Day 5 – Tuesday

November 2nd

When we attend a Kadampa Festival, one of the first things we recognize is that we are definitely part of an international family. Looking at the diverse assembly of students, listening to the chorus of different languages, seeing the rows and rows of translation equipment, joining a cheerful multi-lingual team of Festival volunteers, we are moved to understand how Venerable Geshe-la’s kindness is reaching across the borders of countries and cultures to transform the lives of many thousands of people around the world.

There are now more than 1100 NKT centers and branch locations functioning in 40 countries. At each of these, Teachers and students are working, studying and practicing together in their native language to improve their wisdom and compassion, and to share the medicine of Kadam Dharma with others. And it is so much fun to rejoice in these international activities!

Meditation
The foundation for our Tantric practice is bodhichitta – our wish to benefit living beings without exception and to become Medicine Buddha so that we can liberate them forever from all suffering. Gen Wangden guided us to meditate on this determination, recognizing that this is our rare possibility and precious opportunity because our Spiritual Guide, Medicine Guru, is appearing in our life.

Teaching
To conclude the Festival teachings, Gen-la Dekyong encouraged us with many clear examples of how we can apply steady effort to integrate our preliminary practices into daily life so that our practice feels like a broad, flowing river.

By cultivating special thoughts, beliefs and recognitions and sincerely requesting our Spiritual Guide to give us teachings all the time throughout the day and night, every person we encounter and everything we do will help us progress on our spiritual path and help us gain Dharma realizations.

This is the magic of Kadam Lamrim, which has the power to transform our whole life into the Joyful Path.