New York: Around 17,000 devotees from North America gathered in Elmont on the outskirts of New York city on 22 August 2024 morning to make a collective long-life offering, Tenshug, to His Holiness the Dalai Lama by Tibetan, Mongolian and Himalayan communities.
His Holiness had arrived in New York City from Syracuse on 20 August 2024.
As His Holiness arrived at the UBS Arena in the morning, he was received with traditional Chemar and Changphu offerings and with the playing of Dhung and Gyaling.
The gathering, including over 200 monks, nuns, and lay practitioners on the stage, rose as His Holiness took his seat. Thereafter, Dr. Namgyal Choedup, Representative for North America of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration, made his welcome remarks.
He offered sincere gratitude of everyone gathered to His Holiness for accepting request for an opportunity to get a short teaching, despite the commitments of his post-surgery physical therapy and recovery process.
He added that today’s heartfelt Tenshug prayers are for His Holiness to live long for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Dr. Choedup also thanked the medical team of the Hospital for Special Surgery, the United States Government, specifically the Office of the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues and the Diplomatic Security Service of the State Department, the very many individuals and organisations that have rendered assistance in His Holiness’ visit here for the medical treatment. He also thanked those individuals and organisations who have helped in hosting of yesterday’s event at very short notice.
While praying for the continued health and well-being of His Holiness for the sake of all devotees and well-wishers throughout the world, the Representative also prayed that the day be not far off when His Holiness will be able to return to Tibet and the Tibetans in Tibet and in exile will be together once again.
Dr. Choedup’s remarks were followed by a song by 400 Tibetan students (from 7 to 14 years old) from five schools in New York and New Jersey for the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness, in His remarks, talked about the rich spiritual traditions that the Himalayan communities led primarily by the Tibetans from all the three cholkhas have been preserving.
“Then, the people of Tibet place their hope in Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso, and I am praying and working to do what is possible to fulfil the aspirations.
Everyone is working, too. Even I will be there for more than 100 years.”
“The people in Tibet have unimaginable determination and courage. Even though they have been facing challenges, they continue to uphold their Tibetan identity.“
“In this world, even those people who are not Buddhists still have admiration for our spiritual heritage. You have been working hard and should continue to do so.”
“Therefore, please keep the spirits up, knowing that our culture has a contribution to make. Lhamo Thondup from Dhomey is leading you. From Ladakh to Kham all the regions show love for the Dalai Lama. The love is for the Tibetan culture, not just social but more so about our spiritual heritage. The Tibetan tradition of Buddhism is the most exhaustive. The recent challenges to Tibet and Tibetans have been a sort of blessing in disguise as it enabled us to see the value of our culture. I want to express my gratitude to all friends.“
“I had a dream where I was in a venue like this. I was sitting among the public and there was the Buddha beckoning me to come. I went and I had only a few chocolates to offer to him, which he relished. I have served the Buddha Dharma to the extent possible and will continue to do so.“
“Today, there is interest in Buddhism throughout the world. Even in China, there is interest in Tibetan Buddhism.”
Then, bestowing the Bodhicitta vows, His Holiness said how wonderful it is that both for one’s own interest as well as that of others, Bodhicitta is essential.
His Holiness then bestowed the oral transmission of the Buddha mantra, Tara mantra, Chenresig mantra, Jampelyang mantra, Heyagriva mantra, Menla mantra, and Guru Rinpoche mantra.
As the Tenshug prayers began, representatives from each of the 30 Tibetan Associations in the United States and Canada as well as from the Kalmykia, Buryatia, Mongolian communities, as well as from Sherpa, Tamang, Hyolmo, Bhutanese, Limi, Mustang, Manangi, Nubri, and other Himalayan communities, and New York based Tibetan NGOs, went on a procession past the stage in a symbolic offering of Khatags.
In the end, a summary statement of accounts, including income and expenses and the usage of the remainder of the donations received, was read.
Devotees present at the ceremony also include from the Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, American communities. Serving and former officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, including former supreme justice commissioners, Kalon Trisur, Sisur, Kasur, former parliamentarians, former secretaries, as well as parliamentarians, also attended the ceremony.
Although the event had to be organised on short notice, there was a tremendous response from the devotees. In order to provide transparency and fairness, prior arrangements were made for the announcement and activation of the online ticket office at a specified time. Tickets were sold out within two hours. Some tickets set aside for guests were also released to the public subsequently. Tibetan communities from Washington, D.C., Toronto, etc., chartered buses so that devotees from their region could avail themselves of this special opportunity of receiving blessings from His Holiness in New York.
The ceremony concluded with a singing of auspicious namthar (Opera), after which His Holiness left the Arena for his hotel.
Preparatory Prayers (Tsedup) for the ceremony were conducted from 18 to 21 August 2024 at the Tibetan Community Center by the Chotrul Monlam Association of USA, as requested by the Office of Tibet.
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Washington DC
