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
Although our Festival is nearing completion, due to the 24 hour Tara practice we are literally meditating and dedicating throughout the day and the night.
Day 15 ~ Tara chanting and the life of Buddha play
An impressive number of people join the 3am session to focus on the power of prayer. Again at 7am, 11am and 3pm we engage in the full seven recitations of the 21 Homages to Arya Tara, together with beautiful prayers. As Gen-la says later on after the play, "The Tara chanting was sublime, it seemed to almost chant itself." The audio is joined by a thousand voices singing confidently in unison.
“Thus, O Sublime object of refuge,
Please quickly protect all living beings
From fears such as sickness, spirits, obstacles,
Untimely death, bad dreams and ill omens.”
As we engage in the practice, there is time to focus mentally on our intention for doing it: thousands of minds around the world generating compassion and faith and dedicating for peace, for wisdom to prevail, for suffering to cease completely.
“Through the force of my making these praises and requests to you,
Please pacify all sickness, poverty, misfortune, fighting and quarrelling,
Throughout all directions where I and others live,
And cause the Dharma and all good fortune to flourish.”
There is a relaxed and joyful atmosphere after the final session, when we enjoy some last time with friends - new and old.
our final activity of the day:
the beautiful play of The Life of Buddha
Then we have our final activity of the day: the beautiful play of The Life of Buddha, that inspires us so deeply and directly to follow the spiritual path just as Buddha did. There is a hushed atmosphere, the lights go out and the day's light fades as Buddha's life story is illuminated on a large screen at the front of the Temple.
We laugh, cry and rejoice as we are taken on a journey with the various characters - everything is a teaching. Then at the end, the most magical thing of all. Our Spiritual Guide, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso appears on screen telling us not to believe it is an ordinary play. It is a wonderful play, a holy spiritual play that gives great inspiration and that we should never be bored of watching. He encourages us to use the play to find and follow the correct direction with our precious human lives.
At the end of the play, the lights go up and Gen-la Dekyong shares some final encouragement and advice, in particular for returning home. She encourages us to really show the value of Kadam Dharma by being kind, patient and loving with our families and in the workplace; to be the proof that the teachings work!
We go to sleep so happy, blessed and full, feeling ready to return home to our various places and situations to put the teachings into practice.
A relaxed and joyful atmosphere after the final session
