I tibetani rientrati in Tibet dall’India prima dell’inizio del conferimento dell’Iniziazione di Kalachakra sono stati convocati e interrogati dalle autorità cinesi che hanno inoltre confiscato a strappato i loro passaporti rendendoli inutilizzabili.

Radio Free Asia riferisce che ai tibetani, al loro rientro convocati negli uffici governativi, sono state chieste notizie dettagliate sul viaggio, sulle località visitate, sulle persone conosciute e gli acquisti effettuati. I loro passaporti sono stati confiscati, strappati e resi di conseguenza inservibili fin dal momento dello sbarco dei pellegrini sia negli aeroporti del Tibet occupato sia negli aeroporti cinesi. Il sito tibetano di informazione Phayul ha confermato la notizia: “I passaporti sono stati confiscati e lacerati al momento dell’ arrivo dei tibetani all’aeroporto di Chendu o sbarcati invece negli scali cinesi di Canton o Kunming (nella provincia dello Yunnan)”. Difficile prevedere se e quando ai tibetani saranno rilasciati nuovi documenti di viaggio.

Preoccupa la sorte dei tibetani che, disattendendo le ingiunzioni cinesi, hanno scelto di rimanere in India per presenziare alla cerimonia. Dal Nepal, fonti tibetane hanno fatto sapere che il governo cinese è in possesso dei nominativi di quanti non hanno fatto ritorno in Tibet prima del Kalachakra. “Quando faranno ritorno alle loro città e villaggi saranno sottoposti a sessioni di ri-educazione patriottica o subiranno forse pene peggiori” – ha riferito a Phayul la stessa fonte che ha preferito mantenere l’anonimato. Le autorità cinesi avevano preannunciato che severe pene detentive, di lunghezza variabile da pochi mesi a cinque anni, sarebbero state inflitte a quanti non avessero fatto ritorno immediato in Tibet.

Il rapporto annuale del gruppo a difesa dei diritti umani Human Rights Watch denuncia l’assenza, nel Tibet occupato, dei diritti fondamentali di parola, assemblea e movimento. “Nel 2016 le autorità, in nome dell’anti separatismo e del mantenimento della stabilità, hanno impedito a quasi tutti i residenti nella cosiddetta Regione Autonoma di recarsi all’estero pur non sussistendo reali motivi di minaccia alla sicurezza”.

Fonti: Radio Free Asia – Phayul http://www.italiatibet.org/2017/01/27/interrogati-i-tibetani-rientrati-in-patria-prima-dellinizio-del-kalachakra-strappati-i-loro-passaporti/

Rapporto di Human Rights Watch: situazione dei diritti umani molto peggiorata sotto Xi Jinping

Il gruppo per i diritti, l’Human Rights Watch (How), con sede a New York, nel suo ultimo rapporto denuncia che la situazione dei diritti umani, la libertà di espressione e di religione in Cina rimane  ‘disastrosa’ sotto il presidente Xi Jinping e che nel Tibet viene sistematicamente vietata la  libertà di parola, di riunione e di movimento.

Il ‘World Report 2017” nella suo rapporto annuale sui diritti umani afferma che “nel 2016 le autorità hanno abusato ingiustificatamente di repressioni contro il popolo tibetano nonostante l’assenza di minacce concrete ed è stato proibito a quasi tutti i residenti della Regione autonoma del Tibet (TAR) di viaggiare all’estero.

Il rapporto denuncia  anche che la politica del governo di Pechino è altamente repressiva nel limitare le attività politiche e le molte espressioni pacifiche di identità etnica e religiosa nello Xinjiang e nello stesso Tibet.

Esprimendo preoccupazione per la nomina di Wu Yingjie come segretario del partito del TAR, il gruppo ha dichiarato che è destinato a continuare le politiche di un “governo rigido ad elevato controllo sociale”.

Come  primo esempio delle restrizioni alla libertà di religione in Tibet, il rapporto ha preso in esame la tragica operazione di demolizione e sgombero forzato di studenti e monaci dell’Istituto di  Larung Gar.

