Dharamshala — Samdhong Rinpoche in place of His Holiness the Dalai Lama gives teaching on the transmission on Avalokiteshvera Guru Yoga Practice (chenresig lama neljor) at the request of the Monpa Community of Arunachal Pradesh, on September 6, 2024 at Tibetan Main Temple, Dharamshala.
The Venerable Professor Samdhong Rinpoche walked through the courtyard, accompanied by Lama Ngawang Norbu, an MLA for Arunachal Pradesh and chairman of the committee organising today's teaching and tomorrow's long life ceremony for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Former officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, civil servants and important personalities are seated to the right and left of Rinpoche's throne respectively. Thousands of people, including Monpas and Tibetans, came to the temple to listen to his teaching on the transmission on Avalokiteshvera Guru Yoga Practice.
Samdhong Rinpoche said: "In fact, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teachings were due to take place today. But he wasn't feeling well and he needs more rest, so I am going to teach on his behalf. Today's main devotees come from Mon, Arunachal Pradesh and the Land of Snow (Gangchen Jong). The Land of Snow and Avalokiteshvara have a special relationship, explained in many scriptures. In terms of today's Tibet, which is politically small, the people of Snow region is now in five or six countries, including India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, the four vowels and thirty consonants of the mother tongue belong to Gangchen Jong."
Rinpoche said, "We are going to go through this Guru-Yoga practice, seeing His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Avalokiteshvara as inseparable. I will read the text slowly without making much comment. Whatever degree of practice of the being of three capacities you engage in, none can be done without the guidance of a Guru. In Tibet we see the Guru as the root of the path."
"There is reliance on the Guru in action and thought. When you do Guru-Yoga practice you do it in connection with the meditational deity with whom you have a special link. This text takes an approach that accords with the Guru-Yoga in Highest Yoga Tantra," he added and continued explained the text.
Samdhong lastly said, "We are very fortunate that we have had the opportunity to hold this discourse and to have received teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. If you can practise the complete path to enlightenment, that would be excellent. Meanwhile we need to strengthen peace and harmony in our communities and to work to keep up our cultural traditions. Let’s dedicate whatever merit we have earned to the good health and long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”
Lama Ngawang Norbu offered a thanksgiving mandala to Ven Samdhong Rinpoche. The congregation recited the prayer of the Words of Truth.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will attend a Long Life Prayer offered to him by the Monpa Community of Arunachal Pradesh (India) at the Main Tibetan Temple, Dharamshala, on September 7, 2024.
