His Holiness the Dalai Lama: “As someone who bears the title Dalai Lama, I don’t just pay attention to political affairs, I also take psychology into account. My main practice is to cultivate love and compassion, as well as the view of emptiness, but my brain also has room for science—this is something scientists admire. We can explore Buddhist psychology, understanding of the workings of the mind and emotions, with reason and logic.

May 10, 2025. Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India – Almost 500 Tibetan opera performers and their supporters met His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Tsuglagkhang courtyard today. They belonged to 14 groups who are attending the Sho-tön, the annual opera festival, at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA). Singing and dancing vigorously on either side of the aisle through the courtyard, Tashi Shölpa and Gyalu dancers welcomed His Holiness as he emerged through the gate to his residence. He walked steadily to his seat on the veranda below the temple, his right hand keeping time to the rhythm of the drums.

Dhondup Tsering, Director of TIPA offered a mandala and representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha. He presented TIPA’s annual written report to His Holiness and gave a short introductory talk.

“Since you were born in Tibet, the teaching has spread around the world. You are the compassionate one, Avalokiteshvara, may you live long. This year, which marks your 90th birthday, we’d like to present a series of songs from the Lhamo operas as part of our offering to you.”

Each of the opera troupes had two minutes to perform a song. In each case, one singer stood up to the microphone and took the lead, their soaring, emotionally stirring voice prompting a chorus in which the entire gathering took part, filling the courtyard with song.

Students from the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) Chauntra sang about offering incense from juniper trees that grow behind the monastery, its fragrance reaching the heavens. Students from Upper TCV, Dharamsala, declared they would sing to show that the sun in the east will shine more brightly and times will be happier in the coming year.

The song by students of the Tibetan Homes Foundation Mussoorie noted how fortunate we are that the Omniscient One is seated on the throne and a joyful sun shines on the world. Members of the Kollegal troupe gave a short presentation of the life of the Buddha. The Bylakuppé troupe’s performance came from the Lhamo opera Drowa Sangmo and referred to two friends sitting together comparing their dreams.

Performers from Paonta chanted a short prayer for His Holiness’s long life, then sang about the snow-lion that has long been parted from its native mountains. Members of the Mundgod troupe paid their respects to His Holiness. In their song they wished that beings from all six realms of existence be freed from suffering and reach liberation. The group from Bhandara repeated the lines about the Omniscient One seated on the throne and the sun shining on the world.

Artistes from the Chaksampa troupe based in the USA sang a couplet praising prostration to the Lamas and offerings of song to the Sages.

Members of the troupe from Odisha addressed His Holiness and proclaimed, “You are an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the leader of Tibet. May the sun of happiness shine and may you live long.” They were followed by singers from Kalimpong.

The troupe from Mainpat wished His Holiness good health and sang the last two lines of the one verse prayer for his long life:

“Tenzin Gyatso, Lord Chenrezig
May you live until the cycle of existence comes to an end.”

The verse sung by artistes from Nepal offered prostration to the Lamas and paid homage to the Three Jewels. Finally, members of TIPA wished His Holiness “Tashi Delek” and sang words of farewell while praying to meet again next year.

“Your songs and dances have reminded me of times at Norbulingka,” His Holiness told the gathering. “You’ve brought back vivid memories of how I used to sit in my room and watch the Lhamo performances outside. And as I watched I would imitate the dancers’ movements.

“Those were happy times, but all that’s changed. However, our Tibetan spirit remains as firm as a mountain. When I visited China, I had a strong sense that I came from the Land of Snow. This is something I can’t forget. I bear the title Dalai Lama, which indicates the responsibility I had for Tibet’s spiritual and temporal affairs. Read the rest of this entry »

Sua Santità il Dalai Lama: “Ho buoni e forti legami con le persone in tutta l’India. In Cina, il Buddismo sta guadagnando terreno e sento di poter dare un contributo alla diffusione dell’insegnamento anche lì. Spero quindi di poter aiutare le persone condividendo gli insegnamenti del Buddha”.

7 maggio 2025. Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India – La pioggia notturna si è attenuata questa mattina quando Sua Santità il Dalai Lama ha camminato dal cancello della sua residenza, attraverso il cortile, fino allo Tsuglagkhang, il Tempio principale tibetano. Lo hanno accompagnato i rappresentanti di coloro che offrono preghiere, il monastero Shang Gaden Chökhorling, il Nepal, un gruppo della Comunità Chatreng e della Comunità Phari, tra cui Yangsi Rinpoché e Lobsang Nyandak. Sua Santità ha sorriso e salutato i membri della folla, stimata in circa 5.000 persone, mentre camminava. Gli artisti di Tashi Shölpa hanno ballato e cantato per dargli il benvenuto.

Dopo essere salito al piano del tempio in ascensore, Sua Santità si è fermato a osservare e salutare i membri dell’assemblea. Poi è entrato nel tempio di Kalachakra per vedere il mandala di sabbia che si sta realizzando in preparazione al rituale di offerta e pratica di Kalachakra che si svolgerà questo mese.

