Yesterday, Gen-la encouraged us to look in the mirror of Dharma with each instruction, thinking, do I practice this? Then give ourself an honest and straightforward answer. When a small child is read a story, they say, “Read it again!” We should have a similar attitude with listening to Dharma.

If these instructions were to pervade the world, there would be no basis for conflict. It is mainly through our example we can cause this instruction to flourish. We will become a real Bodhisattva for all to see. Our life becomes a precious human life when we conjoin it with these instructions.

Because we are ignoring the advice of enlightened beings, our problems never finish. Now, Kadam Dharma is entering mainstream society. How? Venerable Geshe-la respects society. “I respect people and love them, they respect me.”  This presentation of Kadam Dharma has arisen from a mind of respecting living beings.

Many Western countries have in their laws and constitutions that everyone is equal, but due to self-cherishing we naturally discriminate. To put this law into practice, it looks like we have to train in Kadam lojong. Then all weapons and bombs will become useless.

Gen-la Dekyong gave a powerful explanation of identifying and overcoming the self-cherishing mind. Our self-cherishing abides at our heart. It is the mind that thinks, ‘I am important’ while neglecting others. In truth,  this mind is ignorance and an object of ridicule.

Venerable Geshe-la uses powerful phrases like 'demon', 'slave', 'harboring the enemy'. The purpose of these is to touch our heart. If we hold the Kadampa view, “There is no enemy other than the delusions”, this is the path to world peace.

Since throughout my beginningless lives until now, the root of all my suffering has been my self-cherishing mind,
I must expel it from my heart, cast it afar and cherish only other living beings.
Thus, I will complete my practice of exchanging self with others.
O my precious Guru, please bestow your blessings so that I may complete this profound practice.

Gen-la encouraged us to use this verse from  Request to the Lord of All Lineages and to contemplate it throughout the day and the night. We should encourage ourself: “I am a member of the modern Kadampa Bodhisattva community. Today I’m going to act like a Bodhisattva.” If we act like a Bodhisattva every day, we will become a Bodhisattva.

After this incredible teaching, we dedicated this part of the festival, thanking our root Guru and praying that we may always be with him and have the opportunity to remain in his service for as long as space exists.

Today we begin three days of retreat with Gen Losang!