NUBRA: Monks of Diskit monastery and the general public of Nubra Valley organised a long life prayer offering ceremony for His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the second day of teachings by the Tibetan spiritual leader at Degon Gaden Tashi Choeling teaching ground.
Following the long life prayer offering, His Holiness the Dalai Lama conferred the Avalokiteshwara empowerment to the public. Avalokiteshwara (known as Chenrezig in Tibetan) is the embodiment of the Buddha of compassion. The empowerment teaching entailed giving the vows of a lay practitioner, generating the awakening of the Boddhicitta mind and giving the Bodhisattva vows.
“Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have great qualities of body, speech and mind based on minds that are rooted in compassion. To begin with, all the Buddhas generated the awakening mind of Bodhicitta based on their having a courageous heart of compassion. By serving others, they fulfil their own purposes—because they have compassion,” His Holiness said, emphasising that compassion is the root towards purity of heart and happiness.
During the empowerment, His Holiness also raised the issue of alcoholism and tobacco addiction, and the resulting ill effects of these vices. “Alcohol and tobacco addiction are harmful not only from a religious perspective but also from the point of view of society and personal health,” His Holiness said. “Doctors have shown numerous evidences of the negative impact of alcoholism and cigarette smoking. So, it is wise not to let these habits destroy your health as well as your social standing,” His Holiness added.
At the end, His Holiness urged everyone who had taken the empowerment to engage in practice and pray one round of mani rosary daily.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama then completed the remaining teachings on the Middle Volume of Stages of Meditation and announced that he confer teachings on ‘37 Practices of a Bodhisattva’ tomorrow due to incessant rain at teaching ground during long life offering at Diskit Photang.
His Holiness will be in Nubra till 15 July 2017.
– Report filed by Correspondent Tenzin Phende from Nubra Valley –
Devotees lining up with symbolic offerings during the long life prayer offering ceremony at Diskit monastery. Photo/ Tenzin Phende/ DIIR
Devotees during His holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings at Diskit monastery at Nubra Valley. Photo/ Tenzin Phende/ DIIR
Devotees holding up prayer books during the Avalokiteshwara empowerment by His holiness the Dalai Lama. Photo/ Tenzin Phende/ DIIR
Members of the public presenting a cultural song. Photo/ Tenzin Phende/ DIIR