YOU CAN'T STOP KADAMPAS GATHERING

Venerable Geshe-la says:

“The NKT International Festivals are the special method to maintain the International Kadampa Buddhist Union from generation to generation. We should know this Union is very important. With this Union we can fulfill our own and others wishes easily.”

This immensely profound message can be understood on many levels, but one that has struck me in particular during this Festival is the phrase ‘international union’.

That’s us!

Even though we cannot gather internationally in-person at this time, still we gather. It’s as if nothing can stop Kadampas gathering!. One thing the Covid restrictions has taught us is that the real gathering is in the heart - coming together as a group united by faith, vision, aspiration, and above all devotion to the holy Spiritual Guide. Digital media enables us to gather in this way, but it is the Spiritual Guide who empowers it.

To see all these photos, videos and comments from people all round the world, from so many cultures, speaking so many different languages, and to be part of an international event that is happening simultaneously in twelve hubs and many other locations literally all over the world is to witness the unfolding of Venerable Geshe-la’s vision in which all living beings equally and without discrimination will enjoy the nectar of Kadam Dharma.

And this is only the beginning. By working sincerely and with great devotion as Gen-la said to help this vision become a reality, we will can create a true Bodhisattva society in this world.

As Venerable Geshe-la says, “Please keep my message in your heart’

KELSANG, UK

EMPTY LIKE SPACE

Gen-la began her last teaching by helping us develop Geshe-la's vision, that thousands and thousands of modern Kadampa disciples will realize the teachings in the Mirror of Dharma. Our Guru's hook of compassion is always there, we need to manifest more and more strongly our ring of faith and make requests to Guru Tsongkhapa for everything we need.

If all the phenomena we normally perceive do not exist, how do they exist? As mere name. So who is giving this teaching? The Teacher who is mere name is giving a teaching that is mere name to listeners who are mere name. Mere name means not other than emptiness.

If our self we normally see does not exist, then it's suffering, problems and so forth don't exist. We need to learn by heart a meditation on the emptiness of the self we love and do it every day, guiding ourself to an experience.

We learnt the analogy of the moon's reflection in a lake and Shantideva's quote encouraging us to realize that all our friends and family of the past, present and future are empty like space.

Then Gen-la shared the powerful example of the blue of the sky and the sky being the same, illustrating the union of appearance and emptiness - that everything that appears to us is in reality just sky like emptiness.

We were reminded, what is real good fortune. Virtuous potentials that are the seeds of Dharma realizations. Not external wealth. Even though we intellectually understand Dharma is very important, it's still difficult to practise and use it to solve our problems. Why? Because we are lacking good fortune or merit. This is a scientific method to prove why we need Guru Yoga. Then Dharma practice is easy.

Through integrating the practice of the seven limbs in our daily life and in Heart Jewel practice, we will receive the blessings of all the Buddhas through Guru Tsongkhapa and thus grow our potential for Dharma realizations and enlightenment quickly.

Amazing!

GEN CHO, ITALY