Monks offer long life prayers to Dalai Lama

On the first Wednesday of New Year of Tibetans, Wood-Snake year, the monks and former monks of the Namgyal Monastery and the staff of the Gaden Phodrang, the Office of the Dalai Lama, offered prayers for his long life. The ceremony took place in the halls of the Old Palace at the Dalai Lama’s residence.

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When the Dalai Lama entered the building, Samdhong Rinpoché for president of Tibetan government in exile and the Abbot of the Namgyal Monastery were there to greet him. The ceremony was based on the rite ‘Granting the Essence of Immortality’ composed by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama following a vision he had of Guru Padmasambhava in the form of Amitayus. The Abbot of the Namgyal Monastery, Thamthog Rinpoché presided over the ritual.

Samdhong Rinpoché made a thanksgiving mandala offering and presented representations of the enlightened body, speech and mind. Then, the Dalai Lama addressed the congregation.

He said, “The office of the Gaden Phodrang as well as the monks and former monks of the Namgyal Monastery have offered these prayers for my long life. You have done it with unwavering faith in recognition of your spiritual bond with me. As you have seen, I have been able to benefit the people of the world to a good extent. In addition, I feel I have been able to help Tibetans both inside Tibet and in exile with advice and instructions I have given sincerely.”