Long Life Prayers Offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
DHARAMSALA, Feb 27: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended a long-life prayer offering (tenshug) jointly organized by Central Tibetan Administration’s(CTA) Education Department, (Sherig) Gyalrong Community, Tibetan Sweater Sellers and Dr (Menpa) Kelsang Dhonden today at Tsuglag-khang, the main temple in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala.
Thousands of Tibetans and followers of the Buddhist faith gathered at the courtyard of Tsuglagkhang, the main temple to attend the long-life prayer offering.
The prayer was also attended by CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay, members of the Kashag, Deputy Speaker Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, members of the Tibetan Parliament in exile and officials of the Tibetan government in exile.
Kyabje Samdong Rinpoche led the long-life prayer ceremony offered collectively by the four groups as the Dorje Lopon.
Following the prayer ceremony, the Dalai Lama addressed the congregation and thanked the members of the participating groups for their unwavering dedication.
“I am turning 85 and surpassing the first Dalai Lama, Gendun Drupa who lived for 84 years, the longest-lived Dalai Lama but I too will gradually pass away,” the Tibetan Nobel Laureate said and added that when we talk about the Tibetan cause, we should talk about generations and generations to come rather than just one generation.
However, the Dalai Lama also said that offering tenshug to Lama with great devotion and commitment is greatly related to the longevity of Lama’s life.
While the Dalai Lama read the statements submitted by the CTA’s Department of Education and applauded their solemn pledges to impart holistic education to exile Tibetan Children, the Dalai Lama however added that their decision to add “secular ethics” in the basic education policy for Tibetans in exile at the just concluded seventh Tibetan General Conference on Education, the Tibetan spiritual leader stated that secular ethics is not required in the curriculum for Tibetan children who were born to Buddhist households and follow the Nalanda tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Dalai Lama concluded by reiterating a remark he made in Ladakh after he was requested to grace many engagements. “I asked if they would prefer the Dalai Lama to live a long life with fewer engagements or a very active but short life? ”
The octagenarian Tibetan spiritual leader who is surpassing the longest-lived Dalai Lama added he would prefer the former rather than being invited here and there and requested to give this and that teaching.
