The Sun of Je Tsongkhapa’s Blessings

Summer Festival 2019

Day 2

The Sun of Je Tsongkhapa's Blessings

“Everything we receive is to be shared. We share our understanding and experience of precious Kadam Dharma.”

Festival life

Reading from Great Treasury of Merit

Setting up the Empowerment Shrine

Today was the first full day of the Festival. We woke to a rainy day, what might typically be described as a 'miserable day'. But for everyone at the Festival it was an incredibly happy day.

My First Festival

Mariela Martinez, Karelina Laura Rivarola & Vanesa Lorena Britez

Argentia

“Beautiful - it’s my first time so I’m fascinated. The place, the people, very beautiful, very inspiring. ~ Mariela

“It’s very welcoming, I feel happy. I feel at home even though I’m on the other side of the world!” ~ Karelina

“For me it’s marvellous to be here, very lucky, it’s really like being in a pure land - a very pure place where everyone is smiling.” ~ Vanesa

Despite the pouring rain, the joyful atmosphere in the queue for the Temple was a perfect illustration of the power of Kadam Dharma to transform adverse conditions into the spiritual path.

Inside the Temple and inside the hearts of everyone present, the sun was shining - the sun of Je Tsongkhapa's blessings.

What a privilege to receive the empowerment of Je Tsongkapa from Gen-la Dekyong, the Spiritual Director of NKT-IKBU, in the Kadampa Temple so blessed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.

Earlier in the day we had been guided in two blissful meditations by Gen Chokga, the National Spiritual Director of Spain and Portugal, to prepare our minds for the empowerment. Now the time for the empowerment has come.

It was as if we were receiving a personal introduction to Je Tsongkapa himself! Gen-la explained the special qualities of this holy being and showed how by relying upon him with sincere faith we can quickly and easily gain all the realisations of the stages of the path of Sutra and Tantra, and especially of the Oral Instructions of the Mahamudra.

Je Tsongkapa is the source of these precious instructions, and for the rest of the Festival, guided by the wisdom of Guru Tsongkapa, we will immerse ourselves in teachings and meditations on this uncommon path. How fortunate we are!

What people are saying

Emma Queralto

"We just need to create the right conditions in our minds so these teachings can go in and ripen rather than remain mere intellectual understanding - and there's no better place than here to do this.”

Richard Pol

Malaysia

"I need to keep improving my practice and coming here, doing the meditations and studying, is the best way."

Joanne Chong

KMC Hong Kong

"As Geshe-la says, if we wand a spiritual holiday we can come here. Meeting Sangha friends, receiving teachings from our wonderful Teachers and practicing what we learn this is a real meaningful holiday "