Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, May 7: The foremost Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, was offered a Long Life Prayer (Tenshug) on Wednesday by members of the Shang Gaden Choekhorling Monastery in Nepal, as well as the Chatring and Phari Tibetan communities. The ceremony took place at Thekchen Choeling Tsuglagkhang, the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala.
The Long Life Offering Ceremony centered around the deity Amitayus, ‘Buddha of Infinite Life,’ and was conducted under the guidance of Venerable Samdhong Rinpoche. A traditional Mandala offering was made to His Holiness, symbolizing a heartfelt plea for his continued long life and spiritual guidance.
Addressing the congregation following the ceremony, the Dalai Lama expressed his deep gratitude to the organisers for their devotion and steadfast faith. “Having been born in Kumbum and later settled in Lhasa, I have always worked to ensure the flourishing of Tibetan Buddhism throughout the world,” he said. Reflecting on his life in exile, he noted his warm ties with India and the growing global interest in Buddhist teachings.
“Even in China, there is a growing interest in the Buddha’s teachings,” he added. “I carry the name of the Dalai Lama, and I will continue to serve the Dharma and strive for the benefit of all sentient beings for decades to come, as an expression of gratitude to the Buddha.”
Around 400 devotees participated in the ceremony, including monks from Shang Gaden Choekhorling Monastery, led by Geshe Lhundup Dhonden; members of the Chatring community, led by former Tibetan minister Lobsang Nyendak; and members of the Phari community, led by Sonam Dorjee.
Shang Gaden Choekhorling Monastery, originally founded by the fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, has a long-standing tradition of devotion to the exiled spiritual leader. Since coming into exile, the monastery has offered five Long Life Prayer ceremonies, including the first in Bodhgaya. For the Phari community, this marked their first-ever Tenshug offering to the Tibetan spiritual leader.
