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Dalai Lama arrives in Bodh Gaya for teachings, prayers

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

The Dalai Lama being welcomed by the head abbot of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya on 4 January 2009. The Dalai Lama will give five days of teachings at the Buddhist pilgrimage site until 9 January.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

Thousands of devotees as well as local Indian officials welcomed the Dalai Lama as he arrived in Bodh Gaya for a five-day teaching session.

The Gaya District Magistrate, the head priest of the Mahabodhi Temple, and other local officials welcomed the Tibetan leader with khatas.

The Dalai Lama visited the Mahabodhi Temple for prayers, and later opened a multi-media centre near the temple.

In a brief interaction with the media he said that the more than 2500-year-old Buddhist philosophy is still relevant to today’s world.

He also said that he acts as a messenger of India, bringing the Indian philosophy of “ahinsa” (non-violence) wherever he goes.

The teachings will begin from tomorrow (5 Jan), 9 to 11am and 1 to 3pm, till the 8th. A long life empowerment and a long life offering to the Dalai Lama will be held on the 9th morning.

The audio of the teachings in Tibetan will be broadcast live at dalailama.com.

An announcement booth organised by the Tibetan Youth Congress is instructing devotees to make an id card, without which they will not be allowed to enter the teaching premises. The announcers ask devotees not to bring anything to the teachings except a cushion, mug, and water bottle. An FM radio may be brought in the case of those who intend to listen to the simultaneous traslation in — English, Hindi, Chinese, Russian and Korean.

Shugden practitioners are asked not to attend the teachings.

After the teachings, the Dalai Lama will depart for the Tibetan settlement in Orissa.

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