His Holiness begins two-day teaching in Bodhgaya
DHARAMSALA, Dec 24: His Holiness the Dalai Lama today began two days teaching on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva (laklen sodunma) and Dharmakirti’s Pramanavartika – Commentary on Valid Cognition (tsema namdrel) at Bodhgaya in the Indian state of Bihar.
The Dalai Lama began by greeting and welcoming all the devotees who have gathered today to attend the first day of the two-day teaching.
His Holiness said in his introductory remarks that he has utmost respect towards other religions while he worships Buddha. The Tibetan spiritual leader described Buddhism as a unique religion that not solely relies on praying as he recited “The Buddha’s don’t wash unwholesome deeds away with water, nor do they remove the sufferings of beings with their hands, neither do they transplant their own realization into others. It is through teaching the truth of suchness that they help beings find freedom.”
His Holiness further spoke on the importance of religious harmony and said all the major religious tractions of the world carries the same message that is to be compassionate, tolerance and being kind, His Holiness added and then began the discourse.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will conduct the morning teachings at the Kalachakra teaching ground on Dec 25 and 26, the teaching on Commentary on Valid Cognition (tsema namdrel) is a continuation of his earlier teaching given in December 2015 at the request of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
On December 26 morning, His Holiness will confer a Solitary Yamantaka Initiation (jigje pachik wang).
Later, the Dalai Lama will give three days of empowerments on the mornings of December 28- 30 on the Wheel of Teachings on Manjushri (jamyang choekor), based on its proximal lineage.
On December 31 morning, there will be a long life offering ceremony for His Holiness offered by the Central Tibetan Administration(CTA), Namgyal Monastery and Shelkhar Ngashap.
On behalf of the Tibetans inside Tibet and exile, the Central Tibetan Administration will offer long life prayers (Tenshug) to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 31 December 2018 at Bodh Gaya, CTA said in its official webpage.
“CTA’s Tenshug offering will represent the collective aspirations of six million Tibetans and their fervent prayers for His Holiness’ long and healthy life and the 104th Gaden Tripa will conduct as the Dorje Lopon of the ceremony,” the report said.
