Trending This Week on Social Media: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Teachings in Bodh Gaya-the Land of Buddha’s Enlightenment

Towards the end of the year 2018, His Holiness the Dalai Lama embarked on a teaching engagement in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, in the land where Buddha attained enlightenment. An estimated 40,000 strong devotees representing 71 countries thronged the holy site to listen to a series of teachings by His Holiness amidst tight security. Likewise, netizens across the globe were glued onto the live webcast of His Holiness’ discourses via his official Facebook page @རྒྱལ་བ་རིན་པོ་ཆེ།(Tibetan version) and @दलाई लामा(Hindi version).

It is said that the Maha Bodhi Temple Complex is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, and particularly to the attainment of Buddha’s enlightenment.

In 1956, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and 10th Panchen Lama made a historic maiden visit to Bodh Gaya during the 2500th Buddha Jayanti celebrations. After taking refuge in India in 1959, His Holiness gave a Kalachakra Initiations with the presence of 10,000 devotees in Bodh Gaya in December 1974. Since then His Holiness has conferred 5 Kalachakra initiations in Bodh Gaya.

His Holiness began his two-day teaching on 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva and Pramanavartika on 24 December 2018. His Holiness’ teachings are being translated into 20 languages, including English and Hindi for the devotees.

“All major traditions have the same practice of love and kindness, just different methods and different philosophies. However, in Buddhism, we do not assert a creator god as such,” reiterated His Holiness the Dalai Lama

 

On 26 December, His Holiness conferred Solitary Hero Vajrabhairava Empowerment.

“It is said that enlightenment is not given by anybody. It does not come from outside us. It is not possessed by anybody, why? Because the fundamental practice that gives rise to the three bodies is within us,” DalaiLama.com reported

On 28 December, His Holiness began three-day empowerment on Manjushri cycle of teachings.

Yesterday, owing to the hectic schedule, this octogenarian Tibetan spiritual leader took a day off to take good rest at his temporary residence at Gaden Phelgyeling Monastery in Bodh Gaya.

Today at 7:30 am, His Holiness will resume the discourse on Empowerment of Manjushri cycle of teachings.

Tomorrow, the Central Tibetan Administration will offer long life prayers (Tib: Tenshug) to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. CTA, on behalf of Tibetans inside Tibet and exile, will pray for the long and healthy life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and for the pacification of all obstacles of his 84th year.

A glimpse of netizens’ reactions on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching engagements in Bodh Gaya- the land of Buddha’s Enlightenment: