STRENGTHEN
Special Events
Day Courses,
Public Talks,
Retreats
ACTUALIZE YOUR FULL POTENTIAL
“What is enlightenment? It is the inner light of wisdom that is completely free from all mistaken appearance, and whose function is to bestow mental peace upon each and every living being every day.”
- Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Bringing the Light Of Love:
A Method for Enjoying the Holidays
with Resident Teacher, John Baker
Saturday, Dec 13th • 10:30am - 1:30pm • $20 (FP & TTP discounts apply))
Everyone Welcome • No Experience Necessary
SCHEDULE:
Session 1 - 10:30 - 11:45am
Tea Break - 11:45am - 12:15pm
Session 2 - 12:15 - 1:30pm
When the days are dark and cold it can be difficult to stay positive. So, we light our surroundings to celebrate the holidays and delight those around us.
Buddha taught that with a mind of love, we not only protect ourselves from dark states of mind, but help others to do the same.
In this half-day course we’ll become familiar with Buddha’s methods for recognizing and reducing our negative states of mind, and cultivating loving and positive states. Knowing these methods will help us bring a loving attitude to our relationships. We can "light up" by practicing being present, loving and kind with our friends, family and neighbors during this winter holiday season and all year long.
Familiarity & Focus:
Focusing on Love
with Resident Teacher, John Baker
Sunday, Dec 14th • 10:30am - 1:45pm
$20 (Includes Sunday Morning Meditation - FP & TTP discounts apply)
Everyone Welcome • No Experience Necessary
One of the main ways that our meditations improve is through familiarity with an object of meditation. Your mindfulness gets a boost and your object starts to come into focus becoming clearer and free from distractions.
This mini-retreat will be on the topic of love, and in particular a love that wishes for others to be happy. Included is a main teaching in the morning with a guided meditation, a short break, and then two guided meditations with a short break in between.
SCHEDULE
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10:30 - 11:45am Sunday
Morning Meditation Class
11:45am - 12:30pm Break
12:30 - 1:00pm Meditation
1:00 - 1:15pm Silent Break
1:15 - 1:45pm Meditation
New Year, New View!
The Power of a Peaceful Mind
with Resident Teacher, John Baker
Wednesday, Dec 31st • 7 - 9 pm • $15
Everyone Welcome • No Experience Necessary
Ring in the New Year with a peaceful mind and a positive outlook! Make Kadampa Meditation Center Philadelphia an early stop for your New Year's Celebrations.
If we could make one change for the new year, what would it be? In Buddha’s teachings we find the methods for developing lasting peace within our mind. We all have this potential—it’s indestructible! If we put these methods into practice we will definitely gain a special experience of mental peace, and have a far greater ability to help those around us. Recognizing our own and others’ potential for peace is an incredibly powerful view to bring into 2026!
Our New Year's Eve event includes a brief public talk, meditation, and candlelit prayers of the Buddha of Compassion. Followed by a dessert & sparkling cider reception.​
SCHEDULE
7 - 8pm Public Talk and
Candlelit Buddha of
Compassion Prayers
8 - 9pm After Party
SCHEDULE:​
Session 1:1-2pm
30 MIN BREAK
Session 2: 2:30-3:30pm
30 MIN BREAK
Session 3: 4-5pm
Long Life, Merit & Wisdom:
Buddha Amitayus Retreat
Self-guided Session
Sunday, January 4th • 1 - 5pm • $10 (FP & TTP discounts apply)
Everyone Welcome • No Experience Necessary
'Amitayus' means 'Infinite Life.’ There is nothing more precious than our life. If we use our life in meaningful ways, we have the opportunity to experience every happiness, including enlightenment! Relying on Buddha Amitayus prevents untimely death, grows our wisdom and increases our positive energy or merit - bringing us closer to our full potential.
Near the beginning of each New Year at Kadampa Buddhist Centers worldwide, we gather together to create special causes for World Peace by relying upon Buddha Amitayus through prayer and meditation. By engaging in this retreat, we benefit the lives of countless living beings as we increase our own wisdom, long life, and merit. Through the power of Buddha’s transformational energy, our own good heart, our prayers and mantra recitation, good results will definitely come.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY
Intro: 7:00 - 8:15pm
SATURDAY
Session 1: 10:30-11:45am
90 MIN BREAK
Session 2: 1:00-2:15pm
30 MIN BREAK
Session 3: 2:45-4:00pm
60 MIN BREAK
Session 4: Quick Path with Tsog Offering 5:00-6:30pm
The Blissful Path:
A Highest Yoga Tantra Retreat
with Resident Teacher, John Baker
Friday, January 9th (Intro) & Saturday, January 10th • $35
This retreat will help build confidence and gain familiarity in the generation stage practice of Vajrayogini and in the short Vajrayogini sadhana, The Blissful Path.