A novembre, il governo ha approvato una legge sulla sicurezza informatica che strangola la libertà on line e l’anonimato; ha inasprito il controllo sui media e si devono attenere scrupolosamente alle linee del partito.

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Sua Santità il Pancen Lama, Sua Santità il Dalai Lama, Chou En Lai, Pandit Nerhu, Indira Gandhi

India Could Have Prevented China From Taking Over Tibet

The article explains that India was in a very strong position during start of the invasion to defend the interest of Tibet and India’s security just for the sake of pleasing the Chinese leadership. It explains “It is not widely known that in 1950, China could have been prevented from taking over Tibet.”

There were two strongly implicative events that occurred during that period in which one was the invasion of Tibet and the other was the interference of Chinese in Korean war. Though India had no stake in the far Korea, it had its national security at stake in Tibet’s invasion but the Nehru-led India Ignored it. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Talks to the FICCI Ladies Group and The Mother’s International School

New Delhi, India, 21 January 2017 – Before leaving Bodhgaya for Delhi on 16th January, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the Mahabodhi Stupa and the Kalachakra Temple. Once in Delhi, he took a few days’ rest. Read the rest of this entry »

Global Faiths: Buddhism, the Dalai Lama and religious life in Tibet

One of the most religious countries in the world in the last centuries of history has been Tibet. By the second half of the 700s, a Tibetan king made Buddhism the state religion. Read the rest of this entry »

Dalai Lama: The 21st century should be the century of dialogu

Dalai Lama: Using force has become outdated.

The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader at an event organised by the FICCI Ladies Organisation said he hoped that Trump and Putin will work together for peaceful global order.

“Dialogue” should drive the 21st century, the Dalai Lama on Saturday said, hoping that newly elected US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will “work together” for a peaceful global order.

The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader made the remarks while observing that peace and non-violence was “growing” in the current era as he lauded the role of multilateralism, especially the European Union (EU).

“I am one of the admirers of EU and look forward to African Union, Latin American Union, Asian Union and one at the global level. Using force has become outdated. The 21st century should be the century of dialogue,” the Dalai Lama said, and exuded hope that Trump and Putin would work together. He was speaking at an event organised by the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) at the Federation House in New Delhi.

Batting for woman empowerment, the 81-year-old spiritual leader said they are more suited to be in leadership roles for they are inherently equipped with compassion and went on to suggest that a “female Dalai Lama” was very much a possibility.

“I was asked this question in an interview many years ago (on female Dalai Lama). I had said why not? If circumstances suggest that a female Dalai Lama would be more effective. I would say the role can go to an outsider as well,” he said.

The Dalai Lama, who took shelter in India after fleeing Tibet in 1959, said India’s tradition of respecting all religions as well as non-believers was “very relevant” in contemporary times while underlining the virtues of secularism and tolerance. http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-dalai-lama-hopes-trump-and-putin-cooperate-for-peaceful-global-order-2294712

Very rapid genetic changes may have allowed ancient populations to survive and thrive in this environment

How Tibetans survive on the roof of the world

How the indigenous Tibetan population evolved to live with so little oxygen has been a mystery. Now we are beginning to understand that another species may lie behind their survival.

Some time in the past, a family sat on the top of the world and gazed at the stars. They lived on the Tibetan Plateau, 4200m (14,100ft) above sea level, in a site now known as Chusang. They called it home.

Although far from the comfort of more lowly climes, this location had its perks. Fuelled by the tectonic forces that raise and support the plateau, a hot spring at the surface provided a welcoming buffer against the chilled air. At night, the family lit fires in a hollow built into the slope, a lonely flicker against the peak of darkness.

Their fire has long gone out, but the family still left a lasting impression on the world. As they walked and played, 19 hand and footprints were pressed into the clay-like mud that seeped from the spring and, as they dried, were preserved into the present.

