Teachings | Meditations | Community
Welcome to our Annual Florida Peaceful Getaway Retreat
Join us in beautiful Sarasota for a special Labor Day weekend retreat based on How To Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Throughout the weekend, Resident Teachers from the seven Kadampa centers in Florida will share Buddha’s teachings and guide meditations that awaken our inner potential and show how Love is truly the Great Protector.
This retreat is a special event held every year at the Kadampa Temple for World Peace in Sarasota, Florida. This modern Buddhist Temple was designed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, founder of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union, to provide an opportunity for people from all over Florida to gather together as a spiritual community to receive Dharma teachings and engage in meditation.
Love
The Great Protector
About the Teachings
What if love is more than just a feeling? What if it’s a source of inner strength!? Buddha taught that the more we care for others, the more peaceful, and resilient we become. Love, it turns out, actually protects the mind – helping us experience much deeper happiness and connection.
Buddha teaches that all happiness arises from love – the sincere wish for others to be happy. It’s not how much others love us, but the depth and quality of our love for them that brings true happiness. As we open our hearts to all living beings, we begin to feel more balanced, more grounded, and more at peace. In this way, love becomes our protector, shielding the mind from negativity, anger, and fear.
This transformation does not happen overnight. Yet, as our love for others grows, it naturally weakens the habits of judgment and resentment, replacing them with patience, understanding, and inner strength. Although it may seem that we love only a few, our capacity to love is truly limitless. The more widely and purely we love – the more joy we experience, and the more resilient we become against negativity. In this way, love not only brings happiness, but protects it.
In this retreat, we will be guided in meditations that show us how to develop and maintain a mind of pure loving kindness, following the instructions presented in How to Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.Through practicing and gaining experience of these meditations we will discover how the precious mind of love brings happiness and protection to both ourself and others.
SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept 4
| 7pm – 8:30pm | Introduction to Meditation on Love with Gen Lhadron |
Saturday, Sept 5
| 9am – 10:15am | Learning to Love with Gen Tashi |
| 11am – 12:15pm | Appreciating the Kindness of Others with Sarah Frew |
| 2:15pm – 3:30pm | The Benefits of Love with Kadam Ricc |
| 7:00pm | Wishfulfilling Jewel Prayers |
Sunday, Sept 6
| 9am – 10:15am | Keeping a Balanced Mind Towards Others with Kadam Carol |
| 11am – 12:15pm | Viewing Others as Important with Gen Namdrol |
| 1pm – 2:15pm | Seeing Beyond People’s Faults with Gen Jindak |
Monday, Sept 7
| 9am – 10:15am | Recognizing our Pure Potential with Gen Lhadron |
| 11am – 12:15pm | Wishing Happiness to Everyone with Sarah Frew |
The Teachers
Kadampa Meditation Center Florida | Sarasota
Gen Kelsang Lhadron is the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Center Florida. She is an American Buddhist nun who since 2001 has been a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and practicing Kadampa Buddhism. Gen Lhadron’s sincere teachings are presented with humor and practical examples that make them accessible to everyone. Through her kindness and enthusiasm for meditation practice, she provides an inspiring example of a modern Buddhist practitioner for our society.
Kadampa Meditation Center | Miami
Gen Kelsang Tashi is a Buddhist monk and the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Center Miami. He has been practicing and teaching meditation in the Kadampa tradition for over 15 years. His gentle approach to meditation emphasizes the importance of keeping a happy and positive mind. He is appreciated for his clear, light-hearted and practical presentation of Buddhist teachings.
Maitreya Kadampa Buddhist Center | Jacksonville
Kadam Carol Lutker is a longtime student of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, and has been teaching Kadampa Buddhism in Long Island NY and Florida since 2001. She serves as an example of how to practice Dharma within the context of family and community, is married and has three grown children. As a teacher, Carol is especially appreciated for her warm, clear and practical instruction.
Samudrabadra Kadampa Buddhist Center | Fort Myers
Gen Kelsang Namdrol is a modern Buddhist nun and the Resident Teacher of Samudrabadra Kadampa Buddhist Center. She has been studying, practicing, and teaching Kadampa Buddhism for many years under Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the founder of the New Kadampa Tradition. Gen Namdrol’s heartfelt and practical teachings are presented with warmth, clarity, and humor making them accessible to everyone.
Vajrapani Kadampa Buddhist Center | Orlando
Kadam Ricc Bishop has been a disciple of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for over 20 years. Venerable Geshe Kelsang assigned Ricc as a Resident Teacher in 2006 and he was granted the senior title of ‘Kadam” in 2010. Kadam Ricc has studied, practiced and taught others Kadampa Dharma for many years and is qualified to teach the paths of Sutra and Tantra. He takes a special delight in offering Buddha’s teaching as practical advice for a happy and meaningful life.
Kadampa Meditation Center | Tampa Bay
Sarah Frew – a long-time student and practitioner of Kadampa Buddhism – participated in the Intensive Teacher Training Program at Manjushri Centre. Sarah has held many additional roles including being a Manager and Festival Organizer. Through her joyful and engaging manner, she shares Buddha’s teachings in a kind-hearted and warm way that makes them accessible to everyone.
Kadampa Meditation Center | Fort Lauderdale
Gen Kelsang Jindak has been a disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche for over 25 years. Ordained as a Buddhist nun in 2003, she was given the name Kelsang Jindak, which means “Fortunate Benefactor”. She has many years of experience teaching and volunteering at Kadampa Centers around the U.S. Gen Jindak has a clear, joyful teaching style and presents Kadampa Buddhism practically, for both beginners and experienced meditators alike.
