Dharamshala: Long life prayer offering, Tenshug was held at the Main temple this morning which is organized by the Former staff members of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Many former staff members including Cabinet Ministers, Chief Justice, Secretaries and others have gathered from all across the world to offer the long life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeted the former officials at the main temple as he was escorted towards his throne.
The prayer to Buddha of daily practice in three paths was recited.
The ceremony began with His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessing the former officials of CTA.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama thanked all the former staffs for their unwavering devotion, faith and spiritual bond. His Holiness also thanked for the fervent prayer for his long life.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke about the History of Tibet and coming into exile and lauded everyone in exile for working hard towards Tibetan spiritual and temporal matters.
His Holiness further spoke on the bond that India and Tibet share since we came into exile and the Nalanda tradition.
“Many scholars are now aware that the tradition of Buddhism that we have is in the pure lineage of Nalanda Tradition. We lost our freedom but we got a very good opportunity so given the opportunity we can shine our own courage, determination, resilience and wisdom, ” said His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
On the profound teaching including logic and philosophy, His Holiness mentioned that profound teachings can be explained in Tibetan as the Sanskrit language is known only to a few scholars and thus His Holiness expressed the importance of Tibetan language.
His Holiness also expressed the need to preserve and promote Buddhist tradition and mentioned that those who know Buddhist tradition knows that this tradition is not something which is followed on blind faith but through reason and logic.
“The worst case was Tibetan people and cultural tradition were at the verge of destruction and extinction and we were born at such time. We have a very unique and profound tradition which we were able to keep alive and this is our contribution. So Tibet as you all know is called the land taken care of by Avalokiteshvara.” His Holiness said to the former officials present at the ceremony.
His Holiness assured the former officials who have worked for the Tibetan administration for more than decades that they will be guided and taken care of by the Avalokiteshvara afterlife as they share a special connection with the Avalokiteshvara.
“Avalokiteshvara is the deity of compassion, because of that you should also practice and cultivate compassion, loving kindness and if you could still enhance it further you should try to develop Bodhichitta and also wisdom realizing emptiness.”
“At this difficult time in our history, you have done your best and so you should also pray to Avalokiteshvara to be able to become enlightened as you progress along the path through the practice of the profound path of realizing emptiness and the vast far-reaching practice of Bodhichitta,” said His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
As the former officials have dedicated and devoted themselves sincerely for the Tibetan cause and Buddha-dharma, His Holiness assured that they will be guided and taken care of by the Avalokiteshvara.
“In such a turbulent and turmoil world, if you could practice love and compassion and develop and cultivate further for world peace. Whether small or big, you should actually try to practice development of love and compassion and also to promote it to others. Through this, you can serve the buddha-dharma and world at large.” said His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“Wherever I go, I tell people that we need to be kind-hearted, warm-hearted and loving compassionate. It is not just religious practice. In one’s own daily life if you are more compassionate, loving, kind-hearted and warm-hearted. You will have more peace of mind so that is what I advise and practice wherever I go and you should do that too”
“Sooner or Later we are all going to die but when we die we should have no regrets. Even in exile, you could think that following the advice and admonition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama I have done my best for the Tibetan cause and Tibetan cultural and spiritual tradition. Pray for Avalokiteshvara to lead you and take care of your life after life.” said His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his conclusion speech expressed his determination to live long.
“I think that I may live into my 90s or around 100. So there are indications that I may be able to live around 100 so I always pray for the sentient beings and dharma. I have been able to help many people including Tibetans so if I could live longer I would be able to serve more sentient beings and the teaching of the Buddha so that it may be revived in those places which it had spread but declined and that it could spread to other countries where it has not spread as Je Tsongkhapa made this prayer moved by compassion.”
“So rather than doing what is practical in this life that I could do to serve sentient beings and the Dharma and just aspire for another life that may not be practical so I hope to live around 100 and that’s my determination” Concluded His Holiness the Dalai Lama.