Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Saturday said that he hopes to live for another 30 to 40 years, until he is 130 years old, days after he said the Gaden Phodrang Trust will be “solely responsible” for finding his reincarnation. He turns 90 on Sunday.
“I hope to still live for 30 or 40 more years. Your prayers have borne fruit so far…We have lost our country and we live in exile in India. But, I have been able to benefit the beings (of Tibet) quite a lot. So, living here in Dharamsala I intend to benefit, serve beings and the dharma as much as I can,” the Dalai Lama said. He was speaking at the prayer ceremony ahead of his 90th birth anniversary at Tsuglagkhang, the main Dalai Lama temple in McLeodganj.
On July 2, the Dalai Lama had announced the “institution of the Dalai Lama will continue”, and his Ganden Phodrang Trust in the office of the Dalai Lama will be “solely responsible” for finding his reincarnation.
The Tibetan government-in-exile has organised a weeklong series of events to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday. The long life prayers were offered by his followers, the Kashag (council of ministers), Central Tibetan Administration (Tibetan government-in-exile). The ceremony is considered a prelude to a year-long ‘Year of Compassion’ celebration, highlighting Tibetans’ cultural and traditional legacy.
Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu, Hollywood actor and Chair of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) Richard Gere, several Indian as well as US government diplomats, senior Lamas, heads of all four Tibetan Buddhism schools were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony.
Earlier, the Dalai Lama reached the temple’s courtyard from his private residence in a golf cart. Hundreds of Buddhist monks, Tibetan Buddhism followers and tourists thronged the Tsuglagkhang temple to catch a glimpse of the spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama said that ever since he was a child, he had the feeling that he had a strong connection with Avalokiteshvara. “Looking at the many prophecies, I feel I have blessings of the Avalokiteshvara… today, here we have Gods, and representatives of Gods, and humans gathering the auspicious circumstances for my long life…I have been able to serve the Buddha Dharma and beings of Tibet so far quite well and still I hope to live over 130 years”, the Dalai Lama said.
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On the occasion, the Dalai Lama also recalled meeting Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
On Sunday, the Dalai Lama will attend the public programme organised by the Kashag, on behalf of all Tibetan people and address the gathering.
