Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India - There was a crisp autumn chill to the air and a clear blue sky overhead when His Holiness the Dalai Lama reached the gate to his residence this morning. Representatives of the Dhanglob community, the organizers of today’s Long-Life ceremony, were there to greet him and lead the way to the Tsuglagkhang, the Main Tibetan Temple. Tashi Shölpa dancers danced while a group of costumed women sang to welcome him.
Today’s prayers took place as part of the ongoing ‘Guru Bum-tsog’, a Hundred Thousand tsog offerings to Guru Padmasambhava, being conducted by the Dhanglob community. This ritual will culminate tomorrow, the tenth day of the Tibetan month. In addition to this collection of prayers, the organizers have repainted the boundary wall of His Holiness’s compound in traditional white and maroon.
In the temple His Holiness was greeted by the Abbot of Ganden Shartsé Monastery, the Abbot of Drepung Gomang Monastery, the Abbot of Gyutö Monastery, the Ganden Tri Rinpoché, the Sharpa Chöjé, the Abbot of Namgyal Monastery, Thomtog Rinpoché, as well as the young reincarnation of Lhagyala Rinpoché. Today, Thomtog Rinpoché was the presiding master conducting the Amitayus Longevity Ritual composed by the Fifth Dalai Lama with the support of an estimated 3500 people. To his right sat the Dorjé Löbpön and to his left the former Dorjé Löbpön of Namgyal Monastery.
At a certain point in the ritual Thomtog Rinpoché took up the Long-Life Arrow, which is wrapped in coloured silk and adorned by a mirror, and waved it in the space before him to indicate the gathering of positive accomplishments. He then gave it to His Holiness who repeated the gesture.
Three monks presented a substantial plate of ‘tsog’ to His Holiness who took and ate a portion before dipping his finger into the proffered nectar and tasting it.
Thomtog Rinpoché, with representatives of the organizers, offered His Holiness a mandala, representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha, a Long-Life vase, from which His Holiness took a drop of nectar, and a heap of Long-Life pills, one of which he ate. A set of various coloured ritual cakes associated with longevity were presented to him. Next, trays bearing representations of the eight auspicious symbols, the seven royal emblems and the eight auspicious substances were offered.
The Ganden Throne-Holder, Jetsun Lobsang Dorjee, the Sharpa Chöjé, Jetsun Ngawang Jorden, and representatives of the organizers, separately offered three representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha to His Holiness. In the meantime, 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 took place.
A procession consisting of members of the Dhanglob community, which extended to the far end of the temple yard, passed through the temple bearing offerings of statues, scriptures and so forth. The line ended with a Tibetan flag and an elderly man dressed in white. 'The Song of Immortality - The Extensive Prayer for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’ by his two tutors was recited.
Three young men standing at the far-end of the temple performed a contemporary song expressing a wish for His Holiness’s longevity, accompanying themselves on ‘dram-nyen’ and guitar.
Finally, a thanksgiving mandala was offered to His Holiness in gratitude for his accepting the request to live long. Representatives of the organizers approached the throne to receive his blessing, a ‘kata’ and a protective ribbon.
Among the concluding prayers was the ‘Prayer for the Flourishing of the Dharma’ that appears in Atisha’s collected works. However, it is said that he found it in the ‘Essence of the Moon Sutra’. This was followed by the ‘Words of Truth’ and the popular single verse prayer for His Holiness’s long life.
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.!
