H. H. Dalai Lama: Long-Life Empowerment and Long-Life Offering in Leh
Long-Life Empowerment and Long-Life Offering in Leh Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India, 30 July 2015 – The early morning air was fresh and low light illuminated the distant peaks as His Holiness the Dalai Lama set off from Spituk Monastery today. He and thousands of others was headed for the Shiwatsel teaching ground on the other side of the Leh valley. On arrival he greeted the Lamas, dignitaries and guests and took his seat on the throne to prepare for the White Tara empowerment. Read the rest of this entry »
H. H. Dalai Lama at Spituk Monastery
Inauguration of Summer Higher Buddhist Council at Spituk Monastery Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India, 29 July 2015 – The Pegon Phagspa Nastan Bakula Institute Hostel stands at the foot of the rocky outcrop crowned by Spituk Monastery. A short walk away amidst tall poplars stands a pavilion and a ground prepared for the inauguration this morning of Summer Higher Buddhist Council.
With Spituk Monastery in the backgroud, His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurates the Summer Higher Buddhist Council at Pegon Phagspa Nastan Bakula Institute in Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India on July 29, 2015. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
Once His Holiness the Dalai Lama had taken his seat, the young reincarnation of Bakula Rinpoche, the chief Lama of Spituk Monastery, offered him the mandala and three representations of the enlightened body, speech and mind.
Geshe Konchok Wangdu, Director of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Ladakh introduced the occasion. He said that this summer debate session was dedicated to raising the level of religious education and promoting inter-religious harmony in Ladakh. The focus of the debates is the Perfection of Wisdom teachings because His Holiness stresses the need to understand what Buddhism means, how it is relevant today and how to put it into practice. He acknowledged that it is due to His Holiness’s guidance that Buddhist understanding in the region has greatly improved in recent years.
Geshe Thubten Rabgyey, who is Ling Rinpoche’s tutor, welcomed His Holiness, Ganden Tri Rinpoche, officials of the Ladakh administration, monks, scholars and all other guests. He noted that the Summer Debates held last year at Likir Monastery had set a fine example to be followed. Read the rest of this entry »
H.H. Dalai Lama Visit the Leh Jokhang and Jamyang School
A Visit to the Leh Jokhang and Jamyang School Leh, J&K, India, 28 July 2015 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama began his second day in Leh with a visit to the Jokhang. The city streets were thronged with Ladakhis, Tibetans and people from many other countries eager to catch a glimpse of him as he passed and pay their respects. He greeted many old friends on his way into the temple. After acknowledging the images of the enlightened ones he took his seat facing them, flanked to his right by Ganden Tri Rinpoche and other distinguished lamas and to his left by members of the Ladakh administration. Together they recited Tsongkhapa’s ‘In Praise of Dependent Arising’ and the ‘Praise to the Seventeen Masters of Nalanda’, while butter tea and sweet rice were served.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Jokhang in Leh, J&K, India on July 28, 2015. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
Scrutinizing the offerings from where he sat, His Holiness wondered why the golden lamp had been placed so prominently. He asked if the Jokhang housed the Kangyur and Tengyur and when he heard there was only a copy of the Kangyur he offered to provide a set of the Tengyur, remarking that it would be good to recite these collections from time to time.
“ However,” he added, “the main purpose of both Kangyur and Tengyur is not to be an object of respect, nor to be occasionally ritually recited, but to be studied. The Buddha’s teachings are an account of his experience. They reveal his great qualities. You people of Ladakh, laypeople and monastics, should study what the Buddha taught.”
Laughing, he turned to his friends among the politicians and teased them saying:
“If you study and put what you learn into practice, it may help you get elected. What’s more, when you retire you’ll have the opportunity to make the remainder of your life meaningful.” Read the rest of this entry »
His Holiness the Dalai Lama Arrives in Ladakh
His Holiness the Dalai Lama Arrives in Ladakh Spituk Monastery, Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India, 27 July 2015 – A buzz of excitement ran through the crowd of Ladakhis lucky enough to be in Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport as His Holiness the Dalai Lama landed this morning in the J&K state plane. He was formally welcomed by Ganden Tri Rinpoche, Rizong Rinpoche, the young Bakula Rinpoche, Thiksey Rinpoche and many other Lamas.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s plane arriving at the airport in Leh, Ladakh, J&k, India on July 27, 2015. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
Also present to offer their greetings were J&K Minister of State Tsering Dorjee, Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Rigzin Spalbar and Leh MLA Rigzin Jora. Representing the Muslim community were Sheikh Syebuddin and Ashraf Ali, while David Gergen was there on behalf of Ladakh’s Christians. Leaders of the Ladakh Gompa Association, Geshe Lobsang Samten and the Ladakh Buddhist Association, Tsewang Trinley joined Women’s Association leader Tsering Dolma and Youth Association leader Rinchen Namgyal in offering His Holiness greetings.