Judging by the size of the prints — and the hands and feet that made them — the family group contained six individuals, two of which were children. But who were they? And what brought them to such high altitudes? A foraging trip perhaps? Hunting? Or were they simply curious, always searching for lands untouched? Read the rest of this entry »

Berna: tenta di darsi fuoco fra la folla. 26 persone arrestate per manifestazioni contro visita presidente Xi Jinping

Le manifestazioni pro Tibet a Berna si sono svolte per lo più pacificamente ma non sono mancati i momenti di tensione.

BERNA – Circa 400 persone, tra tibetani in esilio in Svizzera e loro sostenitori, hanno manifestato pacificamente stamani in centro a Berna a margine della visita di Stato nella Confederazione del presidente cinese Xi Jinping. Nel pomeriggio alcuni attivisti hanno poi inscenato una dimostrazione non autorizzata e sono stati arrestati.

La manifestazione pacifica – Stamani i dimostranti hanno chiesto maggiore rispetto dei diritti dell’uomo in Tibet e l’avvio di un dialogo tra il governo di Pechino e il Dalai Lama, la massima autorità spirituale del locale buddhismo.

Sugli striscioni si potevano leggere slogan come “Xi Jinping: metti fine alla tortura in Tibet” o “Portiamo la democrazia svizzera in Tibet e in Cina”. Stando alla comunità tibetana in esilio, dal 1992 2000 compatrioti sono finiti in carcere per ragioni politiche. Inoltre, dal 2009 sono stati censiti 145 episodi in cui tibetani si sono immolati col fuoco. Read the rest of this entry »

Sakya Trizin Rinpoche presenting offerings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the Long Life Offering Ceremony for His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Kalachakra teaching ground in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India on January 14, 2017. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

I will live for More Than 100 Years: His Holiness Reaffirms at Final Day of Kalachakra

BODH GAYA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama reaffirmed that he will live for more than one hundred years on the final day of the 34th Kalachakra teaching at Bodh Gaya on 14 January 2017.

“You are making this Long Life Offering to me and praying ‘May you live 10,000 years’, but we know that’s not possible.”

“However, my dreams and other indications have shown that I could live to be 113. I don’t know about that, but I think I can say I’ll live to be 100. So, be happy, be at ease,” His Holiness said, drawing a huge applause of delight from the devotees.

His Holiness further reminded the devotees that the best way to repay him would be to heed his advice rather than express gratitude through prayers and offerings.

“As Sikyong said just now, if you really feel that I am of some benefit and would like to repay gratitude, listen to my advice and implement it in your daily lives. That would be most beneficial and fruitful,” His Holiness remarked.

Addressing the Tibetans inside Tibet who were unable to attend the Kalachakra initiations, His Holiness expressed his optimism and said that there will be change in Tibet soon. Read the rest of this entry »

A moving image of an elderly Tibetan woman in Tibet receiving the Kalachakra Teaching online.

Connecting Faith Through Technology. Why the 34th Kalachakra is a Divine Gift for the World.

Bodh Gaya: The 34th Kalachakra Initiation by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which attracted people of faith from across the globe, is special for many reasons. It is taking place in Bodh Gaya, the land where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, is being organized by the Central Tibetan Administration for the first time in exile history and the entire initiation was broadcast Live on Tibet TV.

According to Tibetan Political Leader Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, “Besides the 200,000 devotees attending the teaching from 92 countries here at Bodh Gaya, we have over 150,000 people from all over the world participating in the Kalachakra teaching through our live broadcast of the event.”

The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama broadcasted the Kalachakra Initiation in eight languages: English, Chinese, Tibetan, Vietnamese, Hindi, Korean, Russian and Mongolian.

Tibet TV, CTA’s official web-station streamed the teachings live on its YouTube and Facebook page.

“This is the first time we used the Facebook live video feature for Kalachakra. Tibet TV’s Facebook page registered a record 3-million reach during the Kalachakra and garnered over 200,000 views for a single broadcast,” said Namgyal Tsewang, Section Head of Tibet TV.

