Tibetans in Canada Offer Tenshug for His Holiness the Dalai Lama[Monday, 25 October 2010, 2:21 p.m.]

Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche making offerings during the long life prayer ceremony for His Holiness the Dalai Lama held in Toronto, Canada, on 24 October 2010/Photo: OHHDL

Toronto, Ontario:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama spent the last day of his current visit to
Toronto accepting a long life offering (Tenshug) and giving a series of
Tibetan Buddhist teachings.In the morning, the Indian Consulate General in Toronto, Mrs. Preeti Saran, made a courtesy call on His Holiness.Thereafter, His Holiness left for the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre, the venue of the teachings.The
programs began with a long life offering jointly sponsored by the
Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario and Tsengdok Monastery in
Vancouver.  Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche formally made the request on
behalf of the sponsors.In a brief address, His Holiness
appreciated the long life offering from the Tibetan community who share
tremendous faith in and close bond with him.  His Holiness said the
combination of the special aspiration and request made by the Kalon
Tripa and his own aspiration and prayers would be fulfilled.His
Holiness then began his teachings. He made some changes by adding
teachings on The Three Principal Aspects of the Path by the 14th
century Gelug master Tsongkhapa and a text on Dzogchen by a 19th
century Nyingma master Mipham to the already scheduled Eight Verses of
Training of the Mind by the 11th century Tibetan master Langri Tangpa.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the long life prayer ceremony/Photo by Sonam Zoksang

His
Holiness began by bestowing Bodhicitta, the Generation of the Awakening
Mind.  He gave a broad overview of Buddhist philosophy and how the
practitioners should be approaching them.  His Holiness advised the
people not to rely on devotion alone and to make effort to study.  He
said the people should study and understand the Kagyur and the Tengyur,
the fundamental Buddhist texts, like textbooks instead of making them
objects of devotion that are placed on the altar. Individuals need to
have basic understanding of the Buddha Dharma and once they have that,
then they will be able to put in context specific practices they may be
doing.His Holiness also said that all the Tibetan Buddhist
traditions are followers of the Nalanda tradition explaining that their
masters trace their spiritual source to Nalanda masters.At the
conclusion of his teachings, His Holiness explained why he chose to
give a teaching on a Nyingma text.  He said that he had deep admiration
for all the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and has received teachings like
Lamdre (from the Sakya School) and Dzogchen (from the Nyingma School).
He said there were some people who tend to emphasize the difference and
to indicate that there is no commonality in all the Tibetan Buddhist
traditions. He said during the Tibetan Buddhist Conference in Atlanta
recently, he had told the gathering that people tend to emphasize the
branches and neglecting the trunk that is the commonality. He said
today’s teachings from different traditions show the commonality of all
the Tibetan Buddhist traditions.Before the afternoon teaching,
His Holiness consecrated the Centre’s prayer wheels and addressed
guests at a luncheon to celebrate the dialogue of reconciliation
between Tibetans and Chinese.  Senator Consiglio DiNino welcomed His
Holiness.In his address, His Holiness said he was just a
messenger of the ancient Indian thoughts of Ahimsa and religious
harmony.  His Holiness suggested that people could organize events to
highlight the importance of these values.  He said the Tibetans have a
non-violent culture and hoped that the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre
would be able to undertake activities promoting these values.  He also
invited people to support the Centre.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama addresses a luncheon celebrating the dialogue of reconciliation between Tibetans and Chinese in Toronto, Canada, on 24 October 2010/Photo:OHHDL

A
Tibetan and a Chinese youth then informed His Holiness of their ongoing
discussions following the 2007 initial interaction between youths of
the two communities. Special Envoy Lodi Gyari had addressed the
gathering prior to His Holiness’ arrival, on how grassroots efforts can
complement formal dialogue.Following the teaching, Canadian
Tibetan Association of Ontario President Norbu Tsering gave a financial
statement relating to the three-day events.All major Chinese
language newspapers in North America, including Sing Tao, The World
Journal and Ming Pao, gave wide coverage to His Holiness the Dalai
Lama’s visit to Toronto, including his interaction with the Chinese
community.His Holiness departs from Toronto on October 25
morning for Miami for the last leg of his current tour of Canada and
the United States. (Report filed by Bhuchung K Tsering)