder of the New Kadampa Tradition. Gen Dorje is known for his warmth and humor in making Buddha’s teachings relevant to our modern life. He is an inspiring example of how to integrate these teachings into a joyful life and is committed to helping people improve their daily lives through meditation and mindfulness.

Registration details

Cost: $20 (members free / livestream available) 

Location:
Kadampa Meditation Center Madison
1825 S. Park St., Madison, WI 53713

When we have a strong loving mind, our whole experience of the world changes. In addition, others feel this change and respond to it. In this very real sense, love has the power to transform our world.

In this talk, Gen Dorje will guide us through this mind of love. This class can also serve as an introduction to the Blessing Empowerment of Buddha Maitreya, the embodiment of the loving kindness of all the Buddhas. In this way we begin to become someone whose love transforms the world.

Everyone welcome!

About the teacher

Gen Kelsang Dorje is the resident teacher at the Kadampa Meditation Center Madison. As the resident teacher Gen Dorje is responsible for teaching and leading meditation classes, retreats, and workshops at the center and in branch locations. He has received extensive training under the guidance of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the founder of the New Kadampa Tradition. Gen Dorje is known for his warmth and humor in making Buddha’s teachings relevant to our modern life. He is an inspiring example of how to integrate these teachings into a joyful life and is committed to helping people improve their daily lives through meditation and mindfulness.

Registration Details: 

Cost: $15 for non members not registered for Empowerment on Nov 15.
Members attend for free and have livestream access.

NOTE:  If you registered for Empowerment on Nov 15, the Friday talk is included as an introduction class (no extra charge).  

A weekend course including the Empowerment of Buddha Maitreya with Gen Kelsang Dorje

When we have a strong loving mind, our whole experience of the world changes. In addition, others feel this change and respond to it. In this very real sense, love has the power to transform our world.

During this special event, Gen Kelsang Dorje will grant us the Blessed Empowerment of Buddha Maitreya; who is the embodiment of the loving kindness of all the Buddhas. An empowerment is a blissful guided meditation that connects us to Maitreya’s enlightened love giving us great power in our spiritual development.

In the commentary, Gen Dorje will share how to use the brief practice of Buddha Maitreya, to identify strongly with this Buddha’s qualities, and in turn learn to nurture them within ourselves. In this way we begin to become someone whose love transforms the world.

Saturday Empowerment Session is an in-person event only.

About the teacher

Gen Kelsang Dorje is the resident teacher at the Kadampa Meditation Center Madison. As the resident teacher Gen Dorje is responsible for teaching and leading meditation classes, retreats, and workshops at the center and in branch locations. He has received extensive training under the guidance of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the founder of the New Kadampa Tradition. Gen Dorje is known for his warmth and humor in making Buddha’s teachings relevant to our modern life. He is an inspiring example of how to integrate these teachings into a joyful life and is committed to helping people improve their daily lives through meditation and mindfulness.

Registration details

Cost (non-members):
Saturday Empowerment plus Friday night talk: $60 (no lunch) or $75 (includes lunch)
Friday night talk only: $15

Cost (GP, FP and TTP members):
Saturday Empowerment plus Friday night talk: $30 (no lunch) or $45 (includes lunch)
Friday night talk only: free

Cost (benefactors):
No cost to attend sessions or empowerment; lunch is $15

Members may livestream Friday night talk and Saturday afternoon sessions (1:30pm-4:30pm)

with Kadampa teacher Lowanna Mobley

Gratitude is a kind of happiness superpower. It is a powerful tonic that uplifts the mind, enables us to enjoy our lives, and feel enriched, confident and optimistic.  Often it seems like we live in a cruel and selfish world, empowered by this mind of gratitude we will be filled with hope and faith in humanity. 

In this special event we’ll learn how to harness the superpower of gratitude to see kindness everywhere.   

This class includes teaching, guided meditation and is appropriate for all levels.  Everyone welcome! 

About the teacher

Lowanna Mobley has been a longtime student of our Foundation Program (FP), and serves as our center’s Education Program Coordinator. She is known for her enthusiasm and loving nature, bringing humor and genuine insight to her teaching.

Registration details

Cost: $20 (members free/livestreaming available for members)

Location:
Kadampa Meditation Center Madison
1825 S. Park St., Madison, WI 53713