The response from across the globe is overwhelming. We are inundated with online messages from viewers from scores of nations: from China to Chile, from South Africa to Sri Lanka, thanking us for the broadcast,” said Tsering Yangkey, Additional Secretary, DIIR.

Tibetans in Tibet who couldn’t attend the Kalachakra initiation owing to travel restrictions and China’s recall policy, have been assured by His Holiness the Dalai Lama that they will receive the initiation in spirit.

On the first day of Actual Kalachakra Initiation, His Holiness remembered the absentee devotees and said, “As mentioned in Vinaya, there was an ordination given by way of letters. So similarly with the modern tool of communication, the Tibetans and Chinese and devotees across the globe having faith in the Kalachakra Teachings could visualize taking the initiation. As we go through the teachings here, if they could accordingly, think and follow my instructions. I will pray for all of them and then they will receive the initiation from today onwards.” Read the rest of this entry »

Avalokiteshvara Permission, Long Life Offering and Conclusion of Kalachakra Empowerment

Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, 14 January 2017 – Crowds two or three metres deep lined the road as His Holiness the Dalai Lama made the short journey from Namgyal Monastery to the Kalachakra Temple hoping to catch a glimpse of him once again this morning. The Sikyong, Parliamentary Speaker and Chief Justice, for the CTA, and a representative of the sponsors accompanied him from his car to the stage. Once again he acknowledged the audience, the eminent Lamas on the stage and in the temple inspected the Kalachakra sand mandala, before taking his seat on the throne.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama arriving at the Kalachakra teaching ground in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India on January 14, 2017. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

“Usually at the end of a series of teachings like this we do a White Tara Longevity Empowerment,” His Holiness told the gathering, “but on this occasion I thought we might do a Chenresig permission from Tagphu Rinpoche’s cycle of visions. It’s called Avalokiteshvara Sarvadugati Parishodana. It’s said that every time you receive this, one rebirth in the lower realms is averted. I received it from my tutors, first from Tagdag Rinpoche and later again, as a result of a dream I had, from Trijang Rinpoche. While I do the preparation, you can recite ‘Manis’.
“There are different explanations of Om Mani Padme Hum, but in general Om is the opening syllable while Mani means jewel and indicates the awakening mind of bodhichitta. Just as a jewel fulfils people’s wishes, so bodhichitta benefits beings. Padme means lotus and indicates wisdom, the ability to discern right from wrong and how things are to a broad extent—how things are impermanent, in the nature of suffering and so on. Padme also indicates the ability to understand emptiness. In terms of the result, Mani gives rise to the Form Body. The wisdom of the Buddha always abides in emptiness, seeing the diversity of things and aware of their suchness. The lotus, indicating wisdom, gives rise to the Truth Body. Wisdom and bodhichitta, lotus and jewel, are combined in enlightenment.”
His Holiness began the permission by performing a ritual to mollify any hindering forces. The Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay came forward to offer a mandala, accompanied by his young daughter.
His Holiness took the opportunity to give a reading transmission of the Kalachakra Six Session Yoga compiled at his instigation by his ordination master, Kyabjé Ling Rinpoche. Copies of this in Tibetan and English translation had been distributed earlier. His Holiness advised that it is good to clean the room before reading the verses. He added that if you have images of the enlightened ones, it’s fine to set them up, but images are not something to get excited about or to boast about. He recalled that Milarepa had no images in his retreat cave, in fact no possessions at all—and he attained enlightenment in that life. Read the rest of this entry »

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is assisted by his aides as he prepares to perform rituals during the inauguration of a Mongolian Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, India, Jan. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Manish Bhandari)

Hundreds of Tibetans defy China, Gather at Birthplace of Buddhism in India

By Annie Gowen, The Washington Post, 13 January 2017

The young Tibetan monk was taking his elderly aunt and uncle on the trip of a lifetime — a tour of holy Buddhist sites in India and a chance to meet the Dalai Lama. But halfway through, word came from China: The family was to return right away.

