Zurich — The Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein offered a long life prayer to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sunday and His Holiness said, "We have found this precious human life, and we should cultivate kindness and a good heart to make our lives meaningful. The awakening mind of bodhichitta brings us peace of mind and subdues our destructive emotions. It creates a restful state of mind."
According to Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a crowd of 15,000 people, including Tibetans from all over Europe, attended the long life prayer to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and teaching of His Holiness at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, on August 25, 2024. When His Holiness the Dalai Lama took his seat on the throne, Thinkley Chokyi, representative of the Tibet Office in Geneva, welcomed him with respect and paid tribute to him on behalf of the Tibetans in Switzerland and other European countries. She described His Holiness as the jewel in the crown of gods and kings, and a champion of world peace.
She said that Tibetans around the world were doing their best to resolve the conflict between China and Tibet by following the lead of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She added that they were pleased to be able to offer prayers for the long life of His Holiness, as a sign of gratitude, as he stopped off in Zurich on his way back from the United States to India, after undergoing successful knee replacement surgery.
“May you yet be able to return to Tibet, take your seat on the Lion Throne in the Potala Palace and offer teachings from there once more,” she prayed. She ended by offering thanks to the various authorities in Zurich for enabling Tibetans to hold this event today.
A group of Tibetan singers and dances sang in praise of His Holiness, referring to him as the protector and embodiment of compassion. A group of Lamas sitting at the foot of the throne recited a verse for taking refuge in the Three Jewels and a verse that summarizes the Perfection of Wisdom teachings. They made a mandala offering and began a symbolic rendition of a ceremony seeking a Lama’s long life.
As they chanted the prayer for His Holiness’s longevity composed by his tutors, Ling Rinpoché and Trijang Rinpoché, symbols of the seven royal emblems, the eight auspicious symbols, the eight auspicious substances, and so forth were presented to him. Next, the prayer for His Holiness’s long life composed by Jamyang Khyentsé Chökyi Lodrö was recited, concluding, “May you live long and may your enlightened deeds spread everywhere.”
Then His Holiness then Dalai Lama addressed the audience by saying: “Today, people have gathered here out of faith and devotion from Switzerland and other European countries. We Tibetans are imbued with the teaching of the Buddha. We have an unwavering faith in it, which begins when we are children reciting the verse for taking refuge and cultivating the awakening mind, as well as the mantra, Om mani padmé hum."
“I have had the opportunity to study and practise Buddhist teachings since I was a small child and I have found they have a quite scientific basis. Indeed, these days scientists come to see me taking interest in Buddhist instruction about non-violence and compassion," the spiritual leader of Tibet said.
“Because we Tibetans value kindness, warm-heartedness and compassion we ae able to demonstrate these qualities to other people. We have known great hardship because of the harsh restrictions imposed by the Chinese Communists, but our faith and devotion to the teachings of the Buddha has not let up," His Holiness added.
“When I was a small boy, I was taken to Kumbum Monastery where I witnessed young monks reciting Manjushri’s mantra, Om ara patsa nadhi. I was inspired and imitated them. Our culture has left such imprints on us," His Holiness explained.
His Holiness said, “In the past, people in the outside world didn’t know much about Tibetan Buddhism, but as time has gone by more people have taken an interest in it. They are especially attracted by instructions about the workings of the mind and emotions and ways to cultivate positive qualities within us. Even in China faith and understanding of the Buddhadharma has grown."
“Since the time of the kings Songtsen Gampo and Trisong Detsen we have become accustomed to Buddhism being part of our lives. It’s part of their kind legacy that we have such single-pointed faith today. Wherever Tibetans are they have a strong sense of ethics and faith in the teachings of the Buddha. Even people who don’t think of themselves as religious recognize that Tibetan Buddhism includes many solutions to the problems we face today," the spiritual leader of Tibet explained.
“Because Buddhism is a major part of our culture, we should work to keep it alive. We can do this by observing ethics and cultivating a warm heart, bearing in mind that religious practice without ethics is like wearing a mask," he added.
His Holiness explained by saying, “On the other hand, cultivating warm-heartedness is the essence of religion. Cultivating the awakening mind of bodhichitta involves the intention to bring happiness to all sentient beings. It enables you to fulfil the goals of others and yourself."
“When I was in Beijing Mao Zedong praised my scientific turn of mind, but at the same time he remarked that religion is poison. However, I feel that if he were alive today, he would better understand why it’s worth following what the Buddha taught,” His Holiness said.
Then His Holiness conducted a brief ceremony for cultivating the awakening mind of bodhichitta, and he recommended thinking of all sentient beings as having been our kind mothers. In an effort to repay that kindness we should make a strong determination to bring benefit and happiness to all sentient beings. And having generated bodhichitta we should call on all sentient beings as our guests at a feast of happiness.
“We have found this precious human life and to make it meaningful we should cultivate kindness and a good heart. If I may say so, the ultimate reason you have faith in me is because I teach about bodhichitta and the view of emptiness. As I have told you before, the moment I wake up in the morning, I meditate on the awakening mind and having generated that supreme thought I invite all sentient beings as my guests," His Holiness told the gathering.
“The awakening mind of bodhichitta is the key to fulfilling your own and others’ goals. At the same time negative thoughts such as anger and pride subside. The awakening mind of bodhichitta brings us peace of mind and subdues our destructive emotions. It creates a restful state of mind,” His Holiness added.
His Holiness gave the transmission of the mantra of Buddha Shakyamuni and Avalokiteshvara, the patron deity of Tibet, by asking those assembled to recite them after him.
Representative Thinley Chokyi offered a thanksgiving mandala. Dedication prayers were said. A statement of accounts was made announcing how much money had been given and how much remained. A group of young performers sang auspicious lines by way of conclusion.
