Tibetans and Japanese Offer Prayers for Japan[Monday, 28 March 2011, 2:10 p.m.]
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A senior Japanese monk addresses a prayer service for the people affected by the massive earthquake and tsumani, held at Gokokuji Temple in Tokyo, on 26 March 2011
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TOKYO:
A grand prayer gathering was conducted at Gokokuji, a Japanese Buddhist
temple in Tokyo on Saturday, to mourn and to pray for the victims of
the recent earthquake and tsunami that devastated north-eastern Japan
and areas around it. Tibet House Japan organised the prayer service in
collaboration with the Association of Japanese monks.Mr Lhakpa
Tshoko, Representative of Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
for Japan & East Asia, welcomed the gathering and explained that
the prayer gathering to recite Heart Sutra or Sherab Nyingpo
has been inspired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who initiated
recitation of the sutra one hundred thousand times in India for the
victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster. Mr
Lhakpa also announced that DVD containing the explanation of Heart
Sutra by His Holiness the Dalai Lama would be distributed to the
Japanese temple in order to have greater understanding of the sutra and
to encourage its recitations.Rev. Okamoto, Chief Abbot of the
Gokokuji Temple, thanked the organisers for this initiative to hold the
prayers for the victims of the natural calamities and for the early
restoration of normal life. “We are very grateful and obliged that His
Holiness the Dalai Lama in India has conducted prayer gathering in
Dharamsala for the victims,” he said.Dr. Barry Kerzin, an
American Buddhist monk and scholar gave a brief and simple explanation
of Heart Sutra to the audience. “Hangyashingyo, [Heart Sutra in
Japanese] is the deepest expression of love and compassion in Buddhist
teaching. Lets recite this sutra with love and compassion for all those
who suffered and are suffering in affected area,” he said. Dr. Barry
explained about the origin and deeper meaning of the sutra to the
audience.
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Tibetan monks recite Sherab Nyingpo or Heart Sutra during the prayer service at Gokokuji Temple
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Tibetan
monks of Gomang monastery at Manjushri Mahayana Buddhist Association in
Hiroshima led the prayers in Tibetan wherein Tibetan version of Heart
sutra was recited several times. It was followed by Heart sutra
recitations by Japanese monks and general public. During the recitation
the participants offered incenses at the altar in turn. Around 210
Japanese and Tibetan monks, and general public participated in the
prayer service.Rev. Hayashi, Chief Representative of
Association of Buddhist monks, thanked the Tibetans and the
participants for their sincere initiative to pray for the people
affected by the disaster and hoped that the prayers would help
alleviate the sufferings of the people. Representative Mr Lhakpa thanked the participants and informed that 49th day prayer service would also be held at Gokokuji Temple.
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| His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative, Mr Lhakpa Tshoko (sitting 3rd from right) at the prayer service at Gokokuji Temple |