Una volta che Sua Santità ha preso posto sul trono del tempio, sono iniziate le preghiere. La cerimonia di oggi era basata sul “Metodo per la concessione dell’essenza (dell’immortalità) basato su un rituale Amitayus” del Grande Quinto Dalai Lama. È stata presieduta dal Ven. Samdhong Rinpoche. Alla sua destra sedeva l’abate del monastero di Gyumé, mentre alla sua sinistra c’erano l’abate del monastero di Shang Gaden Chökhorling e le giovani reincarnazioni di Dromo Ghesce Rinpoché, Ghesce Lhundup Sopa e l’ex abate del monastero di Sé-Gyu.

Il Rituale di Amitayus includeva questo ritornello ripetuto: “È giunto il momento, ti prego di concedere il compimento spirituale della vita immortale”. Dopo aver sventolato la freccia di lunga vita con il suo vessillo di seta, Samdhong Rinpoche l’ha presentata a Sua Santità. Una grande torta rituale è stata offerta mentre veniva intonata la preghiera di lunga vita composta da Sua Santità su richiesta di Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoche.

Un mandala raffigurante l’universo, insieme a rappresentazioni del corpo, della parola e della mente – una statua, una scrittura e un chörten – è stato presentato a Sua Santità con la richiesta di rimanere tra noi per centinaia di eoni, continuando a far girare la ruota del Dharma. Sono seguite le offerte del nettare della longevità, delle pillole di lunga vita, degli otto simboli di buon auspicio, dei sette emblemi reali e delle otto sostanze di buon auspicio.

Sono state recitate la preghiera per la lunga vita di Sua Santità di Jamyang Khyentsé Chökyi Lodro e quella composta dai suoi due precettori. L’abate del monastero di Shang Gaden Chökhorling ha offerto un mandala di ringraziamento. La cerimonia si è conclusa con la recita della “Preghiera al Buddha Amitayus”, della “Preghiera per la prosperità dell’insegnamento” e dei “Versi di buon auspicio”.

Sua Santità si è rivolto alla congregazione: “Oggi, qui, i membri del monastero Shang Gaden Chökhorling, un gruppo della Comunità Chatreng e la Comunità Phari hanno offerto queste preghiere per la mia lunga vita. La vostra dedizione e la vostra sincerità sono indiscutibili: vi ringrazio.

“Sono nato a Kumbum, in Amdo. Poi sono arrivato a Lhasa e, poiché ho il titolo di Dalai Lama, ho potuto dare un contributo positivo all’insegnamento e al benessere degli esseri. I cinesi erano diffidenti nei miei confronti, ma poi sono andato in esilio in India. Ovunque in questa grande terra, da nord a sud, a est e a ovest, decine di migliaia di persone vengono a trovarmi regolarmente. La gente dell’India, che abbia o meno fede nel Buddha Dharma, apprezza ciò che sto facendo. Sono felici di vedermi. Quindi, sento che più a lungo vivrò, meglio sarò in grado di servire gli esseri senzienti e il Dharma.

“Ho buoni e forti legami con le persone in tutta l’India. In Cina, il Buddismo sta guadagnando terreno e sento di poter dare un contributo alla diffusione dell’insegnamento anche lì. Spero quindi di poter aiutare le persone condividendo gli insegnamenti del Buddha”. Read the rest of this entry »

His Holiness the Dalai Lama arriving at the Main Tibetan Temple to attend Long Life Prayers offered by Shang Gaden Chökhorling Monastery, Nepal, a group from the Chatreng Community and the Phari Community in Dharamsala, HP, India on May 7, 2025. Photo by Tenzin Choejor

May 7, 2025. Thekchen Chöling, Dharamsala, HP, India – Overnight rain let up this morning as His Holiness the Dalai Lama walked from the gate to his residence, through the courtyard, to the Tsuglagkhang, the Main Tibetan Temple. Representatives of those offering prayers, Shang Gaden Chökhorling Monastery, Nepal, a group from the Chatreng Community and the Phari Community, among them Yangsi Rinpoché and Lobsang Nyandak, escorted him. His Holiness smiled and waved to members of the estimated 5000 strong crowd as he walked. Tashi Shölpa performers danced and sang to welcome him.

Having ridden up to the temple floor in the lift His Holiness stopped to survey and wave to members of the gathering. Next, he stepped into the Kalachakra temple to view the sand mandala being constructed there in preparation for the Kalachakra ritual of offering and practice being performed this month.

Once His Holiness had taken his seat on the throne in the temple the prayers began. The ceremony today was based on the ‘Method for Granting the Essence (of Immortality) based on an Amitayus Ritual’ by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama. It was presided over by Ven. Samdhong Rinpoché. To his right sat the Abbot of Gyumé Monastery, while to his left were the Abbot of Shang Gaden Chökhorling Monastery and the young reincarnations of Dromo Geshé Rinpoché, Geshé Lhundup Sopa and the former Abbot of Sé-Gyu Monastery.

The Amitayus Ritual included this repeated refrain: “The time has come, please grant the spiritual accomplishment of immortal life.” After flourishing the long-life arrow with its silken banner, Samdhong Rinpoché presented it to His Holiness. A large ritual cake was offered as the single verse prayer for long life composed by His Holiness at Dilgo Khyentsé Rinpoché’s request was intoned.

A mandala offering depicting the universe, along with representations of the body, speech and mind—a statue, a scripture and a chörten, was presented to His Holiness with a request for him to remain among us for hundreds of aeons, continuing to turn the wheel of Dharma. This was followed by offerings of the nectar of longevity, long-life pills, the eight auspicious symbols, the seven royal emblems and the eight auspicious substances. Read the rest of this entry »