French and Nordic Dharma Celebrations 2024
Dec 10, 2024
27 May 2024
Dorje Shugden Empowerment and teachings
on the Extensive Protector Puja
It's day three and everyone is enjoying the daily program of teachings, meditations and chanted prayers around which everything else is woven. This gives a strong meaningful focus to each day and creates a natural rhythm of quiet periods alternating with a friendly sociable buzz between sessions.
There are so many unique aspects of Festival life: meeting old friends, making new friends, joining in with volunteering, communal meals, cafe dates, group photos, peaceful contemplations in the woods & long walks by the beach.
Along the way Dharma is learned, discussed and practiced, new friendships are forged, connections deepened and we have the opportunity to experience the very best kind of holiday, a spiritual holiday. People can take time to unwind from the stresses, busyness and challenges of modern life, to recharge on every level and to nurture their inner spiritual life.
Today, Gen-la Jampa shared a rich feast of teachings including many precious instructions given by Venerable Geshe-la over the years, on how to rely on Dorje Shugden in thought and in deed. He shared his deep contemplations of Geshe-la's words to give a very considered, clear and engaging commentary to the fulfilling and restoring ritual of Dorje Shugden known as Melodious Drum.
Again the day concluded with a packed Temple, this time engaging in Wishfulfilling Jewel with tsog, the middle length protector practice of Dorje Shudgen. This gives us a perfect opportunity to put the teachings immediately into practice, to receive many blessings, and to make a beautiful offering of our practice to our Guru Protector.
"Today's teachings were amazing. Clear, detailed, heartfelt, inspiring - it had the wow factor!"
"Gen-la joyfully explained some of the more detailed aspects of the prayers. The pace was gentle, giving us time to contemplate and to admire the beauty of the text. Gen-la Jampa took his time explaining everything and brought out the real meaning of Geshe-la's words."
In the prayers ‘Melodious Drum’, the mandala of Dorje Shugden is described in detail. In this podcast we contemplate some of those details and their meaning.