It’s another beautiful day at the Festival. It’s warm and sunny, and the atmosphere is happy, relaxed and very blessed. We start the day with beautiful Amitayus prayers and this is followed by a series of extraordinary teachings from Gen-la Khyenrab giving deep insight into the practice alongside practical teachings from The New Eight Steps to Happiness.

After the meditations, as people congregate over lunch and in the cafés, there is an air of anticipation, with everyone looking forward to the main event of the day: the Blessing Ceremony of Buddha Amitayus, the Buddha of Long Life.

The sun is shining and it’s a delightfully warm English spring day. All day people stream in to Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in the Lake District – on coaches, in cars, by foot and in taxis. As new arrivals head to registration and get oriented, simultaneously preparations continue for the Festival to run smoothly in every area.