Chinese police had descended on the monk’s home five times in December, fingerprinting his parents and forcing them to sign documents guaranteeing his return.

But the monk and his family were determined to see the Dalai Lama speak at Bodh Gaya, the Indian city that many consider the birthplace of Buddhism. So they defied Chinese authorities and continued their journey, risking imprisonment, harsh questioning or loss of identity cards on their return home.

“I’m very worried,” the monk said on a chilly evening, sitting in a tent not far from a teaching ground where thousands have gathered daily since Jan. 3 to pray, meditate and hear their religious leader. “If we are put in prison, they will interrogate us: ‘Why did you go to India?’ This can be very dangerous.”

Authorities from the Tibetan government-in-exile say the Chinese government barred an estimated 7,000 Tibetan pilgrims from attending this month’s 10-day gathering in India, an unprecedented move that further erodes the rights of 6 million people who live in the Tibetan region of China. It was also a fresh reminder that the Chinese are threatening to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama after the eventual demise of the renowned religious leader, who is now 81.

“It’s tragic,” said Lobsang ­Sangay, the head of Tibet’s ­government-in-exile, which is based in India. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip for Tibetans, like Muslims going to Mecca. It’s a sad commentary on the Chinese claim to have religious freedom — or any kind of freedom in Tibet.” Read the rest of this entry »

Third and Final Day of the Kalachakra Empowerment

Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, 13 January 2017 – Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Bodhgaya more than two weeks ago, the misty skies have cleared and the sun has come out, but there remains a chill in the air. As he did yesterday, His Holiness came early to the Kalachakra Temple to perform the preparatory rites for the empowerment, which took him four hours.

A group of monks, nuns and lay-people reciting the “Heart Sutra” in Spanish at the start of the third and final day of the actual Kalachakra Empowerment in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India on January 13, 2017. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

After a brisk lunch he walked out onto the stage and, not content with greeting the audience from the edge as he has done previously, he walked down the ramps on each side to smile and wave. There were cheers as well as applause from some sections of the crowd.
Once His Holiness was seated on the throne, children from the Maitreya School run by Root Institute for the third time chanted the ‘Heart Sutra’ in Sanskrit. They were followed by a group of monks, nuns and lay-people, who recited it again in Spanish. His Holiness remarked that this was the first recitation in Spanish at such a gathering. Spotting three Thai monks in the crowd, he called them up to see him. They presented him with relics in a small glass reliquary.

Added to the usual verses of homage from ‘Ornament for Clear Realizations’ and ‘Fundamental Wisdom’ was the homage from ‘Stages of Meditation’ and the concluding verse of gratitude from ‘Fundamental Wisdom’:

I prostrate to Gautama

Who, through compassion,
Taught the exalted Dharma,
Which leads to the relinquishing of all views.
“The teachings of all religious traditions give rise to happiness,” His Holiness remarked, “since all of them teach about love and compassion and not doing harm to others. They have explanations of patience and forgiveness in common. There’s no pleasure in thinking only of yourself to the neglect of others. Read the rest of this entry »

Second Day of the Kalachakra Empowerment – Seven Empowerments in the Pattern of Childhood

Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, 12 January 2017 – Today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama made another early start. He took his seat in the Kalachakra Temple at half past six to prepare for the granting of the empowerments.
He had a short break for lunch before coming out onto the stage to greet the crowd once again. And the crowd, as is becoming customary, responded with applause. His Holiness saluted the Lamas sitting around him as he approached the throne.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama exchanging greetings with Gyalwang Karmapa as he arrives on stage for the second day of the Kalachakra Empowerment, Seven Empowerments in the Pattern of Childhood, in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India on January 12, 2017. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

Theravadin monks were present once more to recite the Mangala Sutta in Pali and they were followed by a dozen monks from Mongolia who recited the ‘Heart Sutra’ in their language. After repeating the usual verses of homage and the verse for taking refuge and generating the awakening mind, His Holiness began.

