Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India - The heavy rains that have lashed north India in recent days let up this morning and the sun shone. More than a thousand people from Korea and ten South-east Asian countries had gathered in the courtyard of the main Tibetan temple to make prayers and offer cultural performances for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life.
The courtyard was festooned with coloured cloth, hung with marigold garlands and decorated with an array of orchids. There was carpet on the floor. When His Holiness reached the gate to his residence he was greeted by representatives of the organizers of the event. The aisle to his throne in the veranda below the temple was lined by dancers costumed as lions and some of the artists who would dance for him later. As is his wont, His Holiness beamed with joy as he waved to those gathered to left and right. He stopped to salute monks belonging to the Pali tradition who sat at the head of the aisle.
The President of the Tibetan Buddhist Centre (Singapore), Sister Winni, paid her respects to His Holiness, the members of the monastic Sangha and all other guests. She announced that those gathered were offering prayers that His Holiness lives a long life, in good health, and continues to turn the wheel of Dharma. She offered him a medallion representing this Year of Compassion in recognition of the good he has given the world.
Prayers for the His Holiness’s long life and world peace were chanted in Pali by approximately 30 Theravada monks led by Phramedivajrodom V. Vajiramedhi, Abbot of Rai Cherntawan International Meditation Center, Chiang Rai, Thailand, one of the co-organisers of the event. Meanwhile, 14 representatives of the organizers offered a mandala and representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha.
A joint statement on behalf of all the participants in the ceremony was read by Most Venerable Thich Nhat Tu, Vice Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; Deputy Chief Officer of Centre Committee, Vietnam. It recognised that His Holiness is the most renowned and respected global Buddhist leader, who embodies the ideals of peace, universal responsibility, and self-discipline, as well as religious and social harmony. It recalled the awards he has received, notably the Nobel Peace Prize, the United States’ Congressional Gold Medal, and the Templeton Prize.
The joint statement announced that His Holiness has devoted his entire life to strengthening Buddhist traditions while at the same time fostering interfaith dialogue. His unwavering commitment to nonviolence, environmental stewardship, and the preservation of Tibetan culture has inspired generations.
Therefore, the Assembly of Asian Buddhist Leaders and followers, gathered in Dharamsala to celebrate his 90th birthday, unanimously declared His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be ‘The Universal Supreme Patriarch of the Buddhist World.’ They also joyfully reaffirmed their dedication to building a truly harmonious and peaceful world, fulfilling his noble vision and the boundless compassion he exemplifies.
Next, seven representatives of the organizers and seven representatives of the Sangharaja and other Buddhist leaders presented a variety of gifts to His Holiness. The words of praise associated with the mandala offering were recited in English, beginning with the following verse invoking Avalokiteshvara:
In this realm surrounded by snow mountains,
The source from which all benefit and happiness arise,
May the lotus feet of Avalokiteshvara, Tenzin Gyatso,
Remain firm until the end of existence.
The prayer concluded:
May all the Buddha’s precious teachings, the sutra and tantra teachings of all Buddhist traditions, remain long. May all spiritual and temporal excellence in theworld flourish for hundreds of eons in accordance with the great compassionate activities and steadfast life of our precious leader, His Holiness the Great Dalai Lama.
Besides the Tibetan Buddhist Centre (Singapore) the following co-organizers were named: Labsum Shedrub Ling, South Korea; Persatuan Lamrim Buddhaksetra Retreat Centre (Malaysia); Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia; Rai Cherntawan International Meditation Center (Thailand); Kadam Choeling Indonesia; and Sriwijaya State Buddhist College of Tangerang Banten Indonesia.
Meanwhile a mandala offering was made by a second group consisting of the fourteen main sponsors and gifts were offered to His Holiness by 150 devotees.
At this point, on behalf of the organizers, the event chairperson requested His Holiness to address the gathering, which he did.
“Good morning, I’d like to share some of the experiences I’ve had in my life with you. I was born in Amdo, the northeastern part of Tibet. While still a child I moved to Lhasa in Central Tibet where I pursued my study of Buddhism starting with the logic primer called Collected Topics dealing with definitions of colour and so forth. I went on to study logic and epistemology, the philosophy of the Middle Way, Vinaya, the monastic code of discipline, and Abhidharma, although I didn’t take much interest in the way that tradition presented cosmology. I also studied the Perfection of Wisdom. Within my studies of Buddhist philosophy, I also explored psychology and cognitive aspects of the mind, how our minds engage with their objects.
