The Temple has been completely transformed overnight in preparation for the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment of Vajrayogini. A stunning, newly created metal statue of Vajrayogini rises majestically from within the empowerment shrine.

The preparations for the Heruka empowerment that we engaged in last night help us remain mindful of the coming empowerment, keeping our minds blessed and protected. As a result, when we enter the Temple for the actual empowerment, we are ready to engage with it deeply. There is a great feeling of happiness in actually receiving the blessings of the empowerment, giving us the opportunity to draw closer to Buddha Heruka, the embodiment of Buddha’s compassion.

There are over 3,350 people here for Week 2, a wonderful gathering of Kadampa practitioners happy to have the opportunity to receive the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments from our General Spiritual Director, Gen-la Jampa.

It’s the free day – a day that is by turns a day of rest, recreation, arrival and preparation. Many people who are here for the whole Festival head out for an adventure into the beautiful Lake district, with its stunning mountains, charming towns and picturesque lakes.  

During our Lamrim retreat, both in and out of the meditation sessions, thousands of people are applying joyful effort to abide in this inner Lamrim Pure Land. Every appearance becomes an opportunity to train in Dharma. Pure happiness arises from wisdom, and wisdom arises through practising pure Dharma teachings. In this way, we gradually come to abide in the Pure Land of Lamrim.

After three wonderful days of teachings on Lamrim there are now two days of retreat to contemplate the essential meditations we have received and to meditate on them from the heart.

Gen-la Sangden helps us to take to heart Venerable Geshe-la’s advice that during this spiritual holiday we should learn how to make ourselves happy and that cherishing others is the method for doing this.

The day begins with a morning meditation on the first Lamrim meditation that we learned about yesterday, the preciousness of our human life. Using the Festival teachings and Venerable Geshe-la’s words to help us to contemplate the purpose of the meditation which is to encourage us to take the real meaning of our human lives through practicing Dharma purely and sincerely.

The first full day of the festival starts with a very peaceful morning meditation. The temple is full of happy campers and Kadampas enjoying the opportunity to meditate in a great assembly.