I will live for more than a hundred years: Dalai Lama

Dharamshala, November 2, 2016: Addressing at a prayer ceremony on Wednesday organized for the long life of the Tibetan leader The Dalai Lama at the main Tibetan Temple Tsuglagkhang at Dharamshala, Dalai Lama himself shown the desire to live for another 20 or so years and said that he prayers for it to live at least for more than one hundred years.

“Today the members of the Phenpo and Pemakoe Tibetan community and those in Tibet have expressed unwavering faith and prayers for my long life. As I have told before, there have been certain revelations that I will live for more than a hundred years. Personally, I also pray and hope to live for the next twenty years or more to continue to serve the well being of all sentient beings,” His Holiness told the thousands of Tibetans and devotees who had come to join in the prayer for his long life.

Dala Lama said that the long-life prayer ceremony is rooted in a strong spiritual bond between the teacher and his disciples, and the prayers bring fruition.

The Tibetan spiritual leader advised his followers that the best way to fulfill his wishes would be to become a true follower of the Buddha.

The long life prayer ceremony, organised by the Phenpo and Pemakoe Tibetan community members, was attended by officials and staff of the Central Tibetan Administration, along with thousands of local Tibetans and non-Tibetan devotees.

Long life prayer offering ceremony is one of the most poignant ceremonies in Tibetan Buddhism. The ceremony is marked by an elaborate display of devotion, prayers and a procession of symbolic offerings towards a spiritual teacher. The purpose of the long life prayer offeringis to create the causes and conditions to continue to receive benefit from one’s teacher for a very long time.
Dalai Lama exhorted the Tibetans to bring primary focus on quality of religious education and its practice. “Our rich tradition of Buddhism encapsulates vast knowledge of the workings of the mind and emotions. The main purpose of the Buddhist teaching is to train and conquer one’s mind. By doing that, one will be able to achieve peaceful mind and body and simultaneously spread peace in your environment,” His Holiness said, reproving the common reliance on spiritual power for happiness and alleviation of suffering.

Reiterating his message of peace and universal responsibility, the Nobel laureate made a clarion call to all his followers to usher a new era of mutual respect and brotherhood. “We are part of one great human family. We can no longer invoke the differences of nationalities, race or beliefs. For a better, happier, more stable future, each one of us must develop a sincere and warm-hearted feeling of oneness with the seven billion people of the world. Individuals can make truly make a difference in society and it is up to each of us to make the best use of our knowledge and ability to help create a happier world.”

Tibetans all around the world organise long life prayer ceremonies for their spiritual leader and Noble Peace Laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama to express their gratitude and to receive his teachings and blessing over a long time.