“Today we’ll do the Seven Empowerments in the Pattern of Childhood, and after them, since we have the Heads and Senior Lamas of Tibet’s Buddhist traditions here with us, we’ll do the high and greatly high empowerments as well as that of a vajra-master.
“Over the last few days there were signs that I was getting a cold and today I have a sore throat, but it’s not so bad, so I’ll do my best. We’ll begin with offering a ritual cake to dissuade any hindering forces. This morning I’ve done the self-generation of the complete body, speech and mind mandalas of Kalachakra, as well as the front generation of the mind mandala. The ten vases have been placed in the cardinal and ordinal directions, and above and below. I’ve also done the self-empowerments of the Seven Empowerments. Tomorrow, when we do the high and greatly high empowerments, I’ll use the manual written by the Seventh Dalai Lama.
“With regard to the Seven Empowerments and appendages, the substances used have a connection with the wind energies and the left and right channels which are generated into the main deity and his consort. The empowerment will make the winds and channels serviceable.”
The mandala offering was made by a group from Amdo.
His Holiness explained how things start with space, then the elements emerge. In the end, everything dissolves back into space. He referred to the space particle, which is a subtle particle, and mentioned that scientists today point out that the big bang had to start with something. He wondered whether the space particle, described in Kalachakra, could be that basis. The order in which the external elements emerge is: space, wind, fire, water and earth, whereas the internal element to emerge in space is consciousness. Read the rest of this entry »

Il Centro Tibetano per i Diritti Umani e la Democrazia (TCHRD) ha condannato la Cina per le sistematiche  violazioni  al diritto alla libertà di religione e ha definito le rigide restrizioni sulla partecipazione Kalachakra “illegali e incostituzionali”. Read the rest of this entry »

Kalachakra: il Dalai Lama prega per i pellegrini forzatamente assenti

Al termine della cerimonia di conferimento dell’Iniziazione di Kalachakra, il Dalai Lama ha dedicato oggi le sue preghiere ai pellegrini tibetani che non hanno potuto raggiungere Bodh Gaya a causa delle restrizioni imposte dalle autorità cinesi.

Migliaia di fedeli provenienti dal Tibet e già arrivati in Nepal o in India sono infatti stati costretti a rientrare in patria senza poter partecipare all’evento a causa delle minacce esercitate dalle autorità cinesi. Xu Zhitao, vice direttore dell’Ufficio per il Tibet presso il Dipartimento del Fronte Unito per il Lavoro, aveva negato i giorni scorsi ogni tipo di pressione da parte del governo sui pellegrini tibetani per dissuaderli dal presenziare alla cerimonia peraltro definita “illegale” e “strumento politico”. In una conferenza stampa organizzata il giorno 8 gennaio, Lobsang Sangay, capo dell’esecutivo tibetano in esilio, ha definito “falsa” questa dichiarazione e ha affermato di avere personalmente incontrato centinaia di devoti tibetani costretti a fare ritorno in Tibet pena la confisca dei passaporti, il sequestro dei documenti di viaggio, la perdita del lavoro e il taglio dei sussidi governativi. “Queste minacce sono del tutto inaccettabili – ha dichiarato il Primo Ministro – e costituiscono una lampante violazione dei diritti umani e della libertà di religione”. Read the rest of this entry »

First Day of the Kalachakra Empowerment – Entry into the Mandala

Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, 11 January 2017 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama left his residence at Namgyal Monastery early this morning to spend four and a half hours performing the prerequisite rituals for the Kalachakra Empowerment. These involved prayers, sadhanas, consecration of the vase, generation in front, offerings, ritual cake offerings and self-generation practices. He took little time to eat lunch before walking out onto the stage before the Kalachakra Temple. Once again he waved to the crowd in each direction and thousands waved back. There are now estimated to be 200,000 people here from 95 countries.

