His Holiness begins three-day teaching to Russian Buddhists
DHARAMSALA, 10 May: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s annual Buddhist teaching for the Russian Buddhists began today at Tsug-lag-Khang, the main temple in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala.
The courtyard of the Dalai Lama temple was packed to its maximum capacity by over 1,100 Russian Buddhists and hundreds of Tibetans and visiting tourists as the Tibetan spiritual leader began his three day’s teaching today.
During the morning teachings form 10-12 May, the Tibetan spiritual leader will teach on Tsongkhapa’s ‘The Three Principal Paths’ (lamtso namsum) and ‘The Furthest Everlasting Continuum’ (Sanskrit: Uttaratantra) (Tibetan: gyu lama) at the request of Russians.
“Recently quite serious illness, now gradually recovering,” His Holiness said while heading from his residence to the Tsug-lag-Khang to confer the teaching.
“As stated in the text that Nalanda Buddhism tradition will flourish from north to north, it did indeed spread to Tibet from India and thereafter to entire Mongolia and Buryat in Russia in the past,” the Tibetan spiritual leader said and added that “in the past there were many great masters who came from Buryat, Kalmykia and Tuva to study in Central Tibet and later became accomplished Buddhist scholars.”
“Their scholarly works were of great help when I studied, we should draw inspiration from those scholars as we look to serve Buddhism in the future” the Dalai Lama added.
Organized by a Russian Buddhist group, it is the 10th anniversary of the annual teachings for Russians by the Dalai Lama. The three-day teaching was initially scheduled to be held in the India capital but was moved to the Dalai Lama’s Temple at the exile headquarter here in Dharamsala at the beginning of April after the Dalia Lama was admitted at the Max Super Specialty hospital in Saket, South Delhi with ‘minor’ chest infection.
The Tibetan spiritual leader is highly revered by the Mongolian and Russian Buddhists as their spiritual leader. They continue to seek His Holiness’ blessing and guidance for the full revival of Buddhism in their regions after undergoing decades of severe repression under the Communist rule.
