Dharamshala: When His Holiness the Dalai Lama reached the gate to his residence this morning, representatives of the groups offering today’s ceremony stepped forward to pay their respects and welcome him. They belonged to the Tibetan Women’s Association, former students of the Central School for Tibetans, Dalhousie, and people from Lhasa and the surrounding districts. Then, led by monks playing horns, these representatives escorted His Holiness to the temple.
The pillars and beams were wrapped in coloured cloth and hung with garlands of marigolds. The path from His Holiness’s gate to the temple door was laid with red carpet on which marigold petals were scattered.
Ornately costumed women sang on either side of the aisle as His Holiness drove through. In front of the temple, energetic Tashi Shölpa and Tro-gar dancers performed to welcome him. When the traditionally welcoming Chema-changphu was offered to him, he tossed a few grains in the air, took a pinch of tsampa and dipped his finger in cups of chang and milk.
His Holiness walked steadily to the lift and then all around the temple to the door. Here and there he paused to engage with members of the crowd and to bless rosaries they held out to him. As has been his custom he stopped at a certain point to smile and wave to people gathered to see him on the road below.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama engaging with members of the crowd as he walks to the Main Tibetan Temple to attend a Long Life Offering Ceremony in Dharamshala, HP, India on 18 September 2024. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
In the temple His Holiness took his seat on a throne festooned with garlands of marigolds. He put on a yellow Pandit’s Hat to receiving a welcome from Ven Samdhong Rinpoché, who was the Lama presiding over today’s ceremony, Rinpoché was joined in leading the proceedings by, to his right, Ven Lobsang Dhargyey, Lobpön of Namgyal Monastery and, to his left, by Bari Rinpoché.
Tea, bread and sweet rice were served.
Today, the ceremony was related to ‘Granting the Essence of Immortality’ composed by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama following a vision he had of Guru Padmasambhava in the form of Amitayus. The ritual invoked the Eight Aspects of Guru Rinpoché as well as Khandro Yeshé Tsogyal. At key points in the performance His Holiness put on a red Pandit’s Hat.
Ven Samdhong Rinpoché presenting offerings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the Long Live Offering Ceremony at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala, HP, India on 18 September 2024. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
A prayer invoking the Dharma Protectors of Tibet, including the twelve Ten-mas, that His Holiness composed in the 1970s was recited. Ven Samdhong Rinpoché and a representative of the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) offered a mandala to His Holiness requesting him to live long. He was then offered a vase of long-life nectar, long-life liquor, long-life pills, an arrow of longevity adorned with a silk banner and ritual cakes representing peaceful, increasing, controlling and forceful activities. He was then presented with trays bearing the eight auspicious symbols, seven royal emblems and eight auspicious substances.
In the meantime, a continuous procession of people bearing gifts passed through the temple.
The prayer for His Holiness’s long life composed by his two Tutors was recited.
Members of the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) holding offerings parading past His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the Long Live Offering Ceremony at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala, HP, India on 18 September 2024. Photo by Ven Zamling Norbu
There followed a musical interlude during which Tibetan lay-people sang that they belong to a bloodline that has come down from the time of the ancestral kings. Due to good karma and previously made aspirations they declared that they have been born in the Land of Snows, where the people are especially related to Chenrezig and are to be tamed by him. The song went on to refer to His Holiness, who was also born in the Land of Snows, and has become a pillar of peace in the world.
“We are grateful to you, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso,” they sang, “Please remain steadfast and live long. You are the protector of the Tibetan people.”
Tibetan lay people singing a song composed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the Long Live Offering Ceremony at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala, HP, India on 18 September 2024. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
Addressing the audience His Holiness said, “So, today, you have repeated these prayers and made a request to me to live long. You have referred to me as someone who can help the people of the Three Provinces of Tibet. We are gathered here together as a result of merit and prayers we have accumulated in the past, but we have been born at a difficult time.
“I was born in Amdo and named Lhamo Dhondup, but I became someone able to explain the Dharma and engage in fruitful discussions with scientists. I believe I have been able to make a contribution to the cause of Tibet and to the preservation of the Buddhadharma. I have also created the karma and made prayers to be of benefit to the people of China, where there is growing interest in the Buddha’s teaching.
“I will continue to try to fulfil the wishes of the Buddha. Meanwhile, the spirit of the people of Tibet remains undaunted, please, I urge you, keep your spirits up. We, the people of the Three Provinces of Tibet, maintain these incredible traditions, the heritage we received from Nalanda. I’d like to thank all of you for the various contributions you’ve made.”
There followed a prayer to Guru Padmasambhava. Representatives of the patrons of today’s ceremony approached the throne and paid their respects to His Holiness. He gave each of them a white silk scarf and a protective red ribbon.
Prayers were made to Guru Rinpoché and a mandala was offered to His Holiness in thanks to him for accepting the request to live long.
Tibetan dancers performing as His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrives at the Main Tibetan Temple courtyard to attend a Long Life Offering Ceremony in Dharamshala, HP, India on 18 September 2024. Photo by Tenzin Choejor
The ceremony was brought to an end with the ‘Prayer for His Holiness’s Long Life in a Single Verse’, a ‘Praise to Amitayus’, a ‘Prayer for the Flourishing of the Non-Sectarian Teachings of the Buddha’, ‘Lines of Auspiciousness’ and the ‘Prayer of the Words of Truth’. His Holiness left the temple and, beaming at members of the congregation on either side of the path as he went, walked to the lift. In the temple courtyard he boarded a golf-cart and, still smiling and waving to people who caught his eye, drove back to his residence.