Thousands of people stood, proffering katags, flowers and incense, in an almost unbroken line from the airport to Spituk Monastery, eager to salute His Holiness as he passed. Many of them from the different villages of the Leh Valley were dressed in their best clothes, while their elaborately turquoise bedecked headdresses distinguished the women from Zanskar. There were monk musicians playing long horns and local Ladakhi drummers beating out a welcome.Read the rest of this entry »
Giampaolo Visetti: La Spoon River dei martiri del Tibet “La vita per la libertà”
Tibetan self-immolations from 2009-2015
La Spoon River dei martiri del Tibet “La vita per la libertà”
Di Giampaolo Visetti da Pechino, La Repubblica 23.06.15
«La libertà è la via che conduce alla felicità tutti gli esseri viventi. Senza libertà diventiamo la fiamma di una candela al vento. Questo non deve essere il destino di sei milioni di tibetani». Tenzin Kedhup aveva 24 anni. Ex monaco buddhista, era un nomade pastore. Cosparsosi di cherosene, si è dato fuoco assieme ad un amico il 20 giugno di tre anni fa nella regione cinese del Qinghai, parte del Tibet storico. «Lasciati soli non possiamo – ha lasciato scritto – proteggere la religione e la cultura tibetane».
Dal 2008 i tibetani che si sono auto- immolati per denunciare l’occupazione cinese del 1950 e il «genocidio culturale» da parte di Pechino sono stati 145. Sono gli eroi del Paese delle Nevi, considerati «terroristi» dal partito comunista. La poetessa Tsering Woeser, simbolo della lotta non violenta per l’autonomia della regione himalayana, più volte arrestata assieme al marito scrittore Wang Lixiong, è riuscita a raccogliere i testamenti spirituali segreti dei martiri contemporanei di un popolo che il mondo, nel nome degli interessi economici, finge di non vedere. Read the rest of this entry »
Tibet: il testamento spirituale di Sonam Topgyal
Sonam Topgyal self immolation
Tibet: il testamento spirituale di Sonam Topgyal, immolatosi il 9 luglio 2015. Cremato in carcere il corpo di Tenzin Delek
23 luglio 2015. Otto giorni prima di morire Sonam Topgyal, il ventisettenne tibetano immolatosi con il fuoco a Kyegudo, nella Prefettura Autonoma Tibetana di Yulshul, lo scorso 9 luglio, denunciò in un testamento spirituale la dura repressione esercitata dal governo cinese nei confronti dei tibetani e della sua stessa persona.
Queste le sue parole fatte pervenire alla redazione del sito Tibet Post International da una fonte svizzera che ha preferito mantenere l’anonimato.
“Ai leader del governo cinese e, in particolare, ai locali capi delle minoranze.
Sono Sonam Topgyal, il figlio ventisettenne di Tashitsang, da Nangchen – Yulshul – regione di Tsogon. Sono un monaco e studio allo Dzongsar Institute.
Come tutti sanno, sia dentro sia fuori del Tibet, il governo cinese non tiene in alcun conto la reale situazione delle minoranze ma esercita su di esse soltanto direttive politiche dure e repressive. Allo stesso tempo si accanisce contro la nostra religione, le nostre tradizioni, la nostra cultura e distrugge l’ambiente naturale tibetano. Non abbiamo alcuna libertà di espressione e non disponiamo di contatti ufficiali per parlare della nostra situazione e presentare reclami. Read the rest of this entry »
Eleven Organizations Make a Long-Life Offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Eleven Organizations Make a Long-Life Offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama Thekchen Chöling, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, HP, India, 20 July 2015 – To begin with this morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama took his seat below the Tsuglagkhang to observe debates performed by monks and nuns from Nepal. They came from Kopan Monastery, Shelkar Chöde, Chuwar Gaden Dropen Ling, Shri Chusang Gompa, Samtenling Drubgön, Thukje Chöling, Serkong Gaden Jamgonling, and Gosok Phuntsok Chöling, as well as two nunneries, Kyirong Thukje Chöling and Kopan Khechö Gakyil Ling.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama observing debating by monks and nuns from Nepal at the Tsuglagkhang in Dharamsala, HP, India on July 20, 2015. Photo/Tenzin Phuntsok/OHHDL
They also submitted a report of their studies and activities. His Holiness commended them, noting that 40 years ago he had advised that even monasteries engaged mostly in performing rituals and nunneries should introduce programs of study. He told them that they not only need to study, reflect and meditate, they also need to integrate what they know in practice.
