By Jane Smith
Dunedin, New Zealand, July 7 – Prayers for the wellbeing of humanity were offered by Tibetan monks at the Portobello stupa on the Dalai Lama’s birthday yesterday.
Sweet-smelling smoke from burning incense and green wood billowed as lamas and monks from the Dunedin Dhargyey Buddhist Centre chanted prayers.
The prayers asked for long life for the Dalai Lama, celebrated his birth, and requested that his wishes for Tibet and the people of the world be granted, the Venerable Lhagon Rinpoche said through an interpreter.
“His wishes are universal and therefore very broad and cannot be narrowed down to being for specific people or specific cultures. His wishes for the peoples of the world are to understand each other, to respect each other’s values and to live in peace.”
As the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibetans, the Dalai Lama’s birthday was a very important day and should be celebrated in as holy a way a possible, he said.
Tibetans and Tibetan support groups around the world would be marking the day, which had been internationally recognised as World Tibetan Day.
About 50 people attended.
