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
Kadampa Festivals are really very unusual and wonderful as holiday destinations. The real holiday location is the inner pure land of Lamrim and the real enjoyment is our own genuine happiness and peace that comes as our mind concentrates on virtuous objects.
Day 4 ~ Gather up Riches to Provide for the Future
Where an ordinary holiday may be temporarily enjoyable, at a Kadampa Festival we understand how to combine present and future happiness. Creating a vast wealth of positive karma, planting so many seeds of Dharma realizations, growing ourself as Kadampas dedicated to benefiting others, all whilst feeling joyful to be here, connected to others, and peaceful.
“Avoid places that disturb your mind, and always remain where your virtues increase.”
Advice from Atisha's Heart
Through the power of intention and dedication all these actions become powerful causes for future happiness and spiritual growth for ourself and others.
“Dedicate your virtues throughout the day and the night, and always watch your mind.”
Advice from Atisha's Heart
The festival helps us to be constantly
engaged in virtuous activity
The structure of the Festival helps us to be constantly engaged in virtuous activity, starting with a morning meditation where Gen Tonglam beautifully synthesizes some of the essential points into meditation objects we can concentrate on together.
Then two teachings with Gen-la Jampa, enabling us to deeply contemplate Venerable Geshe-la's commentary to verses from Advice from Atisha's Heart. And in the evening coming together for Wishfulfilling Jewel puja with tsog offerings, chanting prayers all together in harmony.
Teaching with Gen-la Jampa
MORNING MEDiTATION WITH GEN TONGLAM
Between each session, a mixture of working to benefit others and being helped by others as we eat food prepared by other participants, or have tea in a cafe whilst the children are entertained and the site is kept safe, and so on. There is time to walk and talk, to rest and reflect. Finally at the end of each day we feel we have truly gathered up riches to provide for the future. We are learning how to live a life of virtue that will continue beyond the Festival into our daily lives. Then we go to sleep and wake up ready for another day full of Dharma at our International Kadampa Festival.
“If you practice with great devotion, results will arise immediately, without your having to wait for a long time.”
Advice from Atisha's Heart
WE ARE LEARNING
HOW TO LIVE A LIFE OF VIRTUE
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One of the special qualities of Kadampa teachings is that they show us how to transform daily appearances into spiritual lessons, so that even a normal busy day can help us make progress on the spiritual path.
