By Phuntsok Yangchen

DEHRADUN, September 13: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Dehradun, the capital of Uttrakhand state today from New Delhi. Over the next five days, His Holiness is scheduled to visit Tibetan schools, monasteries, and settlements in the region.

The Dalai Lama was received at the airport by Sakya Dagtri Rinpoche, representatives of the local Tibetan monasteries, Tibetan settlement officers and representatives of various other institutes and organisations.

Hundreds of Tibetans lined up on the roadside, as artists performed the auspicious Tashi Sholpa dance to welcome the Dalai Lama at the Dhondupling (Clement Town) Tibetan Settlement on the outskirts of the city.

Arriving at the settlement, His Holiness first visited the Mindrolling Labrang where the remains of the late 11th Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche resides.

Revered and respected throughout the Buddhist world as a great Mahasiddha and one of the great accomplished masters of this century, the 11th Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche entered Parinirvana on February 9, 2008.

Speaking to Phayul, Tenkyap, a member of the visit organising committee said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama, due to his overloaded schedule, could not visit the late Rinpoche earlier when he was not keeping well. “Therefore, His Holiness today straight away visited Rinpoche’s resting place.”

The Dalai Lama offered special prayers at the Mindrolling Labrang for late 11th Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche. He will be staying at the Mindrolling Monastery tonight.

His Holiness is scheduled to give teachings on Chapter 1 of Nagarjuna’s Precious Garland (Rinchen Trengwa) tomorrow at Norling Park in the nearby Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement. The Tibetan spiritual leader will also pay visits to the Drikung Labrang, Drikung Sheda at Sahastradhara Road and Tegchog Samten Ling (Gongkar Choede’s Retreat Center).

On September 15, the Dalai Lama is scheduled to confer the Avalokiteshvera Initiation at Tashi Khyil Monastery in Clement Town followed by his much-anticipated participation in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Tibetan Homes Foundation in Happy Valley, Mussoorie.

His Holiness will also give a short teaching in the morning of September 18 in Happy Valley.

Before arriving in Dehradun, the Dalai Lama addressed the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders conference in New Delhi at the invitation of Dr Pradeep Chowbey.

The 77-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader appreciated the relief that he experienced after being operated by Dr Chowbey a few years ago.

"I really appreciate the relief and new life that all of you have given to thousands of others," the Dalai Lama said. "This is the true implementation of love and compassion."

At the conclusion of the function when His Holiness was called upon to bestow his blessings on the assembly, he replied: “I am a bit sceptical about what we call blessings. I believe the ultimate source of blessings is within us. A good motivation and honesty bring self-confidence, which attracts the trust and respect of others. Therefore the real source of blessings is in your own mind.”