Long Life Prayer Offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama

By Tenzin Samten / May 27, 2022;

Photo: OHHDL

Members of the Sakya Tibetan Buddhist tradition offered Tenshug, a long life prayer to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Tsuglakhang, the main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala, on May 25 with a crowd of thousands gathered in the temple’s courtyard. The offering ceremony was led by the hierarchies of both palaces – the Dolma Phodrang and Phuntsok Phodrang, and headed by Sakya Dagtri Rinpoche.

Sakya Dagtri Rinpoche greeted His Holiness before he entered the temple and the two were welcomed by a group of dancing drummers as His Holiness rode in the recently installed lift up to the temple veranda.

His Holiness took his seat inside the temple and was offered kataks, Tibetan silk greetings scarves, in a welcome by the Sakya Lamas. Everyone present recited the mantra of White Tara, followed by the recitation of the long life prayer; His Holiness was then offered the status of the deities of longevity, White Tara, Amitayus and Ushnishavijay, before being offered a bowl of long life pills.

The incumbent 43rd Sakya throne-holder, Sakya Trizin, the Gyana Vajra Rinpoché, recited prayers requesting His Holiness to live long and offered him a large golden mandala. Ratna Vajra Rinpoché, the 42nd throne-holder also prayed for His Holiness’s longevity while presenting him a statue of White Tara, a volume of scripture and many other religious objects.

His Holiness responded, saying “I’ve received the Hévajra and Lam-dré—Path and Result—teachings from Chopgyé Trichen Rinpoché. Each Tibetan Buddhist tradition has its own unique teaching and these are the teachings unique to the Sakyas. I do the Hévajra practice every day, so I may be counted as among the line of Sakya practitioners”.

Addressing the gathering, His Holiness said “thank you for this long life offering. If I don’t live long, there’s a chance the Tibetan people’s wish and aspirations will not be fulfilled. For this reason I pray that I will live to be more than a hundred and I ask you too to make the same prayer.

“Tibet is our own land and Sakya is a place characterised by the grey earth of the Ponpori Hills. We Tibetans are upholders of Buddhist traditions including the Vajrayana. You too preserve teachings of both Sutra and Tantra. I request you to keep these traditions alive,” continued His Holiness.

His Holiness concluded by saying “I’ve known Sakya Dagtri Rinpoché since he was very young and I commend the service he has granted people and the Buddha dharma over all these years.”