Dharamshala- The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will begin a thirteen day tour of the United States of America tomorrow, which coincides with his 76th birthday.
Beginning in Washington, his Holiness will remain in the Capital for ten days, conducting public speeches on the ‘Kalachakra'; which is a Buddhist philosophy system involving time. He will conduct the ritual with monks of ‘Namgyal Monastery', and with senior Buddhist lamas. The ritual will consecrate the venue. It will also involve a traditional Tibetan sand mandala, and Tibetan Buddhist prayers.
The Kalachakra itself will be in aid of world peace, and will last for ten days.
Between July the 9th, to the 11th, teachings will be given by the Dalai Lama on Gyalsey Thoikme Sangpo's ‘37 practices of a Boddhisattva' (laklen sodunma) and also Kamalashila's ‘The Middling States of Meditation' (gomrim barpa); which will be in Washington. July the 9th will also see an important public teaching on world peace.
On the 12th of July, the ‘Kalachakra Ritual Dance' will be held by the monks of Namgyal Monastery. The Dalai Lama will confer the Kalachakra Initiation the following day to the 15th.
‘Tsewang', which in Tibetan Buddhism means ‘a long empowerment' will be conducted on July the 16th, as well as prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness is then due to visit Chicago on July the 17th, to speak on ‘Bridging the Faith Divide', at the University of Illinois.
July the 18th will see His Holiness participate in a conversation with religious leaders on ‘Building Bridges' in the morning at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.
Perhaps the most anticipated event is the public birthday celebration, which will be attended by guests; Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma, and Martin Luther King III, son of the late political activist.
Events such as the public birthday celebration will be available to watch worldwide, at: www.dalailama.com