Sakya Trizin, Gyalwang Karmapa and Taklung Shabdrung during the first day of the Kalachakra Empowerment, Entry into the Mandala, in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India on January 11, 2017. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

On his way back, His Holiness stopped to greet the eminent Lamas who sit on either side of the throne. To His Holiness’s left, as he looks out to the audience, is the Ganden Tripa, Jetsun Lobsang Tenzin, Spiritual Head of the Geluk Tradition; his predecessor Ganden Trisur Rinpoche; Katok Getse Rinpoche of the Nyingmapas; Jangtse Chöjey; Sharpa Chöjey; the Khambo Lama, Chief Lama of Mongolia; Thamthog Rinpoche, Abbot of Namgyal Monastery and the Nechung and Tseringma Kutens. To His Holiness’s right is Sakya Trizin, Head of the Sakya Tradition; Gyalwang Karmapa, Head of the Kamtsang Kagyu Tradition; Taklung Shabdrung, Head of the Taklung Kagyu Tradition; Khondung Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, Sakya Trizin’s younger son; the infant Trulshik Rinpoche; Woeser Rinpoche from Mongolia and Kundeling Rinpoche.
Today, the ‘Heart Sutra’ was recited first in Japanese and then in English. His Holiness led the recitation of the Homage from ‘Ornament for Clear Realizations’ followed by the Homage to the Buddha, praising his explanation of dependent arising from Nagarjuna’s ‘Fundamental Wisdom’:
I prostrate to the perfect Buddha,
The best of all teachers, who taught that
That which is dependent origination is
Without cessation, without arising;
Without annihilation, without permanence;
Without coming; without going;
Without distinction, without identity
And peaceful – free from fabrications. Read the rest of this entry »

Preparation of Students for the Kalachakra Empowerment

Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, 10 January 2017 – Overnight rain in Bodhgaya laid the dust, leaving roads wet and muddy, but improving prospects for umbrella sellers. Before setting out for the Kalachakra Temple, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave an interview to Australian former war correspondent Michael Ware for National Geographic Television. He began by putting him at ease:

“Please think of me as just another human being. I’m quite familiar with National Geographic Magazine. When I was a child I found two or three copies in the 13th Dalai Lama’s room, the room where he passed away.”
Ware showed him a piece Heinrich Harrer had written for the magazine in the 1950s and His Holiness told him: “He was the one who first told me about Europe. Later, he became one of Tibet’s most reliable supporters. “
Ware told His Holiness that his experiences of war in Iraq and elsewhere have left him with a war inside himself. He asked what to do. His Holiness replied that as children we are open and full of joy. We appreciate whoever shows us affection with no question about where they are from, what they believe or how wealthy or well-placed they are. Later, as a result of the environment and the education system, we tend to neglect our inner values, like affection and compassion. He said,
“If you spend some time thinking about inner values, it will allay your restlessness. Our modern education system is oriented towards material goals, so even though human nature has been shown to be compassionate, we tend to think in terms of power and the use of force. To start with, what we need to do is to remember that other people are also human beings. I believe that an individual who has found inner peace will be happier and their family will be happier too.”
When challenged to say if human beings were good or savage, His Holiness drew attention to the change that had taken place in popular attitudes during the 20th century. Early on, at the time of WWI and even WWII, when nations declared war, their citizens joined up proudly and unquestioningly. But by the time of the Vietnam War thousands resisted the draft and when the Iraq crisis occurred millions of people across the world marched to show they were fed up with violence and did not support another war. Similarly, His Holiness observed that the limited interest people showed in what he had to say about global responsibility when he first went to Europe in 1973 and to the US in 1979 has grown significantly today. Read the rest of this entry »

