Annual Fundraiser Letter (May 3, 2024)

Dear Friends and Members of Guhyasamaja Center,

Happy Saka Dawa Düchen! I hope that you are all doing well. Every year the center begins its fundraising campaign on this most auspicious occasion of Saka Dawa. This is a time when the karmic effects of our deeds multiply exponentially! According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, karmic results are multiplied by one hundred million times if you make an offering on the day of the anniversary of Buddha’s enlightenment. This year, I would like to personally encourage you to please donate to the center with your purest intention, to benefit all sentient beings. We have goal of making $15,000 for this campaign—and with your help I know we can reach it!

Saka Dawa runs this year from May 9 to June 6th, 2024. The 15th day of the 4th lunar month, on May 23rd commemorates the anniversary of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. Your donations at this time will be used to cover the center’s basic expenses, to bring more authentic dharma teachings to the center, and to help upgrade our zoom live-streaming capabilities so that we can continue to offer classes online and stream live events. To help the center during this fundraiser, please visit our website and make a donation via Paypal (by clicking the “donate” button on the upper right side) or by sending a check to the center’s PO Box indicated on the website. We are most thankful for your help!

Recently, the center has had some significant changes, from our directorship to some of our board members and staff positions. Our director of over 20 combined years, Lorne Ladner, stepped down from this role after having contributed immensely to the dharma in the Washington, DC/Northern Virginia area, and, of course, the development of the Guhyasamaja Center as we know it today. It all started from a small and cozy room at his house!

I must emphasize the difficulty of conveying Lorne’s tremendous contributions to our center. From taking over as director, at Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s request, to inviting so many authentic lineage masters to our area, organizing large teachings and retreats, and serving as a guide for us all at the center, we are all forever grateful to Lorne for being our director. Do not worry though, Lorne has agreed to continue his excellent teachings at the center regularly.

There were also changes in the board of directors. Jeff Nye, one of our original founders, stepped down as a board member and center treasurer, after serving for over 20 years. Since the establishment of the center, Jeff has served as the senior advisor for all center matters and center treasurer. Jeff’s role and contributions will be missed and we wish him steady winds in his spiritual path.

Rebecca Freeman also stepped down from her role as a board member. Rebecca also contributed extensively to the center and its success. She served as a facilitator for many years, teaching meditation classes, and as a Spiritual Program Coordinator (SPC). She will be sorely missed, and we wish her much health, happiness, and swift progress on the path. The center also benefited from a new website administrator, new volunteer coordinator, new librarian, and new bookstore manager. We are grateful and rejoice in the merit of all these volunteers!

Finally, the center has had many dharma teachings since the beginning of the year.

The center hosted Kadampa Center’s Geshe Gelek Chodak in April, for a weekend of teachings on the “Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas.” The Discovering Buddhism Series started in January, taught by our dearest Venerable Damchoe, and it is currently on the third module “Presenting the Path.” Ven. Damchoe also offered many other classes, retreats, and prayer sessions to fulfill the needs of our community. Lorne graciously continues to teach the series: “Revealing your Buddha Nature: Exploring Chapter One of the Sublime Continuum (Uttaratantra) on Our Potential for Enlightenment and on Refuge” which is widely attended by students from the area and out of state.

We have a lot to be grateful and joyful about, and with your help we will continue to bring and share authentic Buddhist teachings with you, our community. I am humbled for the opportunity to serve as new director and look forward to continuing our practice together.