Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India - After several days of incessant rain, this morning the snow-cloaked mountains behind Dharamsala sparkled in the sunlight. Representatives of organizations offering prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life — the Australian Tibetan National Association, Tibetan Communities Europe and the Tibetan Youth Congress — escorted him from the gate to his residence to the Tsuglagkhang, the Main Tibetan Temple. Costumed dancers beating drums and monks playing horns led the way.
As the golf-cart His Holiness was riding drove steadily along the corridor through the courtyard, and as he walked from the lift to the temple, His Holiness smiled and waved, exchanging greetings with members of the crowd.
In the temple His Holiness took his seat facing Samdhong Rinpoché, the presiding master, and to Rinpoché’s left, Thomtog Rinpoché, Abbot of Namgyal Monastery and the Abbot of Gyutö Monastery, while to Rinpoché’s right sat Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoché, the Lobpön of Namgyal Monastery, Losang Dhargyey, and geshé’s from Namgyal Monastery.
Today, the longevity ritual was based on Amitayus and involved summoning the five groups of dakinis and making offerings to them. Meanwhile, tea and ceremonial sweet rice were served to everyone present.
Samdhong Rinpoché offered the long-life arrow to His Holiness who accepted it. After the seven-limb prayer had been said in a single verse, ‘tsog’ was presented to His Holiness who took a small portion. Next was recited the one verse long-life prayer composed by His Holiness at Dilgo Khyenté Rinpoché’s request.
You make the path that combines emptiness and compassion grow clearer and clearer,
Lord of the teachings and beings in the Snowy Land of Tibet,
To you, the Lotus Holder Tenzin Gyatso,
We pray: may all your wishes be spontaneously fulfilled!
Samdhong Rinpoché and representatives of the patrons and organizers of today’s prayers offered a mandala and representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha with the sincere request that His Holiness live for 100 aeons. His Holiness took a drop of nectar in his hand from the long-life vase and placed another drop in Samdhong Rinpoché’s hand. Longevity pills were proffered. Next were offered trays bearing representations of the seven royal emblems, the eight auspicious symbols, and the eight auspicious substances.
A procession of members of the organizing groups filed through the temple, presented the offerings they were carrying, such as statues of the Buddha, monk’s robes and so forth, and received His Holiness’s blessings.
There was a recitation of ‘The Melody of the Nectar of Immortality — a Prayer for the Long Life of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Supreme Victor and Omniscient One by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, which ends with the following verses:
As long as this earth, Mount Meru, sun and moon endure,
May you remain secure, invincible, on your vajra throne
In the celestial mansion of Potala, Avalokitevara's delight,
Your secret body, speech and mind forever changeless!
Through the grace of the three supreme deities of Long Life,
And the power of the truth of masters, yidams, buddhas and bodhisattvas,
May all that we have prayed for be blessed
And so accomplished without any obstacle!
This was followed by the ‘Song of Immortality — The Extensive Prayer for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by his two tutors that repeats the following verse like a refrain:
To you, we offer our prayers with fervent devotion:
That Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the Land of Snows, live for a hundred eons.
Shower on him your blessings
So that his aspirations are fulfilled without hindrance.
There followed a moving performance when three singers, laymen, at the back of the temple, who sang a song in Tibetan made popular by Tsering Gyurmey — ‘Tsawai Lama’, ‘My Beloved Root Guru’. From around the temple and in the courtyard below the congregation eagerly joined in.
O my Root Guru
Your Holiness, the Victorious Tenzin Gyatso —
For the welfare of the Tibetan people and all sentient beings
You have graciously shouldered both spiritual and temporal responsibilities.
In a year or two,
May the radiant sun of happiness rise once more.
When that light of joy dawns,
May we return to our beloved homeland.
Upon our return,
To the sacred Potala Palace,
We humbly pray —
Grant us the blessing of an audience with your for a long time to come.
The song concluded with the exclamation ‘Böd Gyalo’, ‘Victory for Tibet’.
An invocation of Guru Padmasambhava was said in connection with a request to help overcome misfortune and dark forces. A thanksgiving mandala was offered in gratitude for His Holiness have agreed to live long.
To bring the ceremony to a fitting conclusion, the congregation recited ‘The Sage's Harmonious Song of Truth — A Prayer for the Flourishing of the Non-Sectarian Teachings of the Buddha’. This prayer which was written by His Holiness ends with the following two verses:
May all who see me, hear my voice, think of me or put their trust in me,
Experience the most glorious happiness and virtue!
And may even those who insult, punish, strike or disparage me,
Gain the good fortune to set out upon the path to awakening!
In short, for as long as space endures,
And for as long as there is suffering among beings,
May I too remain, to bring them benefit and happiness,
In all ways, directly and also indirectly!
There was a recitation of the ‘Prayer of the Words of Truth’ and the prayer for the flourishing of the awakening mind:
May the precious, supreme awakening mind
Arise in those in whom it has not yet arisen;
And where it has arisen may it not decrease
But ever increase more and more.
His Holiness left the temple and made his way down to the courtyard where he boarded the golf-cart. While monks led the way playing traditional horns, as His Holiness crossed the courtyard smiling and waving, the crowd broke spontaneously and joyfully into singing ‘Tsawai Lama’ once more.
