Peace Stupa in Nagano receives His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s blessing[Monday, 21 June 2010, 7:50 p.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Saizo Hokyo Into stupa in Nagano, Japan, on 21 June 2010/Photos by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

Nagano, Japan:
A spiritual connection established over 4 decades ago between Japanese
and Tibetan Buddhists came full circle when His Holiness the Dalai Lama
paid a visit to a Buddhist stupa located on the premises of Saizo
Hokyoin Tou temple this morning.In 1964, when war-ravaged Japan
was in the midst of reconstruction work, a group of four Japanese and
Tibetan Buddhists – Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche, Tokan Tada, Tsering Dolma
Tsarong and Sonam Gyatso – built a World Peace stupa to underscore the
futility of violence and hatred. Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche was a highly
realised Tibetan spiritual master trained in all four traditions of
Tibetan Buddhism who taught Buddhism in Japan for ten years. Tokan Tada
spent ten years studying Buddhism in Tibet.Nine elderly members
of the Hosang Kai group looked on with an expression of bliss and
fulfillment as His Holiness tied a white khata – traditional Tibetan
ceremonial scarf – around the stupa and held a brief prayer to bless
it. The 80-member strong group, brought together by their passionate
belief in peace, has been holding prayers and taking care of the stupa
for 46 years. All residents of Nagano Prefecture, they have been
visiting the Tibetan stupa every year in May to weed out overgrown
foliage and do periodic repairs.Nakamura Hideksugu, a member of
the group said His Holiness’ visit has touched his heart and provided
encouragement for the group’s commitment to world peace. The 79-yr-old
retired school teacher was a friend of Shozo Okuda, the late principal
of the Tokyo-based Seikei Gakuen private school who also took an
important role in constructing the stupa. Okuda is fondly remembered by
Nagano people for his tireless work in promoting equal opportunity for
women in school education.  The stupa’s “spiritual secret”, as
Hideksugu calls it, was revealed beyond the confines of Hosang Kai in
2008 when officials at Zenkoji Temple learned about its existence and
contacted the group.  Mr Lhakpa Tshoko, representative of His Holiness
for East Asia, also visited the monument in 2009.”I feel a deep
spiritual connection with the Tibetan people now that His Holiness has
blessed the stupa,” Hideksugu said. “Hosang Kai shares a common bond
with His Holiness because we heard him fervently appeal for world peace
at yesterday’s public talk in Nagano.”–Report filed by Tsering Tsomo