Dear Friends,

These are difficult times and many of us are searching for ways to cope. Kadampa Center provides concrete and profound tools to help, no matter how dire the problem. I'd like to share a story with you about Andre Smith, a long time member of Kadampa Center, who is living proof.

Earlier this year Andre's son, Daniel, was murdered. How does a parent cope with such unspeakable loss? For Andre, his deep understanding of Buddhism gave him the ability to face his loss, to forgive, and to renew his efforts to help prisoners - many of whom have committed violent crimes themselves.

As a practitioner of Buddhism, Andre has focused the last 6 years of his life on learning to practice patience, compassion, and wisdom. He leads meditation sessions at Kadampa Center and volunteers with Kadampa Center's prison program, making weekly visits to inmates of Nash Correctional Institute to teach meditation and anger management.

Following his son's murder, Andre said,

"Without Kadampa Center, without the Buddha's teachings, without the work I do in prisons, I don't know if I could have handled this. The teachings of Buddhism put everything in perspective for me ... I have nothing but compassion for my son's murderer. I hope to be able to teach him about compassion some day. I know that this person is now suffering tremendously and I wish to help him ... Having the Kadampa Center family there for me - and it is really my family - convinced me I was in the right place."

Our incomparable Resident Teacher, Geshe Gelek, guides us using practical advice, warm compassion and his strong and infectious sense of humor. Encouraging us to test the Buddhist approaches in our own lives, he reminds us, "No need to take my word for it, listen to the teachings and test it for yourself."

All aspects of the spiritual program at Kadampa Center are offered free to everyone and many wonderful events took place in 2008 (please see enclosed fact sheet for more details). It is costing about $154,000 this year to run the Center - that comes to roughly $425 per day. As our programs continue to grow, so must our budget.

The Center functions solely on the kindness and generosity of members and friends. There are no other sources of funds - no parent organization or foundation supporting us financially. As Geshe-la says, "The Center is no one person or group ... anyone who comes is the Center." It is up to each of us, as individuals, to provide for its continued operation.

Please reflect on the importance of the Buddha's teachings as you consider your donation. As Andre has shown, Kadampa Center teaches the practical tools of peace and healing.

As always, I offer my deepest gratitude to all who have supported Kadampa Center in 2008 and look forward to a year of inspiration in 2009.

With sincere best wishes,

Robbie Watkins
Director, Kadampa Center

"The Dharma center is an emergency rescue operation, like when police go in with all that noise - sirens blaring, red and blue lights flashing, helicopters whirling - to rescue people in distress! Like that, the meditation center plays a very important role in the emergency rescue of people, human beings, using the seat belt and life jacket of the lam-rim. Meditation on refuge and karma immediately saves you from falling into the lower realms again."

-- Lama Zopa Rinpoche