Determined to live long to benefit others, Dalai Lama says as several Tibetan groups offer him long life prayer
DHARAMSALA, 7 Sept: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his firm determination to live long as he attended a long-life prayer offering (tenshug) at Tsuglag-Khang, the main temple here in Mcleod Ganj.
“I have a firm determination to live long. I will live for twenty or thirty more years at least. So you should feel at ease,” the Dalai Lama said as he thanked the five Tibetan groups for offering him the tenshug while appreciating the unshakeable faith and devotion of his followers.
The octogenarian Tibetan leader declared his firm determination and commitment to live long to benefit others and to serve the dharma and the sentient beings by reciting a line from his favourite prayer: “For as long as space endures, And for as long as living beings remain, Until then may I too abide, To dispel the misery of the world.”
The Dalai Lama also said that he is physically healthy while announcing his plans to visit Mon Tawang in the future.
The 87-year-old Tibetan Nobel Laureate has previously spoken about his recurring dreams which indicated that he will live for at least 113 years.
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, has already surpassed the first Dalai Lama, Gedun Drupa, the longest-lived Dalai Lama. The first Dalai Lama lived till 83 years of age(1391- 1474).
The tenshug began with the offering of the mandala and the threefold representation of the Buddha’s body, speech and mind to the Dalai Lama. Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche led the long-life prayer ceremony as the Dorje Lopon.
The long-life offering was offered collectively by five different Tibetan organizations representing Tendhon Cultural Preservation Society – Mon, International Jonang Well-being Association, Dhomey Mang Bha Ja Sum, Namgyal School Ex staff and students and the Sydney Tibetan Association.
