During the teachings on this simple but effective practice, our Kadampa Buddhist Teacher, Jen DeSantis, will illuminate the purification practice of Buddha Vajrasattva following the sadhana Meditation and Recitation of Solitary Vajrasattva. This skillful and creative practice allows us to connect with the natural potential of our mind, to heal our past, and to free ourselves from old, painful habits of thinking and behaving. Through purifying our mind gradually we experience a wonderful lightness and inner freedom. We are then free to live a life based on wisdom and love, to experience a truly joyful heart and to become the person we really wish to be.
Session 1: 10:00-11:15am
Session 2: 12:00-1:00pm
Pricing: $20 whole event | $15/session
Supporting Members & FP & Benefactor Members: Free
TeacherJennifer DeSantis
Jennifer DeSantis is a Teacher Training Program student at KMC Los Angeles, and has been a manager and has helped at may centers in the US, including KMC Philadelphia. She is know for her warmth and kindness, as well as her ability to give practical teachings on how to apply Dharma in daily life.
In this course, we will apply Buddha’s powerful and liberating teachings on the nature of reality to change our experience of the past. These tried and tested methods are immensely empowering. By helping us to let go of those mistaken states of mind that keep us trapped in the past, we are able to reassess our experience from the vantage point of our incredible potential.
Session 1: 10:30am-12pm
Session 2: 1-2:30pm
Pricing: $20 whole event | $15/session
Supporting Members & FP & Benefactor Members: Free
TeacherJennifer DeSantis
Jennifer DeSantis is a Teacher Training Program student at KMC Los Angeles, and has been a manager and has helped at may centers in the US, including KMC Philadelphia. She is know for her warmth and kindness, as well as her ability to give practical teachings on how to apply Dharma in daily life.
Saturday Night Out
August 29, 2026
The Life of Buddha Movie Showing
6-8:30pm
Join us for The Life of Buddha movie in our meditation room. This special dramatic presentation was inspired by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and his teachings, and visually captures the essence of Buddha Shakyamuni's life.
Based on the twelve principal deeds of Buddha, it reveals in a clear, entertaining, and moving way the essential characteristics of a spiritual life. It was performed over various years by Kadampa Buddhist students at the NKT-IKBU International Summer Festival in the Kadampa World Peace Temple at Manjushri KMC, UK.
This screening also features a recording of a talk by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso at the Kadampa World Peace Temple, England.
"This is a holy, spiritual play. Every part of this play shows great meaning. It is not an ordinary play."
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes
Snacks & refreshments will be provided
Everyone is welcome!
Every one of us wants to be happy, but painful minds such as anger and frustration often lead to our unhappiness. In today’s times, we especially need the power of patience to overcome these painful and destructive emotions in the face of adversities.
In this retreat, we will learn practical methods to solve our problems and come to know the real strength of the mind of patient acceptance. Patience is not a passive response to life’s difficulties, but rather, an inner strength. Applying these methods to our daily life saves our peace of mind, makes hard times easier to bear, and moves us forward in a positive direction.
Everyone is welcome to learn these practices, and no experience is necessary.
This retreat will include:
• Practical tools and insights from Buddha’s teachings
• Guided meditations
• Time to rest and contemplate
Session 1: 10-11:15am
Session 2: 12-1:15pm
Pricing: $20 whole event | $15/session
Supporting Members & FP & Benefactor Members: Free
TeacherEdward Paige
Edward Paige is a longtime practitioner and teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center Los Angeles, where he regularly leads guided meditations and classes. With 12 years of practice, he's known for a down-to-earth, practical teaching style that helps people apply Dharma to everyday life.
Immerse yourself in the half-day retreat and experience the ocean of peace that lies within your own mind.
Kadampa Teacher Jen DeSantis will explain:
• meditation methods to help you quickly calm your mind
• how to tap into the true potential within your mind
• how to experience happiness and wellbeing that comes from a peaceful mind
Session 1: 10-11am
Session 2: 12-1pm
Pricing: $20 | Supporting Members: $10 | FP & Benefactor Members: Free
TeacherJennifer DeSantis
Jennifer DeSantis is a Teacher Training Program student at KMC Los Angeles, and has been a manager and has helped at may centers in the US, including KMC Philadelphia. She is know for her warmth and kindness, as well as her ability to give practical teachings on how to apply Dharma in daily life.