“I studied with great fervour. I made prayers to the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri, to support my studies. While I was studying the various classic treatises I was greatly helped by my Tutors and Debate Assistants. In addition to studying, as part of my life, I cultivated meditation on the awakening mind of bodhichitta, the aspiration to enlightenment.
“Having completed my studies I sat for examinations, which involved going to the three great monastic centres of learning of Central Tibet, Sera, Drepung and Gaden Monasteries. I debated with a great number of illustrious scholars. When that was done, I sat for the final examination in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.
“I felt fortunate to have been someone from a remote village in Amdo, who was able to undertake the full course of studies and ultimately sit for the final exam. During this time my Debate Assistants were very helpful to me. However, one of these assistants was not so bright, so I found I was able to take advantage of that in debate with him.
“In any case, I considered the opportunity I’d had to complete my Buddhist studies and qualify for a Geshé degree to have been very important. In addition I engaged in the practice of the Three Higher Trainings—ethics, concentration and wisdom.
“Soon after taking my final examination, I had to flee Tibet because of the upheaval that was taking place. Before leaving Norbulingka, my Summer Palace, I visited the chapel that contained a statue of Six-armed Mahakala and I made prayers before him. Then, feeling sad, I secretly escaped Norbulingka and so began the journey to leave my homeland. At the same time, however, I felt confident because I was heading to India, a free country.
“When I reached India in 1959, I was given a very cordial reception by the Indian government led by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was very kind to me and the people who came after me. He gave us great help.
“After coming into exile, I had a great opportunity to share the knowledge and experience I had acquired in the course of my studies with the world. I had learned about minds and emotions as well as matter. The texts present varying degrees of subtlety of different states of mind and matter.
“Anyway, my main practice throughout my life has been cultivating the awakening mind of bodhichitta, the altruistic aspiration for enlightenment, and the view of emptiness.
“Today, you have all gathered here to offer prayers for my long-life. I would like to thank you all, especially the monastics, for coming to make these prayers. We haven’t gathered for the sake of amusement, but for spiritual reasons. As I said before I make it a point to cultivate bodhichitta and the view of emptiness on a daily basis. I also observe and uphold the Vinaya vows of a Buddhist monk. In addition, I reflect on the Perfection of Wisdom and Middle Way philosophy that I studied for so many years.
“In 1954 I went to China where I met Chairman Mao Zedong. At one point, when he told me that religion is poison, I felt a sense of compassion for his ignorance. Since coming into exile and reaching the freedom of India, I have shared my knowledge, experience and practice of the Dharma with anyone who was interested in learning about Buddhism, especially those who interested in learning more about the workings of our mind and emotions. There are a growing number of people eager to learn about the Tibetan tradition. I feel I have done my best to serve them.
“As I said earlier you have gathered here for spiritual reasons and to celebrate my 90th birthday. For all your prayers and offerings for my long life, and for all you do in your practice of the Dharma and in serving others, particularly the monastics, I’d like to thank you. I am also determined to serve others through the Dharma. As the Dalai Lama I have been able to create a positive state of mind within others, for which I feel fortunate.
“Thank you all for your prayers and for celebrating my 90th birthday. “
Next, the eight Southeast Asia countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore presented graceful cultural performances. These included a peacock dance from Thailand, a long-life prayer in the form of a song, from Vietnam and a dance to invoke peace and harmony from Indonesia. Two women from Laos performed a dance representing the flower of love. Dancers from Myanmar, men and women, danced to the accompaniment of a saung, an ancient curved harp. Three women from Cambodia wearing golden crowns and ornaments, danced with similar golden flowers in their hands.
Dancers, men and women, from Malaysia whirled and span as they danced quickly and energetically to demonstrate unity and inclusiveness. Finally, a team of eight dancers from Singapore engaged in a high energy performance as mythical lions to a brisk drumbeat. There were two remarkably coordinated dancers within each lion costume. In the course of their performance one of the lions unfurled a written prayer for His Holiness’s long life, which was offered to him.
The excellent and entertaining performances stirred warm applause from the audience.
A representative from Singapore gave a brief financial account mentioning how much money had been raised, how much had been spent, and a declaration that what remained would be given to the Dalai Lama Trust. Thanks were expressed to the organizers and a dedication prayer was said:
May the merit of this offering contribute to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the establishment of genuine peace in the world.
