Portugal National Festival 2024 ~ with Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong

Gen-la Dekyong taught profound teachings on how to rely upon a Spiritual Guide and become a qualified Mahayana disciple. She said Kadampa faith is based on logical reasons and personal experience. It is a scientific method through which we make our minds peaceful and happy. She encouraged us to contemplate Geshe-la’s words during the opening of the Temple in 2013:

The Temple itself is symbolic of the attainment of enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of human life, so it is always reminding you and telling you, ‘Don’t waste your human life in meaningless activities; apply effort to attain the supreme happiness of enlightenment.'

Gen-la encouraged us to maintain our connection with our Spiritual Guide - Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche by always remembering him with faith.

Gen-la also gave a beautiful commentary on the prayer "Request to the Holy Spiritual Guide Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso from his Faithful Disciples." She said its profound meaning will be revealed to us through reciting it with great faith from the depths of our hearts.

She also explained that anyone who feels that they are receiving benefit from Venerable Geshe-la’s deeds - the temples and Dharma centers he founded, the Dharma books he wrote, the study programs he established, the teachers and Kadampa communities of today - can, if they wish, identify themselves as his disciple, and recite this precious prayer and his name mantra as often as they wish.

She encouraged us to do that because the nature of this prayer is to bless all living beings and lead them to the supreme happiness of enlightenment until samsara ceases!

Thank you, everybody, for making this event possible!