By Phurbu Thinley

Dharamsala, December 22: His Holiness the Dalai Lama began a five-day teaching at the Main Temple (Tsuglagkhang) at the request of Gandan Thegchenling Monastery of Ulan Bator, Mongolia.

After the five days' teachings, on the morning of December 27, the Mongolian Buddhist group will organise a long life offering ceremony to the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Some 250 Buddhists from Mongolia, mainly monks from the monastery, are attending the teachings. Hundreds of Tibetans and, a sizeable Buddhists from Korea and western countries, and some Chinese Buddhists attended the first day teaching here today.

Accordingly, simultaneous translation of the teachings is made available in English, Mongolian, Chinese and Korean on FM channels.

Of the five days, the initial two days’ teachings, between 1300hrs and 1600hrs, are devoted to conferment of the 13 Deity Yamantaka Initiation (Lha Chusoom Jigjey Kawang). His Holiness will formally give teachings on Lobsang Choekyen’s Lama Choepa (Guru Puja) on December 23 to 26 from 0800 hrs to 1130hrs.

Tenzin, a monk student from the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, said that an initiation is a must before carrying out a formal teaching of Guru Puja. “His Holiness has decided to confer Lha Chusoom Jigjey Kawang, one of the highest tantric initiations, for two days this time”, Tenzin says.

Throughout the Lama Puja teachings, attendees are expected to maintain a commitment to recite the Six Sessions of Guru Yoga (Thundruk Lamai Neljor) and Lama Choepa on daily basis.