From the throne in the Tsuglagkhang, His Holiness announced that eleven different organizations had submitted requests to make a Ten-shug or Long-Life Offering. They included the Gelug Association of Nepal, the Tibetan Youth Congress, people of U-Tsang province, Shang Gaden Chökhor Ling, the Taglung Kagyu Tradition, the Tibetan Women’s Association, the Guchusum Movement, the Ngari Chithun Association, the Lodrik Association of Pokhara, Nepal, the Middle Way People’s Association and the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Society. Since there was insufficient time for each of them to make a separate offering, they had all been brought together today.
“ Today, the fourth of the sixth Tibetan month, is when we celebrate the Buddha’s first teaching,” His Holiness told the packed crowd. “He manifested as an emanation body, which can be seen by ordinary people, and lived the life of a prince. Once he’d seen the four signs – birth, aging, sickness and death – he renounced the royal life and undertook austerities for six years. Meditating on selflessness he attained enlightenment and then sharing what he’d experienced with others, he revealed the path. Read the rest of this entry »
Tenzin Delek è morto in carcere in circostanze misteriose
Il Tibet di Tenzin Delek, di Raimondo Bultrini
“Sono sempre stato sincero e devoto agli interessi e al benessere del popolo tibetano, il mio popolo. Questa è la vera ragione per cui i cinesi non mi amano e mi hanno accusato. Questo è il motivo per il quale stanno per prendere la mia vita preziosa, anche se sono innocente”. E’ l’ultima frase attribuita a Tenzin Delek Rimpoche, 65 anni, un riverito maestro celebre per le sue attività umanitarie, di assistenza medica, istruzione e difesa dell’ambiente nel Tibet orientale, Read the rest of this entry »
H.H. Dalai Lama Visits to Wiesbaden City Hall and the Hesse Parliament
Visits to Wiesbaden City Hall and the Hesse Parliament Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany, 14 July 2015 – This morning, before leaving for India, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was invited to the Wiesbaden City Hall and the Hesse Parliament. He was met at the foot of the steps to the City Hall by Mayor Arno Grossman, who escorted him inside.
Mayor Arno Grossman escorting His Holiness the Dalai Lama up the stairs of City Hall in Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany on July 14, 2015. Photo/Manuel Bauer
Over the door hung a banner with a quotation from W. Somerset Maugham which read: ‘A little common sense, human understanding, tolerance and humour – how much more comfortable it is to live with them’. The Speaker of the Civic Assembly welcomed him on behalf of the citizens of Wiesbaden, capital of the state of Hesse.
“ You have honoured us by visiting on your 80th birthday, our special greetings to you. Two days ago we gathered in the Kurpark to listen to your message of peace, humanity and respect for life. You touch the hearts and minds of all who hear you. On behalf of the citizens of Wiesbaden I thank you and welcome you to the most beautiful city in the German Republic.”
Mayor Grossmann also made His Holiness welcome: “ Your Holiness, Wiesbaden is happy to have you here. I had the honour of also speaking at the Kurpark on behalf of the city last Sunday. I was impressed by your sincerity. You came here on your 70th birthday and here you are, with us again, for your 80th. Your message of peace and happiness is important in these difficult times. It also impressed me that you count yourself as one of the 7 billion human beings, which reveals your humility. It’s a privilege for us to host this reception and we look forward to seeing you here again soon.” Read the rest of this entry »
His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Frankfurt
In Frankfurt His Holiness the Dalai Lama Meets the Lord Mayor and the Tibetan Community of Germany Celebrate His Birthday Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, 13 July 2015 – Arriving at Frankfurt City Hall this morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was received by the Lord Mayor, Peter Feldmann, who escorted him into the building and up to his office. After a short private meeting, they emerged for a reception in a hall lined with portraits of former German kings. Joined by other members of the Municipal Authority, the Lord Mayor welcomed His Holiness to Frankfurt:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama accompanied by the Lord Mayor, Peter Feldmann, arrive for a reception at City Hall in Frankfurt, Germany on July 13, 2015. Photo/Manuel Bauer
“It is a great honour for our city to have you here as our guest, especially during the celebrations of your 80th birthday. Frankfurt is a global city, home to people of more than 170 different nationalities, but it is a city that wants more than mere tolerance, we want dialogue.”
