Shewatsel, Leh, Ladakh, India - An estimated 50,000 people gathered under the blazing sun for a second day today on the Kalachakra Teaching Ground adjacent to the Shewatsel Phodrang. Their purpose was to offer prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. As a team of traditional Ladakhi drummer and horn players beat out a welcome, His Holiness drove from his residence to the teaching pavilion at the far end of the ground. The ceremony was organized and offered by the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and the Ladakh Gonpa Association (LGA).
Once he had alighted from the golf cart and entered the pavilion, His Holiness first paid homage to the image of the Buddha behind the throne. Thiksé Rinpoché stepped forward to greet him. Before taking his seat, His Holiness walked to the front of the platform to survey the crowd and wave to them.
Prayers for His Holiness’s long life began with the ‘Prayer of the Three Continuums’. Tea and ceremonial sweet rice were served. Then, the Buddhas and bodhisattvas were invoked and offered ablutions. A mandala offering of one verse was offered.
The ritual to pray for His Holiness’s long life today was based on the ‘Prayer to the Sixteen Arhats or Sixteen Elders’, the liberated followers of the Buddha who have pledged to protect his teaching. It proceeded with the Seven Limb Offering. Tsog was offered and His Holiness took and ate a portion.
Representatives of the LBA and the LGA paid their respects to His Holiness. Thiksé Rinpoché made a mandala offering and presented him with representations of the Buddha’s body, speech and mind, monastic robes, an alms bowl filled with fruit and a monk’s staff. His Holiness raised each to his brow as a token of respect. Trays bearing representations of the eight auspicious symbols, the seven royal emblems and the eight auspicious substances were offered with the wish that His Holiness’s life may be extended.
‘The Song of Immortality—The Extensive Prayer for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’ by his two tutors was chanted as a substantial procession of local people bearing offerings passed in front of the platform. The prayer includes the following refrain:
We offer prayers with intense devotion
That Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the great land of snows,
May live for a hundred eons.
Pour on him your blessings
That his aspirations may be fulfilled.
His Holiness addressed the congregation.
“My Dharma brothers and sisters, what I wish to say is that local people of Ladakh and people from elsewhere, monastics and lay-people, have gathered here, with fervent devotion to offer these prayers for my long life. Tibetans and people of the Himalayan Region who follow the Tibetan Buddhist tradition have assembled here explicitly to offer these prayers that I may live long.
“As far as I am concerned, I was born in Dhomé, Amdo and moved to Central Tibet. All the people and deities of Tibet have put their trust in me with strong faith. So, I have been shouldering the responsibility to serve the people and gods of Tibet. I have lived my life under difficult circumstances and faced many challenges.”
At this point, an elderly man who came at the end of the procession of offerings came up to receive blessings and His Holiness burst into laughter because he was wearing two hats, one on top of another. The old man was followed by a Tibetan bearing the Tibetan flag, which he presented to His Holiness.
“Tibetan protector deities like Nechung Chögyal, the Great Dharma King, who are oath-bound have been with me as I served the Tibetan cause. The protector deities of Tibet have worked alongside human beings under Nechung’s leadership. In Tibet I lived primarily in the Potala Palace and at Norbulingka, the Summer Palace, from where I served the Tibetan people and the Tibetan tradition. I have borne responsibility for Tibet and Tibetan religion sincerely. Over all these years I have also invoked supramundane and mundane deities to support the Tibetan cause and these deities have done their best to help us.
And on my part, I have studied Buddhism with my tutors since I was a child. I began with Collected Topics, going on to study Mind and Awareness, logic, the Perfection of Wisdom, the view of the Middle Way (Madhyamaka), and Higher Knowledge (Abhidharma), although I am sceptical about some aspects. Anyway, I’ve studied the philosophy of the Middle Way as well as Logic and Epistemology, the nature of knowledge, which are excellent parts of our tradition.
“Then with regard to the inner science of mind, understanding the workings of our mind and emotions, today even modern scientists are keen to learn from our tradition.
“I lived in Tibet for more than two decades and faced many challenges. I met Chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing, where I learned that we have different ideologies and philosophical point of view. Because of the upheaval that took place in Tibet, I had to flee my homeland and have lived comfortably in exile in India ever since.
“I have been able to contribute to the preservation of the Buddha’s teaching and have been able to serve people from different parts of the world who approach me for advice. I have earned a reputation as a spiritual teacher. Whether they uphold religion or not, many people have admired what I’ve done.
“During my lifetime many people have put their faith in me directly or indirectly and I have prayed to be of benefit to them. So, I’d like to greet you all with Tashi Delek.
“Whatever I have been able to do in terms of mundane activities or spiritual teachings, you have gathered here to offer these prayers for my long life. Just as you have prayed that I may live long, I will also pray that your wishes may be fulfilled. I’d like to thank you all for making these prayers and offerings and I pray that your prayers may be accomplished with ease. Thank you and Tashi Delek.
“Something worth noting is the growing interest in Buddhism today in mainland China, which is one of the most populous countries in the world. In the past, they used to refer to me as a reactionary and so on, but I never hold a grudge or bear malicious thoughts against anyone.
“Historically, since the time of Songtsen Gampo, we have had strong ties with China. As the Chinese people continue to take an interest in Buddhism, it will naturally spread and I will be glad to contribute to this development as much as I can.
“Of course, I make cultivating the awakening mind of bodhichitta part of my daily practice. And in order to strengthen this practice I also meditate on emptiness. As the profound and vast teachings of the Buddha spread in the world, particularly in China, I am hopeful it will lead to peace and harmony in the world at large. I also hope that people will be able to live at ease in the Himalayan Region and that there will be peace and calm on the Indo-Tibet border. I believe this can be accomplished.
“You have gathered here with firm faith and devotion to offer these prayers for my long life and I will also pray with firm determination to live long.” At this point applause rippled through the audience.
There followed a musical interlude as first a group of Ladakhi singers and musicians and second a group from the local Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) performed songs in celebration of His Holiness’s 90th birthday and praying that he may live long. The TCV group began their performance by making a pledge to cultivate a warm heart as a token of their gratitude to His Holiness.
As the prayers came to a conclusion the Sixteen Elders and the Kings of the Four Directions were invoked once more with a request that the Lama may live long and that the teachings may flourish. A final thanksgiving mandala offering was made by the Gaden Tripa, Jetsun Lobsang Dorjé Rinpoché, in gratitude to His Holiness for accepting the request to live long. Several auspicious prayers were said ending with the prayer for His Holiness’s long life in one verse.
In the heavenly realm of Tibet, surrounded by a chain of snow mountains,
The source of all happiness and help for beings
Is Tenzin Gyatso-Chenrezig in person-
May his life be secure for hundreds of aeons!
