His Holiness the Dalai Lama entering the Main Tibetan Temple for the long life puja offered to him by the FPMT organization, Dharamsala, India, May 24, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

Three hundred and fifty members of the FPMT organization, including 150 who joined the event from abroad, participated in a moving long life puja offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, on May 24, 2023. This event was the culmination of months of concentrated effort, and was a sincere request from Lama Zopa Rinpoche that was years in the making. Following the long life puja, a small series of important and auspicious events took place in Dharamsala. Ven. Tenzin Legtsok was in attendance for all of these events and provided a moving overview of the activities and the impact on those in attendance. 

Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Ven. Tenzin Legtsok (the author of this article, toward the middle of the assembly) joins Kopan monks and nuns waiting for His Holiness the Dalai Lama before the May 24 long life puja. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

It is said that among offerings to the guru, the offering of practice is supreme. Last November, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, sole refuge and guide of the world, accepted Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s request to offer a long-life puja on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. On May 24, headed by the precious Abbot of Kopan Monastery, Khen Rinpoche Geshe Thubten Chonyi, Ven. Roger Kunsang, the FPMT Board, many tulkus, geshes, geshemas, monks, nuns, and hundreds of students and sponsors from all reaches of the FPMT family came together to fulfill this wish of our inexpressibly kind lama. In this way it was not only an elaborate offering to His Holiness, but also an offering to Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche by working together to fulfill Rinpoche’s holy wishes.

FPMT Board members Paula de Wys, Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, and Ven. Roger Kunsang offering a mandala to HIs Holiness the Dalai Lama, May 24, 2023. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab.

After months of preparation, especially by the staff of International Office and by the Kopan monks and nuns, raising funds, commissioning and filling statues, coordinating with His Holiness’ Private Office, and with all the participants, preparing texts, bringing many offerings from Nepal, everything was nearly ready. On the evening of May 23, the Main Temple was a swarm of activity with passes being distributed, the procession line being organized, tormas being set up, orchids arranged, and many old friends meeting once again. The puja began at six in the morning with preliminary prayers, and tea and bread offered to all in attendance. His Holiness came from his palace gates a little before eight and slowly walked to the Main Temple past a line of FPMT geshes and geshemas standing to receive him, smiling and greeting all in the crowd.

As soon as His Holiness was seated, the Chant Master of Kopan, Geshe Lobsang Sherab, led the entire assembly in reciting Lama Chopa. After tea and sweet rice had been served His Holiness made his only remarks during the ceremony. [Please enjoy this short video including many moving aspects of the long life puja offered to His Holiness which includes translated words shared by His Holiness about Lama Zopa Rinpoche.]

Key points made by His Holiness include:

“These long-life prayers are being offered today by the FPMT, an organization with many centers around the world that has for quite some time been led by the late Zopa Rinpoche. He has been my friend and a very trustworthy person. Recently, he passed away. An excellent reincarnation of his will definitely come. For this to happen I will pray, and I urge all of you, Rinpoche’s acquaintances, to make strong prayers that an excellent reincarnation is able to come. … 

“Lama Zopa Rinpoche really made outstanding efforts during his lifetime. Rinpoche himself definitely has strong aspirational prayers for an excellent reincarnation. I also hope that an excellent reincarnation is able to come and I request all of you to pray for this. …

“I am determined to work for the flourishing of the Buddha’s teachings and welfare of all sentient beings, as Je Tsongkhapa wrote in a verse at the end of his Great Treatise on the Stages to the Path to Enlightenment:

Wherever the Buddha’s teaching has not spread
And wherever it has spread but has declined
May I, moved by great compassion, clearly elucidate
This treasury of excellent benefit and happiness for all.”

Tsog offerings in front of the Main Tibetan Temple, Dharamsala, India, May 24, 2023. Tenzin Choejor, courtesy of DalaiLama.com.

In the course of the Lama Chopa, with Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi acting as vajra master, FPMT offered a mandala, representations of the enlightened body, speech, and mind, monastic robes, staff, bowl and other monastic articles, the eight auspicious symbols, the seven emblems of royalty, the eight auspicious substances, texts, medicinal powders, carpets, and several hundred of the 1000 Buddha statues.

Dedications were made with the prayers, Prayer for the Flourishing of Je Tsongkhapa’s Teachings, Causing the Teachings of Buddha to Flourish, Prayer for the Spreading of Ecumenical Buddha’s Teachings, and finally concluded with The Prayer of the Words of Truth composed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

“So, if these prayers today are effective, everyone will benefit,” His Holiness said. “Tibet and the neighbouring lands of the Himalayan region have a long-standing connection to the Dalai Lamas. I am determined to work for the benefit of the people who live in these places, but in addition there are now scientists across the world who are interested in what the Buddha’s teaching have to say about the workings of the mind and emotions. I would like to help them as much as I can too.

“For these purposes, supported by your prayers and dedication, I feel I may be able to live another twenty years or so. I’m keen to let people, especially those who have no religious allegiance or interest in spiritual affairs, know the importance of cultivating love and compassion and achieving peace of mind.” [This quote is taken from the dalailama.com coverage of the puja]. 

All in all, the event went very smoothly, the prayers were chanted beautifully, and His Holiness showed the aspect of being pleased with the entire occasion.

Sixth Week Commemoration, Private Audience, and FPMT Lunch

Puja commemorating the sixth week

In addition to offering a long-life puja to His Holiness, all the FPMT students in attendance participated in a puja commemorating the sixth week since Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away, a private audience with His Holiness on May 25, and an FPMT lunch hosted by Tushita Meditation Center.

The Abbot of Namgyal Monastery Thamtog Rinpoche, Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Yangsi Rinpoche, Serkong Rinpoche, Osel Hita, and Kopan Umze at the Tara Puja commemorating the sixth week since Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s parinirvana, Tushita Meditation Center, Dharamsala, India, May 23, 2023. Photo by Kopan Monastery.

The evening before the long-life puja, Tushita’s amazingly hard-working staff and volunteers together with a crew of monks and nuns all pitched in to set up the main gompa at Tushita for a Four-Mandala Ritual to Chittamani Tara the following afternoon. Thrones for many lamas, piles of tsog, tormas, flowers, and other offerings for the puja had to be arranged since there would be no time after the long-life puja the next morning. At 2 p.m. on the 24^th, a distinguished assembly of lamas, geshes, geshemas, monks, nuns and lay disciples packed Tushita’s main gompa to overflowing. Lead by Kopan Khenrinpoche Geshe Chonyi, together with the Abbot of Namgyal Monastery, Thromthog Rinpoche, His Holiness’ assistant, Yangten Rinpoche, President of Maitripa College, Yangsi Rinpoche, Osel (Hita) Rinpoche, Rigsel Rinpoche, Phuntsok Rinpoche and others, the assembly offered heartfelt prayers for Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche to swiftly send forth another emanation to continue guiding us and carrying on Rinpoche’s enlightened deeds in this world.

Audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Just a few days before the long-life puja it was decided that His Holiness would grant the FPMT students gathered in Dharamshala an audience in his private residence. On May 25, after lining up for a Covid test at daybreak and passing through security screening, we slowly filled the audience hall, awestruck by the magnificent statues and thangkas, abuzz with excitement at meeting His Holiness. When some of His Holiness’s close attendants first appeared, a hush fell over the group; then from way in the back someone began softly chanting OM MANI PADME HUM. Slowly all spontaneously joined in to respectfully receive the Buddha of Compassion.

Rinpoches, Geshes, Kopan Sangha, and representatives and students of FPMT centers at the private audience
with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, India, May 25, 2023. Photo by the Office of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama.

His Holiness began by recounting a dream which clearly indicated he would live until 110 years old, then said that despite the many troubles that come to his attention, his mind remains totally relaxed and positive. This, he observed, is due to his meditation on the attitude of bodhichitta and the view of emptiness. This and his determination to work for the welfare of sentient beings for as long as space remains have carried him with ease through even the most difficult situations. As His Holiness spoke with palpable warmth and affectionate concern, it felt as though he was revealing himself to us, a continuum of pure compassion and wisdom in perfect union ceaselessly appearing in life after life to benefit sentient beings.

His Holiness explained that his thorough familiarity with wisdom and compassion is due to his study of the classical Buddhist scriptures beginning in his childhood. He began telling stories illustrating the kindness of his own teachers, the past Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Trijang Rinpoche and debate tutors. About twenty minutes into the audience His Holiness asked the attendants whether there wasn’t tea to be served. When they replied that none had been prepared, His Holiness said, “is it possible to prepare and bring some”. Twenty minutes later a group of Namgyal Monastery monks appeared with kettles of hot chai, and buns. As we sipped tea and the English interpreter translated, His Holiness playfully smiled at little Rigsel Rinpoche and called him up several times to take pieces of His Holiness’ bread.

