
Kasur Kirti Rinpoche presenting the recognition award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s representative, Private Secretary Lobsang Jinpa.
Dharamshala: Secretary Dhondul Dorjee of the Department of Religion and Culture, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), attended the Kirti monastery’s gratitude offering ceremony in Bodh Gaya for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as the official representative of the CTA.
Coinciding with the Kirti Monastery’s Geshe vow-taking ceremony for monks who have completed their studies on the Five Great Treatises of Buddhism, reverent lamas and tulkus, patrons, venerable monks of Kirti Monastery, and an association of former Kirti monks from sixteen different countries gathered at Kirtighar Samyeling in Bodhgaya to pray for the longevity and well-being of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as His Holiness reached 90 years according to the Tibetan calendar, from 7 to 11 January 2025. Alongside this, a Great Prayer Festival—one of the Four Great Deeds of Jé Tsongkhapa—was also held.
From 8 to 10 January, a series of prayer assemblies and debates were held in the gracious presence of the former and 104th Ganden Tripa, Kyabje Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Palsangpo, as was the tradition of Kirti Monasteries in the past. The final day of the prayer assembly was presided over by the former Ganden Tri Rinpoche, alongside the abbot and former abbot of the Drepung Loseling Monastery, and Kalon Trisur Professor Ven Samdhong Rinpoche.
On the final day, 11 January, a gratitude recognition event was held to acknowledge His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s monumental contribution toward the well-being of the Tibetan people and the flourishing of Tibetan Buddhism. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Ganden Trisur Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin Palsangpo, Kalon Trisur Professor Ven Samdhong Rinpoche, Abbot of the Drepung Loseling Monastery Geshe Yeshi Lhundup, former Abbot of the Drepung Loseling Monastery Geshe Samten, representative of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Secretary Lobsang Jinpa, representative of the CTA Secretary Dhondul Dorjee, and other distinguished guests.
During this ceremony, Secretary Dhondul Dorjee made an offering of a mandala to the 104th Ganden Tri Rinpoche to express gratitude for his benevolent deeds for all sentient beings.
-Report filed by Department of Religion and Culture, CTA