By Tenzin Dedan
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 5: Thousands of devoted followers gathered at Thekchen Choeling Tsuklakhang temple on Wednesday, on the final day of the teachings where His Holiness the Dalai Lama bestowed the four-armed Avalokiteshvara initiation (Chenresig Chak Shipai Wang).
The spiritual leader, on the advice of his physician, was unable to lead the teachings for the past two days due to a persistent cold. Consequently, Gaden Tri Rinpoche, the head of the Gelug sect led the teachings for the first two days that included teachings on Tsongkhapa’s Songs of Experience on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, Geshe Chekhewa’s Seven Point Mind Training, and the conferring of the Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara Empowerment.
During the teaching, His Holiness conveyed his thoughts on compassion and the importance of having a warm heart, irrespective of religious beliefs, saying, “Concerning Avalokiteshvara, he is the supreme deity of compassion. Whether we believe in religion or not, to have a warm heart is the most important thing that we should practice.”
He continued, emphasizing the significance of inner peace and love for a harmonious world, “Today, the world is talking a lot about peace. But true peace must come from within ourselves. And that can reflect the world. Today, whether you believe in Buddhism or not, the teachings of Buddha or not, people have great interest and yearning for love.”
Addressing the issue of global peace, he emphasized that true peace must originate from within individuals, saying, “It’s a fact that everyone raises the slogan of ‘World peace,’ but it must come through love and compassion towards all other beings. To have a good heart and be altruistic towards others is the essence of religion or spirituality. I urge all my dharma friends to have a good heart.”
His Holiness underscored the significance of cultivating Bodhichitta, stating, “From my part, I consider cultivating Bodhichitta as crucial, and therefore, through that, you experience peace of mind. That, in turn, balances elements in our body. Therefore, it’s important to have a relaxed state of mind. If you have a good peace of mind, you have a good life.”
The octogenarian Tibetan leader’s health has been a concern for his followers and admirers alike. However, the Dalai Lama has affirmed that he is very healthy for his age and that he may well live beyond the age of 100. He is scheduled to travel to Sikkim, Karnataka and Bihar in the coming months.
