

Join us for our biggest gathering of the year, the 2027 Northwest Dharma Celebration!
This year our Western National Spiritual Director and visiting Teacher Gen Kelsang Gomlam will teach how to find deep spiritual protection for our mind. As part of this, she will grant the blessing empowerment of Wisdom Buddha Dorje Shugden, an enlightened Dharma Protector. An empowerment is a uniquely qualified guided meditation in which we receive special blessings into our mind.
What is the Northwest Dharma Celebration?
The Northwest Dharma Celebration (NWDC) is a regional Buddhist meditation festival where people gather to receive blessings, learn about the Buddhist spiritual path and meditate together. This regional event is organized by Kadampa centers and groups in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho. Every year the NWDC is hosted by Kadampa Meditation Center Washington in Seattle.
No previous experience is necessary to attend. Everyone is welcome!
Who is Dorje Shugden?
Dorje Shugden is a Wisdom Buddha who is also a Dharma Protector, which means his main functions are to protect our spiritual progress by averting our obstacles and arranging the best conditions for our practice. Through relying on this enlightened being and receiving his powerful blessings, we will accomplish all the stages of the spiritual path to the pure happiness of enlightenment.
Why do we need spiritual protection?
In this special weekend, Gen Gomlam will teach on how to find powerful spiritual protection. Just as we use insurance to protect our outer wealth and possessions, we definitely need protection for our “inner wealth” of spiritual experience. Buddha’s teachings (or “Dharma”) are the method to permanently free ourself and others from suffering.
Our inner wealth is our own peaceful mental experiences of cherishing others, patience, universal compassion and the wisdom realizing emptiness. It is the pure happiness that comes from spiritual practice. Our inner wealth needs constant protection. For this protection, we can rely confidently on the enlightened Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden.

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.

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.

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! .

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