Attendance Options
In-Person
Join people from all around Florida who will gather in person to attend this very special event. Being able to listen to authentic Dharma teachings in a blessed Temple is an incredibly profound and meaningful experience. You will be able to connect with Sangha friends from all around the state in-person, and enjoy the World Peace Cafe, shop, and beautiful world peace gardens at KMC Florida.
Online
The Florida Peaceful Getaway Retreat will be recorded and streamed for students who are within the catchment area of the event and who have valid reasons for not being able to attend the event in person, such as disability or long-distance travel. The recorded Labor Day retreat will be available for online viewing 48 hours after the event has finished until the following Sunday, September 13th at 11:59pm.
How to Register
Advance booking is required. (Registration closes Sun, Sept 6th, 2026 at 12pm est).
You can register to attend either In-Person or Online using the button below. For technical support or any questions about your registration please contact us at info@meditationinflorida.org.
Event Pricing
(if you are a member at your local center member discounts apply)
RETREAT
- Entire Weekend – $100 before August 1st, 2026 ($125 starting August 2nd)
- Friday Intro only – $20
- Saturday only – $45
- Sunday only – $45
- Monday Only – $30
Note: Scholarships are available for those needing financial assistance. To inquire please send an email to: info@meditationinflorida.org
OPTIONAL ADD-ONS
- Lunch – $35/entire retreat (meals available for purchase individually)
- Parking – $25 entire weekend
- Camper Parking (contact us for camper reservations) – $75/night
*Please note: Additional street parking will be available around the Temple. Please check this site for more details and updates.
Onsite Accommodation Options
Limited onsite accommodation will be available inside the Temple for those attending in person (3-night minimum booking required). Please register as soon as possible if you wish to stay onsite. Onsite accommodation options include:
- Single Room – $95/night
- Shared Double Room – $65/night/person
- Dorm Room – $50/night/person
- Shared Room – $50/night/per person
The Temple for World Peace at Kadampa Meditation Center Florida
This event will be held at the beautiful Temple for World Peace at Kadampa Meditation Center Florida. This modern Buddhist Temple was designed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, our Founder, as part of the International Temples Project and was opened in 2011. The Temple’s unique design is based on the celestial palace of Heruka, the Buddha of Compassion. The design also represents all the stages of the spiritual path to enlightenment. Just seeing it reminds us that we have the potential to improve our human nature and qualities through developing the capacity of our mind.
Join people from all around Florida who will gather to attend this very special event. Being able to listen to authentic Dharma teachings in a blessed Temple is an incredibly profound and meaningful experience. You will be able to meet and connect with Sangha friends from all around the state in-person, and enjoy the World Peace Cafe, shop, and beautiful world peace gardens at KMC Florida.
Kadampa Meditation Center Florida
730 N. Washington Blvd
Sarasota, FL 34236
Our Founder
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche
Spiritual Guide & Founder of Modern Kadampa Buddhism
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is a world-renowned meditation master who holds the very essence of Buddha’s teachings in his heart. He transmits this profound wisdom and compassion to the people of the modern world in very practical ways through the extremely accessible methods of modern Kadampa Buddhism, which he has introduced into contemporary society. He has dedicated his life to laying the foundation for modern Kadampa Buddhism to flourish in this and future generations so that anyone regardless of nationality, culture, gender or age can easily understand the meaning of Buddha’s teachings and apply them to their daily life – and in this way find true, lasting inner peace.
Venerable Geshe-la is a truly international Teacher whose wish is to benefit everyone without exception. To this end, among his many extraordinary actions, Venerable Geshe-la has established hundreds of Kadampa Meditation Centers all around the world. He has also created International, National and Regional Festivals and Celebrations, which are organized every year and enjoyed by thousands of people from all over the world.
Booking Terms & Conditions
2026 REGISTRATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Please read the information below carefully:
Registration is necessary for this event. Online links are intended for the registered recipient only and should not be shared.
IMPORTANT: The Event will be recorded and streamed for students who are within the catchment area of the event and who have valid reasons for not being able to attend the event in person, such as disability or long-distance travel. The recorded event will be available for online viewing 48 hours after the event has finished until the following Sunday, Sept. 13th at 11:59pm.
Payment & Refund Policy: Please read the following information carefully!
- Accommodation and Meal Cancellations and Refunds: If you cancel more than 72 hours before the start of the event or your arrival, whichever is earlier, 25% of the total booking will be retained, including meals and accommodation, and the balance refunded. Cancellations within 72 hours are non-refundable.
- Refund exceptions: Exceptions are discretionary and may be made in cases such as bereavement or sickness, or other reasonably unforeseen circumstances. All such requests must be made in writing to info@meditationinflorida.org within 2 weeks of the event start date.
- Donating refundable cancellation fees to NKT International Temples Project: If you wish to donate the refundable portion of your cancelled fee to the NKT International Temples Project, please indicate this at the time of cancellation.
- Any non-refunded fees for cancellations received will be donated to the NKT International Temples Project.
Contact Us
This event is organized by the seven Florida Kadampa Centers.
For any questions about this event, please contact us:
Email: info@meditationinflorida.org
Phone: (941) 373-1600
Address: 730 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236
Kadampa Centers in Florida
There are seven Kadampa Centers in Florida, each of which offers a full program of classes, events and retreats in meditation and Modern Buddhism. Find your nearest Center using the following links:
- Jacksonville – Maitreya Kadampa Buddhist Center
- Orlando – Vajrapani Kadampa Buddhist Center
- Tampa Bay – Kadampa Meditation Center Tampa Bay
- Sarasota – Kadampa Meditation Center Florida
- Fort Myers – Samudrabadra Kadampa Buddhist Center
- Fort Lauderdale – Kadampa Meditation Center Fort Lauderdale
- Miami – Kadampa Meditation Center Miami