Each year, the International Spring Festival is hosted at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in Ulverston, UK. If you are unable to make it in-person, you can also register to attend the Festival online. We are also offering the opportunity to view some of the sessions together in person at Dharmachakra KBC so that we can experience them as a group in our beautiful meditation center.
Finding the Source of True Happiness with Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab
Through this empowerment we will receive the special blessings of Amitayus, the Buddha of long life, wisdom and merit.
Then, based on Eight Verses of Training the Mind, Gen-la Khyenrab will explain how we can transform all the problems and difficulties of our daily life into opportunities for developing authentic love and compassion, and for finding true and lasting happiness. “If everyone were to practice cherishing others, many of the major problems of the world would be solved in a few years.” Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, The New Eight Steps to Happiness
Viewing Schedule at Dharmachakra KBC
Friday, May 22
7-8:30pm – Introduction
Saturday, May 23
9-10am – Meditation
11am-12pm – Meditation
1:30pm -3:30 pm – Empowerment
To attend, please register for the Spring Festival online @kadampafestivals.org/spring
***You must register to attend the festival online in order to participate in the viewing party***
The US Festival only happens once a year and is a unique opportunity for Kadampa practitioners to gather from across the United States, creating a special environment of community and learning. The Festival is a special occasion to receive direct teachings from a qualified teacher, explore the depths of wisdom, and strengthen our practice of meditation. The wisdom we cultivate during these days will not only benefit our personal growth, but will also allow us to contribute to the well-being of others. Not only will we learn and contemplate new things, but the experience gives us an opportunity to transform our mind, deepen our inner peace and develop the compassion that connects us all.
Learn More & Register: USkadampafestival.org
Each year on April 15th Kadampa Buddhists around the world commemorate the day when Buddha Shakyamuni demonstrated the attainment of enlightenment. This is an extremely important day in the Buddhist calendar because our actions are 100,000 times more powerful than on other days. We celebrate by engaging in a special compassion fasting retreat in conjunction with Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara practice. Throught this retreat, we will:
On this special day it is customary to abstain from all meals apart from lunch, with the Mahayana precepts* being taken at the beginning of the day. We do three sessions of meditation, combining prostrations with chanted meditation.
For questions related to the retreat contact: epc@meditationinpalmsprings.org
Wednesday, April 15th
6.30 – 7.15am Mahayana Precepts*
7.15 – 8.30am Session 1
10.00 – 11.15am Session 2
12.30pm Lunch
2.00pm Heart Jewel Puja
4.00 – 5.30pm Session 3
*The Mahayana precepts are vows we take to abstain from certain actions for the duration of 24 hours. For more information about precepts please ask your class teacher.
$15 (Members: $7.50)
Jennifer DeSantis
is a Teacher Training Program student at KMC Los Angeles, and has been a manager and has helped at may centers in the US, including KMC Philadelphia. She is know for her warmth and kindness, as well as her ability to give practical teachings on how to apply Dharma in daily life.
with Western US National Spiritual Director, Gen Kelsang Gomlam
Save the Date: December 4-6, 2026
Learn More & Register: cadharmacelebration.org
We all wish for spiritual realizations, but these depend upon creating certain inner conditions such as purifying negativity, accumulating merit, and receiving blessings. In this retreat, we focus on the practices of accumulating merit and receiving blessings. Our Kadampa teacher, Jen DeSantis, will explain this beautiful practice of imagining purity and wishing all living beings to experience world peace. This is a very beautiful traditional practice where we offer imagined pure worlds. The sessions will include guidance on how to do this based on traditional texts. Everyone is welcome.
Wednesday, April 15th
10-11:30am Introduction
1-2:30pm: Session 1
3:30-5pm: Session 2
$30 (Members: $15)
Jennifer DeSantis
is a Teacher Training Program student at KMC Los Angeles, and has been a manager and has helped at may centers in the US, including KMC Philadelphia. She is know for her warmth and kindness, as well as her ability to give practical teachings on how to apply Dharma in daily life.
923 Crossley Road,
Palm Springs, CA 92264
info@MeditationInPalmSprings.org
(760) 656-8117
© 2026 Dharmachakra KBC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.