He presented His Holiness with a porcelain chalice, from which he pretended to drink.
“This is indeed a global city because in the more than 200 languages you tell me are spoken here it reflects the rest of the world,” His Holiness replied. “Despite these distinctions we are all fundamentally the same as human beings. We all want a happy life and we all have a right to achieve it. Last year, I was here visiting Tibet House, which can also make a contribution to this rich tradition. There are books and teachers there who uphold what we call the Nalanda Tradition, a tradition of Buddhist philosophy, logic and epistemology derived from ancient India.
Read the rest of this entry »
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is Given a Warm Welcome in Wiesbaden
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is Given a Warm Welcome in Wiesbaden Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany, 12 July 2015 – Arriving early this morning in Frankfurt at the end of a long flight from New York, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was welcomed at the airport by representatives of the Indian Consulate and Frank Auth on behalf of Friends for a Friend. The drive through the fertile countryside to Wiesbaden was fast. In fields on either side of the expressway stood an array of golden wheat.
After some rest during the morning, His Holiness joined old friends, including former Prime Minister Roland Koch and his wife, for lunch. During a short meeting with sponsors of the afternoon’s public talk he paid tribute to his long friendship with the German people, reaching back to his first visit to Europe in 1973, and the people of Hessen in particular.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with members of the press in Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany on July 12, 2015. Photo/Manuel Bauer
At a meeting with the Press immediately afterwards he outlined his commitments to sharing with others the idea that cultivating humane inner values is the real source of human happiness. He also mentioned his commitments to promoting inter-religious harmony and preserving the culture and language, as well as the fragile natural environment, of Tibet.
“I’m happy to see they enjoy freedom of expression. The practice and the spirit they are referring to has been controversial for nearly 400 years. Over the last 80 years or so it was the source of severe and divisive sectarianism. This is something that needs to be carefully investigated.”Read the rest of this entry »
Long Life Empowerment and North American Long Life Offering to H. H. Dalai Lama
Long Life Empowerment and North American Long Life Offering in Gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama New York, USA, 10 July 2015 – As His Holiness the Dalai Lama drove down alongside the Hudson River to the Javits Convention Center this morning, a light aircraft flew in the blue sky overhead trailing a banner wishing him a long life. He lost no time in taking his seat on the throne and beginning the preparatory rituals necessary for the Long-life empowerment he was going to give.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting the musicians and performers who welcomed him to the Javits Center in New York, NY, USA on July 10, 2015. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
“Today I’m going to follow up on yesterday’s text and talk about how to practice,” he said. “First we all need to set a good motivation, take refuge in the Three Jewels and generate the awakening mind. In this city of New York there are human beings but there are also other beings invisible to us. All of them wish for happiness and all of them are equal in having Buddha nature. It is the custom for the teacher to include them all in the scope of the teaching.
“We’ve been engaged here in studying the teaching of the Buddha. Whether we come from traditional Buddhist backgrounds or are relatively new to Buddhism, the Buddha stressed the role of love and compassion in the achievement of happiness. He advocated love and compassion in the context of dependent origination. In the 27th Chapter of his ‘Fundamental Wisdom’, Nagarjuna pays homage to the Buddha for teaching compassion and right view.”
His Holiness remarked that there are many distorted views of reality, but they can only be corrected by cultivating the correct view. In order to overcome the distorted grasping at the inherent existence of all phenomena, we have to generate an understanding of the correct view of emptiness. Nagarjuna taught that the correct view of reality is dependent origination. Read the rest of this entry »
H.H. Dalai Lama in New York: A Force for Good and Stages of Meditation
A Force for Good and Stages of Meditation New York, USA, 9 July 2015 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in New York yesterday at the end of a long and delayed flight from Los Angeles. Refreshed by a good night’s sleep, one of his key meetings this morning was with old friends Dan Goleman and his wife Tara. They came to present His Holiness with Goleman’s new book, ‘A Force For Good: The Dalai Lama’s Vision for Our World’ just released to mark his 80th birthday. The book reveals His Holiness’s broad message, his long-term perspective on creating a better future. It’s a vision that individuals can assimilate wherever they are and whatever they do on the basis of their common humanity.
“ Here is your message,” Goleman said as he offered His Holiness a copy of the book, adding, “Some people who have already read it expressed surprise that compassion can be so powerful.”
Dan and Tara Goleman showing His Holiness the Dalai Lama the companion website for their new book “A Force for Good” during their meeting in New York City on July 9, 2015.
