April 23, 2018

TOKYO: The monks of Sera Jey Monastery in South India are holding a 12-day Tibet Festival to showcase the vibrant Tibetan Buddhist tradition and bring peace and harmony in the world. The festival is being organized by Tibet House Japan.

Hundreds of Japanese attended the opening ceremony of the first phase of the festival which is underway at Gokokuji temple in central Tokyo on 20 April. Venerable Jhado Tulku said Tibet and Japanese share hundreds of year old relationship in terms of exchanging knowledge of Buddhism. He said His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been able to visit Japan for the last many years and thanked Japanese people for their long standing support for the Tibetan people.

Jhado Rinpoche extended his profound gratitude to Gokokuji Temple for their support in holding the Tibet festival and appealed for their continued support for the Tibetan in the future.

Mr. Lungtok, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, expressed his deep gratitude to Gokokuji Temple for making the Tibet Festival possible. He praised the Japanese people for taking interest in the Tibetan culture, language and Buddhism.

Venerable Izawa san of Gokokuji Temple expressed his happiness that Japanese people are able to witness the unique culture and Buddhism of Tibet during the festival.

During the three-day festival at Gokokuji Temple, Japanese people witnessed construction of sand mandala of compassion by Sera Jey monks, daily practice of meditation session led by Jhado Rinpoche, mask dance, divination by Sera Jey monk, sale of Tibetan cookies (Khabse) with butter tea.

The highlight of the festival was Tadin initiation bestowed by Jhado Tulku and it was attended by hundreds of Japanese people. Jhado Tulku gave a concise explanation of Tibetan Buddhism in which he said Tibetan Buddhism is based on the principles of non-violent behavior and dependent origination.

Following the initation, Jhado Rinpoche performed ritual prayer offering and dismantled the sand mandala. The dismantled sand was offered to all the people who came to attend the Tibet festival. The Tibetans living in Japan and Japanese volunteers offered their volunteer services to make the three-day festival success.

After the completion of the Tibet festival at Gokokuji Temple, Jhado Rinpoche and monks of Sera monastery visited the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Jhado Rinpoche led a prayer offering at the office and spoke about service offered by Sera Jey monastery for the education of Tibetans and people of Himalayan people in India.

The next phase of the Tibet festival scheduled for 28 April – 6 May will take place at Aida Mitsuo Museum in Tokyo.

  – Report filed by Office of Tibet, Japan –