Spring Festival Review

Today the international ordained Kadampa disciples had the precious opportunity to gather together for the Spring Festival ordination ceremony with Gen-la Kelsang Kunsang.

The first day of Spring Festival 2024 is here, with over a thousand people arriving at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre from around the world. Whether we are coming for the first time or are regular attendees at International festivals, there is a sense of coming into our spiritual home. We enjoy being in a family of dedicated Kadampa practitioners, working to improve ourself and to benefit others.

The sunshine and clear blue skies added to the special atmosphere of the empowerment day. People enjoyed preparing well in the powerful and contemplative morning meditations with Gen Devi. Then, after a relaxed and joyful afternoon in the gardens of Manjushri KMC, it was time to enter into Dorje Shugden’s mandala.

It’s day three and everyone is enjoying the daily program of teachings, meditations and chanted prayers around which everything else is woven. This gives a strong meaningful focus to each day and creates a natural rhythm of quiet periods alternating with a friendly sociable buzz between sessions.

By now there is a strong feeling of harmony at the Festival amongst everyone attending, a pervasive feeling of peace and protection. Everyone is appreciating the teachings, which help us to understand how to improve our own practice and help others to find happiness.

A beautiful day of retreat guided by Gen Tonglam, with five sessions of meditation using Heart Jewel prayers drawing us closer and closer to Dorje Shugden.  The retreat gives us time to meditate on the teachings and bring everything we have learned together into our practice of Heart Jewel. Gen Tonglam takes us on an inner journey step by step through some of the essential teachings from the Festival, giving helpful encouragement and advice on how to practice.  

It’s the final day of Festival but there is no sense of things slowing down, instead we have the grand finale we have all been looking forward to!  The opportunity to engage, as a world-wide Kadampa family, in the Long Protector practice, Melodious Drum Victorious in all Directions.