DHARAMSHALA: Describing Tibet's past relation with Kalimpong and Darjeeling in northeast India as “close to heart”, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said how he as a child was delighted to hear from Tibetan merchants and government officials about their journeys to Kalimpong, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Calcutta.
“At that time, I wished to make a visit to Kalimpong and Darjeeling,” His Holiness reminisced while giving a three-day religious discourse to over 4,000 people at Tharpa Choeling Monastery in Kalimpong yesterday.
“Then in 1956, I happened to be in Kalimpong and Gangtok on my way to attend the celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the birth of the Buddha. Since coming into exile in 1959, India has been my second home to me,” His Holiness said.
'Moreover, Tharpa Choeling Monastery is one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in India. But, the propitiation of Shugden in the monastery in the past caused me inconvenience to visit. Later on, despite the fact that Shugden was propitiated by former Lamas, all the concerned people in the monastery with broad vision and reason had completely distanced themselves from the spirit worship. So, it became easy for me to come here,” His Holiness said.
Preaching on sacred text of ‘The Three Principal Paths’ (Lamtso Namsum), His Holiness said he always tell Buddhists devotees from around the world, including Tibetan, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese Buddhists, to become 21st Buddhists. One can become a 21st Buddhist only by developing faith in the unique value of Buddha's teaching through understanding and studying them. The faith born out of reason is that of intelligence and is therefore stable and pure, His Holiness added.
Thousands of people, including Sermey Khensur (former abbot) Dagpa Rinpoche, Jamgon Kongrtul Rinpoche, Gyuto Khensur Rinpoche, general public and students, attended the teaching.
Long Life Prayer Offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Earlier in the day, Kalimpong's Tharpa Choeling Monastery and Tibetan Settlement Office presented long life prayer offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama after he was ushered into the main temple by the monastery's spirural head Dromo Geshe Rinpoche.
During the ceremony, important lay and monastic officials, including Dagpa Rinpoche, Tibetan Settlement Officer, Jamgon Kongrtul Rinpoche, Dromo Geshe Rinpoche and Lama Soepa Rinpoche, presented prayer offerings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
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