2026 Northwest Dharma Celebration

Blessing Empowerment of Buddha White Tara

Teachings on How to Swiftly Solve our Problems with the Wisdom of Subtle Impermanence

Friday, February 27 - Sunday, March 1

with Gen Kelsang Gomlam

Join us for our biggest gathering of the year, the 2026 Northwest Dharma Celebration!

This year our Western National Spiritual Director and visiting Teacher Gen Kelsang Gomlam will grant the blessing empowerment of Buddha White Tara. An empowerment is a uniquely qualified guided meditation in which we receive special blessings into our mind. Gen Gomlam will also offer teachings on subtle impermenance, one of the “Four Seals” of Buddhism.

About the Teachings

In this special weekend, we will learn how we can rely on Buddha White Tara in busy modern life. Gen Gomlam will also give teachings on the profound wisdom of subtle impermanence. She will explain how to use this knowledge to quickly and practically stop our painful delusions and self grasping, bringing us inner balance and immeasurable peace.

Who is the Buddha White Tara?

White Tara is a female enlightened being whose function is to bestow long life, wisdom and good fortune. These oppose our three main obstacles to a meaningful life – a short life, ignorance, and little merit. If we rely on White Tara with faith, she will protect us from contagious disease, the danger of fire, and other disasters.

It is said that living beings receive Tara’s help as swiftly as the wind moves because she is a manifestation of the wind element of all the Buddhas. She particularly helps us to overcome our ignorance by teaching ultimate truth, the way things really are, which leads us directly to permanent liberation from suffering and the lasting pure peace of full enlightenment.

Schedule

Friday, February 27

11:00am: Sojong for the Ordained, with Gen Gomlam
7:30-9:00pm: Introduction with Kadam Trina Gunther

Saturday, February 28

9-10am: Meditation with Kadam Heather Rocklin
11am-1pm: Empowerment Gen Gomlam
1:30-2:30pm: Lunch
3:30-5pm: Teaching with Gen Gomlam
5:30-6:30pm: Dinner
7-8pm: Wishfulfilling Jewel Prayers with Tsog Offering

Sunday, March 1

9-10am: Meditation/Guided White Tara Practice with Kadam Heather Rocklin
11am-12:30pm: Teaching with Gen Gomlam
12:30-1:30pm: Lunch
2:00-3:30pm: Teaching with Gen Gomlam

Cost & Registration

Festival Teachings

Whole Weekend: $140

Friday & Saturday: $100

Saturday Only: $85

Saturday & Sunday: $130

*To attend via live-stream, you must register for the entire weekend.

Meals

Friday Dinner: $10

Saturday Dinner: $15

Teachers

About the Teacher

Gen Kelsang Gomlam

Gen Kelsang Gomlam is an American Buddhist nun and the US Western National Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition. She is the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Center Colorado, and has been studying, practicing and teaching Kadam Dharma for many years. Gen Gomlam’s heartfelt and practical teachings are presented with warmth and humor, making them accessible to everyone. Through her loving kindness, sincere concern for others, and deep understanding of Buddha’s teachings, Gen Gomlam provides an inspiring example of someone who has taken Buddha’s teachings to heart.

About Kadam Trina Gunther

Kadam Trina Gunther is the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center Washington in Seattle. She has been a dedicated practitioner of modern Kadampa Buddhism since 2004. Kadam Trina brings with her a wealth of experience integrating Buddha's teachings with busy daily life. She offers a practical perspective to help anyone apply Buddha's profound insights and meditations to their busy working and family lives with clarity and joy.

About Kadam Heather Rocklin

Kadam Heather Rocklin is the Resident Teacher of Mahasiddha Kadampa Buddhist Center in Portland. She has been a disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso since 1998. A working mother of a 10-year-old, Kadam Heather shares Buddha’s teachings with great warmth and kindness, showing how Buddha’s teachings are practical in everyday life and beneficial for everyone! .