Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India - Today, in an audience hall at his office, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met more than 180 Chinese monks and nuns from three Taiwanese monasteries — Thubten Chöling Monastery, Tsokdruk Öser Ling Monastery, and Nanhai Nunnery. As His Holiness took his seat, the Chinese monastics chanted a prayer for his long-life in Chinese. Five monks representing the entire assembly then offered him a mandala and the three representations of the body, speech and mind of the enlightened ones. Next, the Chinese monks and nuns recited Tsongkhapa’s ‘Essence of Eloquence’ (Drang Nges Legs Shey Nyingpo) from memory in Tibetan.
His Holiness then made the following remarks:
"Among all the various Buddhist traditions in the world, there is perhaps nothing as profound as the teachings we preserved in Tibet. And among those teachings, the 'Essence of Eloquence' is one of the most excellent. As for me, I too have memorized the entire text, although these days I sometimes forget some of it. In any case, as I listened to you recite it by heart, I clearly remembered its meaning which brought me special joy. It was very good. I thank you all for reciting it here today.
“With the passage of time, things have greatly deteriorated inside Tibet. Since I arrived here in exile, I have continued to study the great texts as much as I could. I would like to thank the Dharma friends who have provided favourable conditions and removed obstacles to this. As I mentioned earlier, we kept the purest collection of Buddhist teachings in the world alive in Tibet.
“These days in China too, there is a strong interest in Buddhism. Therefore, I think that it would be good if we could gradually spread the Buddhist teachings we have studied in Tibet into mainland China in Chinese. We Tibetans have eaten delicious Chinese food. Now, perhaps it is time to share with our friends the teachings we have studied for so many years on the basis of logic and extensive explanations. Many changes are taking place in mainland China, and interest in Buddhism is growing stronger. I am very happy today to see here people from Taiwan who can recite the 'Essence of Eloquence' from memory. Eventually, there will definitely be opportunities to teach and study this excellent text in China too. I thank you all."
His Holiness gave audience one by one to the 250 devotees from Taiwan, the monks and nuns who had recited from memory and their supporters, and an additional group of Mongolians. As they saw His Holiness off, the Taiwanese monks and nuns chanted the prayer to Arya Tara.