His Holiness thanked him, remarking, in reference to the recent shootings at a church in Charleston, that simply praying or expressing criticism of this or that is not enough.http://www.joinaforce4good.org/ , which includes everything that is in the book, but also allows people to share their own stories and acts of compassion. The homepage says: “Help us light up the world – one good deed at a time.” His Holiness was pleased, joking that the rays of light radiating from the image of the world were like Avalokiteshvara’s 1000 arms with their 1000 eyes. Meeting the team who have given their time and skills to developing the website, he thanked them for working, “Not for money, or with any sense of ‘us’ and ‘them’, but because compassion is the basis of peace.”Read the rest of this entry »
H.H. Dalai Lama: Climate Change, Wisdom and Experience
Climate Change, Wisdom and Experience Irvine, CA, USA, 6 July 2015 – At the start of the second of three days celebrating his 80th birthday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave an interview to Elizabeth Dias of Time magazine. She asked what he thought of the multiverse, the hypothetical collection of possible universes. He told her that Buddhist literature speaks of different universes and beings’ connections with them as a result of their actions. He also mentioned such universes disintegrating as solidity dissolves into liquidity, heat, energy and space, but that they also arise again. This is something that takes place not over decades or centuries, but over aeons, in the context of which human life is very short. Read the rest of this entry »
H.H. Dalai Lama Focusing on Education and Meeting the Tibetan Community
Youth Leadership Panel Focusing on Education and Meeting the Tibetan Community Irvine, CA, USA, 7 July 2015 – Before leaving for UCI this morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was interviewed by Christina Pascucci of KTLA 5 News. She asked who in his 80 years had been the greatest influence on him. He told her that there had been many people, but among recent personalities, although he had met neither, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr had had a great impact on his outlook. Otherwise, he said, he would have to mention the Buddhist masters of ancient India.
Christina Pascucci of KTLA 5 News interviewing His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Anaheim, California, USA on July 7, 2015. Photo/Sonam Zoksang
When she wanted to know the greatest threat we face today, His Holiness replied without hesitation. “Violence.”
Questioned about what he carries in the bag that is always with him, he told her he had a statue of the Buddha that he had kept since his ordination as a Buddhist monk, some sweets, some pens and the visor he sometimes puts on to protect his eyes from bright light.
Light drizzle fell during the drive to UCI, where the first stop was the Center for Living Peace. Director Kelly Smith welcomed His Holiness and escorted him in to view a newly constructed Avalokiteshvara sand mandala. He stressed the symbolic value of Avalokiteshvara’s thousand hands and eyes. Picking up a vajra and bell, he remarked that the vajra represents method – compassion – and the bell wisdom – understanding of emptiness. The two always go together to indicate the need for wisdom to be energized by compassion and for compassion to be directed by wisdom. Read the rest of this entry »
Awakening Compassion, Celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th Birthday
Awakening Compassion, Celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th Birthday Anaheim, CA, USA, 5 July 2015 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama began the day early giving an interview to Ann Curry for KIP News. He told her at the start that today he got up at 1am to begin his prayers. Wishing him a happy birthday, she asked him for his wish. He replied: “The same as all beings, I wish to live a happy life. We all face a lot of problems that are essentially our own creation. The real point here is with our emotions. Unless we have some knowledge of how to tackle them we’ll run into trouble. Read the rest of this entry »
H.H. the Dalai Lama: Map of Emotions and Meditation on Compassion
His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Map of Emotions and Meditation on Compassion Anaheim, CA, USA, 4 July 2015 – The sky was overcast this morning, but inside a warm reunion took place between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his old friend Paul Ekman. Read the rest of this entry »
Interview with Telemundo, the Largest Spanish TV Channel in the USA
Interview with Telemundo, the Largest Spanish TV Channel in the USA Dallas, Texas, USA, 2 July 2015 – In addition to holding a string of private meetings, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was interviewed this morning by Edgardo Del Villar, who is a news anchor for Telemundo, the largest Spanish TV channel in the USA. He began by noting that His Holiness turns 80 early next week and asked, “Who are you?” The direct reply was: “A human being, Read the rest of this entry »
H.H. the Dalai Lama at the George W Bush Center and Methodist University
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a Guest at the George W Bush Presidential Center and Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas, USA, 1 July 2015 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Dallas yesterday at the end of a long flight from Britain. Today, despite weather forecasts giving flood warnings, the sun shone brightly in a deep blue sky and the air was warm as he drove to the George W Bush Presidential Center. Read the rest of this entry »
