Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 1:Â The Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, will attend three Long Life Prayer ceremonies offered by prominent monasteries in South India in February.
The 89-year-old Tibetan religious leader, who arrived at Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement on January 5, has been residing at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery since leaving Dharamshala in early January.
The Long Life Prayer ceremonies, known in Tibetan as ‘Tenshug’ are considered highly significant in Tibetan Buddhism, where disciples pray for the long life of their spiritual teachers.
On February 5, Sera Monastery, one of the three great Gelug monasteries of Tibet, re-established in India, will offer long-life prayer at Sera Monastery’s Lachi Assembly Hall. Following that, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas, will offer the second Long Life Prayer ceremony on February 12 at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery’s Assembly Hall. The final long-life prayer will be offered by Gyudmey Tantric Monastery, one of Tibet’s main tantric colleges in the Tibetan settlement of Hunsur Rabgyeling in South India on February 17.
Since his arrival in Bylakuppe, the octogenarian has maintained an active schedule, granting audiences to thousands of devotees, with special attention given to elderly and disabled members of the Tibetan community.