Dharamshala, India — Five organisations from Nepal, India and Australia offered a long life prayer to His Holiness the Dalai lama on September 7, 2022, and His Holiness said, "In this one life I have been able to serve the Dharma and sentient beings and I am determined to live a long life so that I can continue to do so. I feel I can live another 10 to 20 years or so. I am not concerned about money or fame, but only about being able to benefit others.”
The five organisations, the Tendhong Cultural Preservation Society (Mön), the International Jonang Well-being Association, the Domey-Mang-Bha-Ja-Sum Association, the Namgyal Higher Secondary School, Nepal, and the Sydney Tibetan Association came together to offer a long life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Tsuglagkhang, the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala on September 7, 2022.
Gyabong Rinpoché, Abbot of Tawang Monastery, the Dorjé Löbpön of Namgyal Monastery, Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoché, Ganden Tri Rinpoché, Ling Rinpoché, Guru Tulku Rinpoché and Khenpo Nyima Tashi, Abbot of the Kagyu Monastery in Jang, Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, monks, nuns and people from Nepal, India and Australia attended the long life prayer meeting.
Addressing the congregation His Holiness told them, “I have a simulated experience of the awakening mind of bodhichitta. I renew the wish expressed in this verse every day: “As long as space endures, And as long as sentient beings remain, Until then, may I too remain To help dispel the misery of the world.”
“I belong to the lineage of Dalai Lamas and have a strong link to the people of the Himalayan region. I was recently in Ladakh and I hope to make a visit to Mön Tawang again soon,” His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama said.
"In this one life I have been able to serve the Dharma and sentient beings and I am determined to live a long life so that I can continue to do so. I feel I can live another 10 to 20 years or so. I am not concerned about money or fame, but only about being able to benefit others. And for that reason, I pray to live long. The prayer that is being performed today involves Arya Tara and I say her mantra for longevity every day,” His Holiness added.
“During my recent visit to Ladakh and Zanskar I was moved by the faith and trust of the people there. Tibetans in Tibet are also unflinching in their devotion, but they are living under oppressive conditions. Meanwhile, an increasing number of people in China are taking an interest in Buddhism and even Chinese officials are beginning to acknowledge that I’m not the reactionary they make me out to be. In fact, in Tibet, it’s not just a matter of human beings, there are spirits and deities who have faith in me because I am resolute in my efforts to cultivate the awakening mind of bodhichitta for the benefit of others,” the spiritual leader of Tibet mentioned.
Ganden Tri Rinpoche approached the throne of His Holiness to recite the eulogy and ask His Holiness to live long and said, “We pray that, like Thangtong Gyalpo, you may live to be 125 years old. We pray that we may be taken care of by you and pledge that we will abide by your instructions. Therefore, we make these offerings to you.”
“As I said earlier, I have strong links with the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the Himalayan region. Because of karma and past prayers, I have been able to serve them as well the Dharma and other sentient beings. And because I have this opportunity, I firmly aspire to live another two decades. I would like to thank all of you, members of these five different organisations, for conducting this ritual for my long life today,” His Holiness said.
“I understand the Covid pandemic is rife in Arunachal Pradesh and also in Tibet. I will make prayers that it may be subdued. In China too the situation is serious. Let’s pray to Arya Tara to help Tibetans and Chinese at this time, to relieve their suffering and alleviate the fear in their minds. We also need to remember the people of Xinjiang with love and compassion,” the spiritual leader of Tibet said.
“In addition, I pray that we may continue to preserve and promote the teaching of the Buddha through study, reflection and meditation,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama said.
