Antwerp, Belgium: On 9 August, Sakya Trichen Rinpoche arrived at the venue of the First European Sakya Monlam Chemo For Universal Peace and Happiness. Rinpoche was received by Representative Tashi Phuntsok and members of the Monlam Chemo Foundation and local Tsechen Association.
Once His Eminence was seated on the throne, the President of the European Sakya Monlam Foundation made a mandala offering to Rinpoche.
His Eminence then addressed briefly but succinctly to over a thousand people gathered for the grand prayers. There was a large presence of the Sangha, Western followers and Tibetans from all over Europe.
His Eminence first spoke in Tibetan and again in English. His Eminence recalled the origin of the practice of Monlam in Tibet. He said that it was then replicated in exile by different schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Further with the relocation of many Tibetans in the West and also because of many Buddhist associations, this practice is being also undertaken in the West. He had attended the third Sakya Monlam in The States.
As such, the First European Sakya Monlam is being held in Belgium too. For which His Eminence was immensely pleased and welcomed the congregation. He thanked the organisers, volunteers and all involved for facilitating the opportunity for this collective prayers.
Rinpoche exhorted everyone to focus their prayers for the benefit of all sentient beings.
“All sentient being should be blessed with happiness and seeds of happiness and be devoid of suffering and seeds of suffering,” he said.
The world is undergoing much suffering due to natural disasters and also some because of our own making. He also called upon the gathering to realise with gratitude the life-long contribution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and pray for his long life.
Thereupon the prayers commenced with The Noble Sutra for Remembering the Three Jewels. It was followed by other prayers and concluding the morning session with repeated recitation of The King of Prayers (Sangchoe).
The Monlam prayers will go on till Sunday, August 11, at the end of which Tsechen Association, Belgium is organising a celebratory evening in presence of His Eminence Sakya Trichen.
-Filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels
Sakya Trichen Rinpoche commencing the First European Sakya Monlam held in Belgium.
Sakya Trichen Rinpoche commencing the First European Sakya Monlam held in Belgium.
Sakya Trichen Rinpoche having a conversation with Representative Tashi Phuntsok.