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28 May 2023

 

International Spring Festival 2023 diaries

Buddha-Spring-diaries

The Source of Happiness and Goodness

May 26 - 31 2023

A Special Commentary to The Liberating Prayer & International Refuge Vow Ceremony

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ENJOYING THE KADAMPA FAMILY

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DAY 2 – ENJOYING THE KADAMPA FAMILY

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THE COMMENTARY TO LIBERATING PRAYER BEGINS

Festivals are the perfect opportunity to experience being part of the Kadampa family. It is a family like no other, in the words of one participant, “there are very good levels of human co-operation at festivals and everyone pulls together, prioritising harmonious and happy relationships.”

As the festival is run by everyone attending it is easy to get involved and to meet people from different centres and countries. Everyone is friendly and new friendships are made over lunch or sitting in the temple.

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. When we recite it at the beginning of all our classes and prayers it helps to ripen people’s Buddha nature and establish refuge in their minds, helping them to develop faith in Buddha naturally, gradually and easily.

On a deeper level as Venerable Geshe-la explained, Liberating Prayer is like a text and has profound meaning that reveals all the meaning of Sutra and Tantra and leads us to the supreme liberation of Enlightenment.

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Drawing on teachings given by Geshe-la over the years and her deep contemplation and meditation, Gen-la shared a detailed commentary to the first few verses illuminating them and causing all three kinds of faith to grow in the minds of those listening. In this way we feel in Buddha’s living presence and have the mind thinking, ‘May I become just like you.’ She gave practical advice that as soon as the words begin we can leave this impure world and make prayers without distration, and how important it is to maintain our faith day and night, not forgetting what we are learning in the meditation break.

The sun is shining, and she encouraged us to let it remind us to shine the sun of our faith on the snow mountain of our Spiritual Guide, who is inseparable from Buddha.

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"Gen-la Dekyong encouraged us to recite Venerable Geshe-la's words to really use the prayers correctly. With the blessings of our spiritual guide and our own understanding, the meaning will reveal itself. Like that we ourselves can become a bestower of inner peace for all sentient beings. How meaningful!"
- KATRIN

The first full day of festival began with a beautiful meditation gently but powerfully guided by Gen Devi, giving us the opportunity to meditate on the teachings we received on Friday night. As Gen-la said later in the day, one of the wonderful things about festivals is that we have the opportunity to be guided in meditation and retreat while the blessings are fresh, so that they touch our heart.

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Festival Podcast

Treasury of Unobservable Compassion

Gen-la Dekyong
Gen-la Dekyong
Treasury of Unobservable Compassion
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Developing the wish to have the real compassion of Buddha.

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ICON SPRING FESTIVAL LOW RESOLUTION

a joyful way of life

"We deeply value the teams of people working together, keeping the festival functioning and prioritising harmonious and happy relationships. Everywhere people pulling together and enjoying. Wonderful levels of human cooperation."
- LEA AND ADRIAN
ICON SPRING FESTIVAL LOW RESOLUTION
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Spreading Inner Peace and Joy in Our Communities

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Three Continents, One Purpose: retreats for a peaceful mind

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