Former Tibetan political prisoners offer long life prayer to H H the Dalai Lama

Dharamshala — Former Tibetan Political Prisoners and the Lhasa Boys’ Association from Switzerland offered a long life prayer to their spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Monday. The former political prisoners said,"With great hardship Your Holiness left your homeland. Yet, out of compassion you look after all sentient beings, particularly the people of Tibet. You are the sole hope of the entire Tibetan people. The disruptive forces of the Chinese Communist party have brought such adversity to the Tibetan people that they shed tears day and nights as they suffer."

The former Tibetan Political Prisoners from 15 countries around the world and the Lhasa Boys Association Switzerland offered a long life prayer service to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, at the Main Tibetan Temple (Tsuglagkhang) in Dharamsala, HP, India on February 23, 2026. It was joined by around 4000 people including the former political prisoners and Tibetans around the Dharamshala.

The long life prayer ceremony focused on White Tara who bestows long life and is regarded as protecting all sentient beings. The ceremony was presided over by Kundelling Rinpoché, who sat facing His Holiness the Dalai Lama's throne in the Tsuglagkhang. To Rinpoché’s right sat Geshé Lobsang Samten, the new Abbot of Namgyal Monastery, and to his right was Keutsang Rinpoché. To Kundelling Rinpoché’s left sat Öser Rinpoché, the Dorjé Löbpön of Namgyal Monastery and the Former Disciplinarian of the Monstery.

Thupten Yaphel, Principle of the Namgyal Monastery read out a declaration paying homage to His Holiness and acknowledging his four major commitments. At the same time representatives of the former political prisoners in Tibet presented His Holiness with memento of his having reached his 90th year, along with a painting of him surrounded by people who have been significant in his life — his teachers, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawarhalal Nehru, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and many others. The statement alluded to His Holiness as a teacher of compassion and someone who upholds all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

The declaration ended, “We request you to accept this memento and award offered on this occasion by the former political prisoners of Tibet.”

Ngawang Sangdol, a famous former Tibetan political prisoner, one of the ‘Singing Nuns’ who were arrested and punished in Tibet, made her own speech and said," With great hardship Your Holiness left your homeland. Yet, out of compassion you look after all sentient beings, particularly the people of Tibet. You are the sole hope of the entire Tibetan people. The disruptive forces of the Chinese Communist party have brought such adversity to the Tibetan people that they shed tears day and nights as they suffer."

“We are at dire risk of losing our culture and language. People in Tibet have resorted to desperate measures like self-immolation to draw attention to this. We are no longer free in our own land. As a result, we have had to flee our homes. We pray that you, who are the Lord of the Land of Snow, may yet return there," she added.

"The Chinese Communists do not allow Tibetan language to be taught. Teachers continue to teach covertly as best they can, but they do so at great risk to themselves. There are even Chinese officials assigned to teach Tibetan children contrived history. They explain to tourists, for example, that the Potala Palace was built as a gift to a Chinese princess," the former political prisoner explained.

Ngawang Sangdol said, "People working for the government are not allowed to visit temples or engage in devout behaviour. All Tibetans are devoted to you, Your Holiness, but children are forced to rebel against their parents. Rules and regulations restrict what Tibetans can do. Children named Tenzin are not allowed to take exams. There is not enough time to describe everything that is going on. Suffice it to say that when we hear your voice, our eyes fill with tears. There is no one else like you who has encouraged combining traditional knowledge with modern science to teach compassion. We pray to be your disciples now and in the future."

The ceremony was concluded with recitations of the verse for his long life that His Holiness composed at Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoché’s request, the ‘Prayer for the Ecumenical Flourishing of the Teaching of the Buddha’, the ‘Prayer of the Words of Truth’ and verses from the Samantabhadra Prayer, the King of Prayers.