Retreat days at the festival are very special. Having received so many teachings, and following the extraordinarily blessed refuge ceremony, it is now time to quiet the mind, delve deep within, and consolidate our experiences through meditation.
Gen-la helped us understand the real meaning of the Refuge Ceremony by giving the transmission of an explanation by Venerable Geshe-la. Just being at festival we are inside refuge. Listening to teachings, meditating and placing ourself inside our Guru’s vision for flourishing Kadam Dharma. It was so inspiring to be part of a worldwide sangha dedicated to ending suffering and bringing about world peace.
Today after an explanation of how our Spiritual Guide is in essence deathless and his mind always with us, we received an unexpected surprise of hearing Venerable Geshe-la’s voice resound in the temple giving us the blessing transmission of Liberating Prayer.
Gen-la’s teachings on Saturday began a sublime commentary to Liberating Prayer, one of our uncommon Kadampa prayers appearing from the heart of our Root Guru. She explained how there are many levels to this prayer.
The temple is full of joyful chatter, then the quiet lull that comes before Gen-la Dekyong enters and the prayers begin, bringing us all together. At the front of the temple is a special shrine with a powerful, meditative Buddha Shakyamuni presiding over the festival.
There is a mixture of joy and excitement in the air as Kadampa’s start arriving at the festival site from every corner of the world. The sun is shining and everywhere you look there is kindness in action as the final touches to the festival are put in place and volunteers take up their stations to make the magic of festival happen.
For the ordained Sangha of the New Kadampa Tradition, the Spring Festival pilgrimage always begins a day early with the ordination ceremony.
KMC Colombia organised an out-of-town meditation retreat near Choachi, titled “An Inexhaustible Source of Happiness”. Surrounded by the tranquillity of nature, this retreat gave the opportunity to enjoy guided meditation on profound Dharma to discover their source of happiness from within.
Tharpa AU had a stall at the Sydney Mind, Body, Spirit Festival this weekend. The festival had over 20,000 attendees, all interested in health, wellness and spirituality.
The stall was packed with interested people all weekend, eager for information about Buddhism and meditation, in the end Tharpa sold over 70 books and 100 meditation CDs and KMC Sydney handed out hundreds of flyers for their local centre and branch classes.
Every year during the International Kadampa Festivals, attendees from across the globe can discover a wide range of distinctive items that enhance their daily practice, provide meaningful gifts for others, and acquire essential ritual objects for their center.
General Spiritual Director
