Bodh Gaya: “We have the power of truth. Chinese communists have the power of gun. In the long run the power of truth is much stronger than the power of gun,” came the message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Bodh Gaya this morning.
The Tibetan spiritual leader who arrived here yesterday was addressing a group of journalists during his pilgrimage to the Mahabodhi temple.
“China is traditionally a Buddhist country with the biggest number of Buddhist population in China. Many of the Chinese are following Tibetan Buddhism. Three years ago, Peking University conducted a survey on the Buddhist population in China. Their report concluded that there are about 300 million Buddhists; many of these Buddhists are well educated. These are the official report and the number of Chinese Buddhist population is increasing ever since.”
“So things are changing now. Moreover, many of the Chinese Buddhists consider Tibetan Buddhism as truly a Nalanda tradition and that tradition is very scientific religion,” His Holiness said.
With flowers and traditional Tibetan scarves, more than thousands of Tibetans, Himalayans and foreign devotees lined up the street leading to the holy site to greet the Tibetan spiritual leader.
On 2 January, His Holiness will give teachings on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva (laklen sodunma). On 3 January, His Holiness will confer Avalokiteshvera Initiation (chenresig wang). From 4 to 6 January, His Holiness will complete The Wheel of Teachings on Manjushri Empowerments (jamyang Choekhor) based on its proximal lineage that he began in Bodhgaya in December 2018. The teachings will be held at the Kalachakra Teaching Ground in Bodh Gaya.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting fellow pilgrims as he arrives at the Mahabodhi temple. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
Pilgrims await for a glimpse of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as His Holiness enters the Mahabodhi temple to make a pilgrimage. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
A group of Vietnamese pilgrims greet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
His Holiness the Dalai Lama leads a recitation of prayers and praises in front of the Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya. Photo by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
His Holiness the Dalai Lama paying his respects before an altar under the Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi temple. Photo by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL