DHARAMSHALA, February 5: The Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala offered a long life prayer ceremony (Tenshug) to Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Monday.

The tenshug offering was held at the Gyuto monastery near the exile Tibetan headquarters. The 17th Karmapa has lived close to His Holiness the Dalai Lama since his escape from China occupied Tibet at the turn of the new millennium.

Monks of the Gyuto Monastery recited prayers as Kalon Pema Chhinjor made the ceremonial offerings, beseeching Gyalwa Karmapa Rinpoche to continue blessing and guiding the Tibetan people in particular and the all beings in general.

Hundreds of Tibetans and foreigners, along with the two Kagyu Members of Parliament and Secretaries of the Departmens of Religion and Culture and Home of CTA also attended the ceremony.

At 27, Gyalwa Karmapa Rinpoche is the most prominent teacher of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the most widely followed and respected Buddhist teachers.

Speaking to reporters following the ceremony, Kalon Chhinjor said the tenshug offering to Gyalwa Karmapa Rinpoche was part of the Department of Religion and Culture’s initiative to conduct long life prayer offerings to all prominent lamas of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the ancient Tibetan religion of Bon.

Kalon Chhinjor remarked on the deep and ancient bond that the Tibetan lamas and the Tibetan people share and the important role that religion plays in the life of the Tibetan people.

The Department of Religion and Culture has offered tenshug to the 41st Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, the 102nd Gaden Tripa, the 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche, Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche.