Published By Jamphel Shonu
Bodh Gaya, Bihar: His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a series of teachings at the holy Buddhist town of Bodh Gaya in the month of January 2018. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will arrive at Bodh Gaya on 2 January, and will confer a three-day teaching on Dharmachakra Parivaretan Sutra on The Four Noble Truths (chokyi khorlo korwe do) & Sutra on Dependent Origination (tendrel chi do) from 5-7 January 2018. This teaching is being organised at the request of Nalanda Shiksha.
“The preparation work for the teachings has begun since one month back. Although there will be lesser devotees as compared to the Kalachakra, the preparation for the teachings has been carried forward with utmost care and dedication,” Tenzin Kunchok from the organising committee of Gaden Phegyal Namgyal Monastery, said. “The venue at which the teaching will be given has the capacity to house 35,000 devotees,” he added.
At least 13 staff from the Department of Security has arrived on 19 December at Bodh Gaya and they have begun registering devotees from the next day. Until now, 6000 registrations have been done. Accommodations for the Indian devotees as well as monks, tulkus and Tibetan devotees have been arranged accordingly.
“Registration for the teachings is mandatory except for Tibetan devotees from Tibet, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Himalayan regions as they do not have to register for the pass,” Jigme from the Department of Security, explained.
On 7 January, Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar, will attend a book release ceremony with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
From 14 to 16 January, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give teachings on Nagarjuna’s Commentary on Bodhichitta and Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva. His Holiness will also confer the Avalokiteshvera Initiation on 15 and 16 January 2018. On 16 January, devotees from Mongolia and Namgyal monastery will jointly organise a long life prayer offering to His Holiness.
On 25 January 2018, His Holiness will consecrate the newly built Thai Monastery in Bodh Gaya.
Before the teachings in Bodh Gaya, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will grace a conference on ‘Mind in Indian Philosophical Schools of Thought and Modern science’ at the Central University of Tibetan Studies in Varanasi on 30 and 31 December 2017. His Holiness will also grace the 50th founding anniversary of Central University of Tibetan Studies on 1 January 2018.
– Report filed by Tenzin Jigme, social media journalist –
