With Deep Faith and Gratitude
Thank you Venerable Geshe-la
We have been in another world for two wonderful weeks. A world rich in Dharma, kindness and community. On the final morning we gather together for Offering to the Spiritual Guide prayers. The Temple is full in every direction with dedicated Kadampas wishing to give thanks for all they have received. Together we recite the blessed prayers and feel in the living presence of Venerable Geshe-la.
We offer all our efforts, all our Dharma practice, all our gratitude, every potential we have planted to our extraordinary Founder, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, without whom none of this would be happening. We make heartfelt requests to gain the realizations of his teachings that reveal the union of Sutra and Tantra. We bring him to our hearts and we pray to always come under his loving care as his faithful disciples. It is a joyful and meaningful way to celebrate the kindness of our Spiritual Guide and to dedicate ourselves to keeping his teachings alive in our hearts.
To the Gurus who abide in the three times and the ten directions
The Three Supreme Jewels and all other objects of prostration,
I prostrate with faith and respect a melodious chorus of praise,
And emanated bodies as numerable as atoms in the world.
As the Festival Comes to an End
Carrying the Blessings Home
It feels very appropriate to have this period of quiet, joyful focus in the morning, before all the busyness and activity at the end of the Festival. Tents are packed away leaving only traces behind in the woods. Everywhere there is luggage, and people are on the move as they head homewards taking all the Dharma riches they have received with them in their hearts. At the same time the take-down team starts stacking chairs, moving mattresses, dissolving marquees, packing things carefully away for the next Festival and returning Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre to its more usual aspect.
Goodbyes are being said and people wish each other well for the year ahead as they head back to their particular situations around the world. Taxis are packed with Kadampas helping each other get to the train station, and buses are filled with people heading to the airport. Many are still volunteering to keep things running smoothly.
Fall Festival 2026
See you in Malaga!
Directly experiencing the great value of attending Festivals with all of the inner development and outer benefit it brings, many people resolve to continue attending as many Festivals as they can - enjoying spiritual holidays with their Kadampa family! The Fall Festival 2026 is just around the corner and you hear people say, 'See you in Malaga!’
Summer Festival 2027 will celebrate 50 years of Venerable Geshe-la's kindness and it is hoped that it will be an even bigger in-person Kadampa gathering than 2026. Time to start planning now!