Ritual Offering Dance Prior to the Kalachakra Empowerment

Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, 9 January 2016 – After several brighter days, today, early morning mist and cloud had returned when His Holiness the Dalai Lama made the short journey from Namgyal Monastery to the Kalachakra Temple. He participated in a longer session of preparatory rites, accompanied and supported by the usual team of monks. At the same time an assembly of Lamas occupied the other half of the temple, where, since yesterday they have been reciting Tara prayers and mantras dedicated to His Holiness’s long life. This collection will continue until the ceremonial Long-Life Offering that is to be performed on 14th January.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama cutting a ribbon to formally open Gandantecgchenling Mongolian Temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India on January 9, 2017. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

From the Kalachakra Temple, His Holiness drove to inaugurate the new Gandantecgchenling Mongolian Temple. Welcomed on arrival by the Khambo Lama, His Holiness climbed the steps and cut the ribbon at the front door to formally open it. Making his way through eager throngs of Mongolians—600 monks and 1,200 lay-people—to the temple upstairs, he paid his respects before statues of Buddha Shakyamuni, Je Tsongkhapa and the first Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa and took his seat on the throne.

The Khambo Lama expressed gratitude to His Holiness on behalf of all Mongolian monks and devotees for taking the time to come to the temple to consecrate it. He mentioned how Buddhism had flourished in Mongolia until the early 20th century when it was severely restricted. The restoration of democracy has allowed it to be revived. He expressed the wish that the Battsagaan Temple play a key role in that revival and provide a refuge for Mongolian pilgrims to Bodhgaya.
His Holiness asked all the monks to chant the single verse mandala offering loudly, which they did, the sound of their voices filling the building. They followed this with the Ganden Lhagya prayer.
In his remarks His Holiness acknowledged the unique connection that has long existed between Tibet and Mongolia. Read the rest of this entry »

Teachings Preliminary to the Kalachakra Empowerment Concluded

Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, 8 January 2017 – By the end of the Kalachakra self-generation and preparatory rituals this morning, construction of the sand mandala was complete. Thamthog Rinpoche, deputising for the Vajra Master, placed the ten phurbas and ten vases containing the water that will be employed in the empowerment around the mandala perimeter.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama looks on as Thamthog Rinpoche places ritual implements around the completed Kalachakra sand mandala during preparations for the Kalachakra Empowerment in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India on January 8, 2017. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

Returning to the Kalachakra Temple after lunch His Holiness walked to the edges of the stage to wave and catch the eyes of people in the audience in each direction. Standing on the throne, from where more people at the back could see him, he waved again. Once he had taken his seat, the group of school children who the other day had regaled the audience with their charming chanting of the ‘Heart Sutra’ in Sanskrit did so again. They were followed by a mixed group of Vietnamese, many of whom, His Holiness remarked, “are refugees like us”.

He noted that the Buddha’s teachings had spread throughout Asia and yet for too long there had been little connection between Buddhist communities. Now, it has become easier to meet and get to know one another.

“With the Buddhists of Burma, Thailand and Sri Lanka we have the Vinaya in common, and with the people who follow the Sanskrit tradition, the Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and Vietnamese, we share the Perfection of Wisdom teachings. As followers of the same teacher we should share and compare our experiences. Although I had visited several cities in China and met venerable old monks, it wasn’t until I went to Singapore in the 1960s that I heard the ‘Heart Sutra’ in Chinese for the first time.”
Recalling the discussions of causality in ‘Stages of Meditation’, His Holiness noted that the attainment of enlightenment and the achievement of the Form and Truth Bodies depend on the collections of merit and wisdom. Wisdom involves an understanding of selflessness, which involves learning and reflection to gain conviction and reinforcing experience in meditation. Read the rest of this entry »

Third Day of Teachings Preliminary to the Kalachakra Empowerment

Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, 7 January 2017 – His Holiness the Dalai Lama joined the preparatory rituals for the Kalachakra Empowerment again this morning, as he will every day until the Empowerment is complete. Construction of the mandala had made great progress. By this morning, as can be seen vividly on the video feed within the teaching grounds, the major part of the palace and its surroundings is complete. What remains is the chain of Sanskrit syllables that ring the outer rim.