*To participate, it is necessary to have received the Highest Yoga Tantra Empowerments or to have the wish to attend the next HYT Empowerments at Summer Festival 2026.
Please remember to bring a tsog offering and The Blissful Path prayer booklet.
Developing Beneficial Views & Intentions
A Lamrim Retreat
with Resident Teacher, John Baker
Saturday, January 17th & Sunday, January 18th
$35 full retreat -or $20/day (FP & TTP discounts apply)
In this two day retreat increase your experience of the foundational meditations for stable mental peace, the Stages of the Path, "Lamrim" in Tibetan. Each retreat session will include chanted prayers, a brief teaching, and guided meditation.
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SATURDAY 1/17
Session 1: 10:00 - 11:00 am - Meditation on the Preciousness of Our Human Life
Session 2: 11:30am - 12:30pm - Meditation on Going for Refuge
Session 3: 2:00 - 3:00pm - Meditation on Karma
Session 4: 3:30 - 4:30pm - Meditation on Renunciation
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SUNDAY 1/18
Session 1: 10:30 - 11:45am - Sunday Morning Meditation - Cherishing All Living Beings
Session 2: 1:00 - 2:00pm - Meditation on the Supreme Good Heart, Bodhichitta
Session 3: 2:30 - 3:30pm - Training in Meditation on Emptiness
Session 4: 4:00 - 5:00pm - Meditation on Relying on Our Spiritual Guide
SCHEDULE:
Session 1: 10-11:15am
Session 2: 11:45am-12:45pm
Lunch Served: 12:45 - 2:00pm
Session 3: 2:00-3:00pm
Session 4: 3:30-4:30pm
Tranquil Abiding on the Clarity of the Mind:
A SILENT Retreat
with Resident Teacher, John Baker
Saturday, January 24th • 10am - 4:30pm • $35 (Includes Lunch)
In our busy modern lives, it’s easy for our minds to become tired and tense, leaving inner peace feeling out of reach. But true mental clarity and lasting happiness are closer than we think.
In this SILENT day retreat, you’ll be guided in meditations and teachings that help access the natural stillness and spaciousness of your own mind. Drawing on the first stage of Buddha’s profound Mahamudra teachings, these practical methods offer genuine tools to calm the mind, reduce stress, and find balance in daily life.
Meditation on the sky-like nature of the mind is simple yet deeply transformative—perfect for both beginners and experienced meditators alike. Keeping silence throughout the day will help to reduce distractions and maintain stillness.
Join us for an inspiring day of rest, reflection, and renewal. Everyone is welcome
INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL EVENTS
Spiritual Vitality & Long Life:
The Blessing Empowerment of Buddha Amitayus, Teachings & Retreat
with Gen Samten Kelsang
Dec 26th - 30th • at Kadampa Meditation Center NY in Glen Spey, NY
Everyone Welcome • No Experience Necessary
Elevate your mind and inspire your spiritual life. At times, we feel low, lost, or drained, and our best intentions and meditations can falter. To renew our vitality, we can turn to the practice of Buddha Amitayus.
Gen Samten will open the course by granting Amitayus empowerment, offering extraordinary wisdom blessings to deepen our connection to enlightened beings who guide us on the spiritual path.
Over the course, Gen Samten will teach how to engage in Amitayus practice to restore inspiration and positivity for achieving our spiritual goals. Meditation on the yogas of Buddha Amitayus and mantra recitation are powerful tools to increase lifespan, merit, and wisdom. By opening our hearts to his blessings, we gain energy and protection for our most precious possession—our life. A long life without wisdom holds little value, so all three—lifespan, merit, and wisdom—must grow together.
The course concludes with a retreat to internalize these teachings. We will allow all the wisdom we have gained to coalesce together into a meditative experience. It’s a perfect way to end the year—everyone is welcome!