The moment His Holiness first mentioned Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, it seemed as if we collectively got a lump stuck in our throats. But it quickly cleared as, without the slightest shadow of sadness, His Holiness fondly recalled his friendship with Rinpoche, and Rinpoche’s pure devotion and tireless service to the Dharma and sentient beings. As on the previous morning, His Holiness said that he would pray for a good reincarnation of Rinpoche to appear, one who can carry on the sacred work of Rinpoche’s life, and that we should do the same.

Then His Holiness spoke at length about the process of himself being discovered and identified as the reincarnation of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. He told stories about visions in the sacred lake, Lhamoi Lhatso, about the Muslim warlord who first tested him, and about his reactions when the search party headed by Kewtsang Rinpoche first appeared at his home. Among the many details His Holiness related, was one thing Lama Zopa Rinpoche often used to recount – when His Holiness first met the search party, in conversation he told them, “I’m the one who works for the welfare of all sentient beings”.

In the last part of the audience His Holiness recounted more about how beneficial his studies of Buddhist scriptures have been for him. It is largely due to this that not only has he been able to navigate many difficult challenges in life with peace of mind, been able to perform well in his duties to lead the Tibetan people and serve the Buddha Dharma, but also that he feels great confidence when engaging with scientists and scholars from the West and other cultures. This is because the Tibetan lineage of Buddhism is firmly grounded in a logical approach to Buddha’s teachings as explicated by Dignāga, Dharmakīrti, Nagarjuna, Chandrakirti and other scholars of ancient Nalanda University. His Holiness explained that it is due his study of the commentaries by ancient Indian Buddhist masters that he has developed a broad understanding of Buddha’s teachings as opposed to many geshes who focus on their monastery textbooks (yigcha) and have a narrower perspective. This is also why he has been able to support his explanations with quotations from many sources, which His Holiness described as his offering of practice.

His Holiness graced us with nearly two hours of his eloquence, advice, and intimate reminiscences. There was a sense of having a close, loving connection. It was as if His Holiness were saying, now, amidst feeling the loss of your teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche, trust in me, I’m here to guide you; and trust in the Dharma, bodhichitta, the wisdom of emptiness, and the determination to serve others which have been my own heart practice. Study, practice, and serve. Finally, His Holiness gave us each the opportunity to offer a kata and receive his personal blessing. It was an inexpressibly fortunate occasion.

FPMT Board members Paula De Wys and Karuna Cayton thanking everyone for organizing the Long Life Puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama
at the lunch at Tushita Meditation Center, Dharamsala, India, May 25, 2023. Photo by Tenzin Tsultrim.

FPMT Lunch

That afternoon, Tushita Meditation Centre prepared a sumptuous feast of Indian curries, pizzas, pasta, an ocean of mango lassi, and varied desserts as a way for all the FPMT family in the area to connect. Right at 1 p.m. when lunch was served, the sky burst open and poured down a torrential shower that sent all 250 attendees scrambling into the main gompa, where we enjoyed our lunch amidst a chorus of conversation. To conclude, Paula de Wys, on behalf of the FPMT Board of Directors, stood and thanked all those who worked so hard to make these wonderful events happen. It was moving to see and consider how so many – Kopan monks and nuns, Western ordained saṅgha, lay staff and students, from all branches of the organization – had coordinated so well, and worked seamlessly together to fulfill Rinpoche’s sacred wishes. Throughout I did not see one temper flair or hear one ill word spoken. Rather, all appeared to treat one another with respect, kindness, and genuine dedication to following Rinpoche’s impeccable guidance. I think Rinpoche would have been pleased, and that it bodes well for the FPMT going forward.

Tenzin Legtsok is an American Buddhist monk. He will soon complete the Geshe Studies Program at Sera Jey Monastic University in Karnataka, South India where he has studied classic Indian Buddhist treatise and their Tibetan commentaries in the tradition of ancient Nalanda University. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2001.

For the past twenty years he has tried to make basic Buddhist teachings accessible to various audiences in India and the US through lectures, essays, and meditation instruction.

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.