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His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama concluded his five-day teaching on January 6. An estimated 35,000 people from 67 countries – primarily China and Taiwan – attended the teaching.

His Holiness began the teaching with Gyalsay Thokme Sangpo’s Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva (Laklen sodunma). He advised that one cannot calm an unruly mind by taking drugs although they might appear to help a little. He said that much more effective antidotes are the ancient practices of non-violence and compassion and in addition, there are practices for developing single-pointed concentration and insight into reality. He further commented that study, reflection and meditation are ways to generate wisdom.

On January 3, His Holiness conferred the Avalokiteshvera Initiation. He said, “I am constantly aware of bodhichitta which brings about a peaceful state of mind. To be altruistic is to be helpful. If you have a warm heart, you’ll have more friends.” He further added, “Taking and keeping the bodhisattva vow strengthens our determination to engage in the practices of a bodhisattva. Observing the ethics of this vow even for one day is immensely beneficial.” This time he gave the vows relying on the rite in the chapter on ethics from Asanga’s Bodhisattva Grounds (Bodhisattvabhumi), an approach which he announced had declined and that he wished to restore. From December 4 to 6 he resumed teachings from The Wheel of Teachings on Manjushri Empowerments (Jamyang Choekhor) – a teaching he started in December 2018. He remarked that as someone who has relied on Manjushri’s mantra since he was a child, he is convinced of its effectiveness in improving intelligence. As part of the three-day Manjushri teachings, he gave the permission of a deity called Jetsunma Nakmo.

During the teaching His Holiness said, “these days, when we watch the news, we see reports of poor people suffering in Bangladesh and Africa. It occurred to me that you might consider making a contribution to helping such people from the Prayer Festival funds.” Following His Holiness’s advice, the Great Prayer Festival Committee announced that they would make a donation to the UNHCR – the United Nations Refugee Agency.