General Spiritual Director
Work Day with Resident Teachers preparing for International Summer Festival
Jul 21, 2026
JUL 25 - AUG 9, 2025
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International Summer Festival 2025 diaries
The overarching theme of the Festival is how to be a Kadampa, a qualified Kadampa practitioner that strives to emulate the pure examples of our Kadampa Iineage Gurus, and especially the pure example of our own Spiritual Guide.
Day 3 ~ how to be a Kadampa
why do we need to attain enlightenment with Gen-la Jampa
We understand that through the kindness of Venerable Geshe-la, we, the people of the modern world, have an unsurpassed opportunity to practice modern Kadampa Buddhism and to integrate it with our daily life in a way that fits perfectly.
This is something that it is easy to see embodied all around us at the Festival as people happily work to make the Festival possible: cherishing new arrivals at reception, welcoming people into the Temple, selflessly serving others in the dining marquis, joyfully washing the pots and in countless other seen and unseen ways
During the sessions people's deep and growing faith is evident as they engage in prayer, carefully listen to the teachings and concentrate in deep meditation.
Venerable Geshe-la encouraged us that by following Advice from Atisha's Heart and practicing Lamrim we will become real qualified Kadampas, and we will have a good and happy life. Gen-la Jampa takes us deeply into the meaning of the first two verses in Advice from Atisha's Heart drawing on commentaries given by Venerable Geshe-la.
Guided Meditation with gen tonglam
By relying on a qualified spiritual teacher we can progress on the spiritual path
“Friends, until you attain enlightenment, the Spiritual Teacher is indispensable; therefore rely upon the holy Spiritual Guide.
Until you realize ultimate truth, listening is indispensable; therefore listen to the instructions of the Spiritual Guide."
By relying on a qualified Spiritual Teacher we can progress on the spiritual path and gain perfect understanding. Without relying on a Spiritual Guide we will misunderstand many things and also we will not receive the powerful blessings that make our spiritual practice successful. Contemplating deeply we can reach the conclusion, to attain the ultimate goal of Enlightenment I must rely on my Spiritual Guide with deep faith.
Relying on the Spiritual teacher through actions to benefit others
How fortunate we are to be able to do all these things at the Festival. Beginning each morning with meditation on the teachings, then listening to a great wealth of Dharma and discussing and contemplating it with our Sangha friends, or putting it into practice in our actions to benefit others.
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Only as human beings do we have the opportunity to free ourselves from the darkness of ignorance and attain enlightenment this is a wonderful opportunity.
