His Holiness Celebrates Guru Rinpoche’s Birthday with 50,000 Buddhist Pilgrims
Rewalsar, 1 March: About 50, 000 Buddhists pilgrims from all around the world, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, arrived at Tso Pema/Rewalsar to observe the triple significant occasion-holy day, month and year. Today is the auspicious 10th day of the 1st month of the Tibetan lunar calendar and it is celebrated as the birthday of Guru Padma Sambava (“The Lotus Born” Guru) who was supposedly born in the monkey year which falls this year. This triple festival only comes once every 12 years.
The celebration started this morning with propitiation of Nechung and Gadong oracles, followed by traditional Cham mask dances at the Nyingon Zahor Tsopema Ugyen Sheruka Phodrang Monastery. Later at 1 p.m., His Holiness initiated the gathered pilgrims into Thubdup Sangwa Khepar Troteng Tsalshin Duptha-a sacred Nyingma empowerment on propitiation and realisation and gave teachings on Laglen Sodunma (37 practices of Boddhisattva).
Yesterday, His Holiness was invited at a grand reception at Soree Manch organised by various organisations in Mandi where the Bharat Tibbat Sanyog Manch (India-Tibet Cooperation Forum) officially declared 2004 as the year of Tibet. At the reception, His Holiness shared his hope for the 21st Century as an era of peace, cooperation and mutual respect in the world. He also mentioned India’s role as the spiritual leader of the world and the need for India to mobilise globally its ancient values of tolerance, peace and non-violence.
His Holiness was welcomed in Mandi and Rewalsar by the Himachal Pradesh Governor, Mr. V.S. Kokje, and the Chief of Municipal Committee, Mrs. Sushila Sonkhla. Both in their talks praised His Holiness for his selfless commitment in spreading peace across the world.
His Holiness said India-Tibet friendship is not new. Bonds of love and understanding between the two nations were centuries old. Tibet’s Buddhist tradition comes from India.
Yesterday, His Holiness also inaugurated the Tsechu with ribbon cutting and lighting a butter lamp. Later he visited Guru Rinpoche Caves, Kagyu Dzigar Monastery and Nyingma Monastery.
Guru Rinpoche, Padma Sambhava, was an Indian Tantric sage who brought Buddhism from India to Tibet in the 8th Century AD. Invited from India by Tibetan King Trisong Deutsen, Padma Sambhava converted the entire country and is the patriarch of the Nyingmapa lineage. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche meditated in the caves around Rewalsar Lake and his blessings flourish in the area and especially on the floating reeds on Rewalsar Lake.
His Holiness will return tomorrow to Dharamsala.