UPPER BHATTU, March 11: The Tibetan Spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama today visited the Palpung Sherab Ling Monastery, one of the most prominent learning centres of Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, near Baijnath.
The Tibetan leader arrived this morning from Dharamshala, some 60 kilometres from here. Tai Situpa Rinpoche, who led the search for the current 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, welcomed His Holiness inside the main prayer hall where the official function for the day began.
His Holiness blessed the prayer hall immediately after his arrival as leading lamas from Kagyu tradition greeted him in reverence.
Prominent lamas from Kagyu tradition, Members of the Tibetan cabinet, Tibetan Justice Commissioners, members of Tibetan parliament, representatives of various institute and organizations were present.
Local Tibetans from Bir and Chauntra Tibetan settlements, children from TCV school Suja and Sambhota School watched the proceedings outside the hall on giant screens.
His Holiness lauded the works done by the monastic staff of Sherabling under the leadership of Tai Situpa Rinpoche and advised the monks to commit themselves to study and transform the monastery into a genuine learning centre. He said that the monastic seat must concentrate on the quality of education and not on sheer number of monks and nuns.
The Tibetan leader also spoke about the project of translation into Tibetan of various excerpts from Kargyur and Tengyur (great canyons of Tibetan Buddhism), which are not necessarily Buddhism related. His Holiness said the translations were done with even non believers in mind under three main categories, science, ideology and religion.
The Speaker of Tibetan Parliament, Penpa Tsering, and Kalon for religion, Pema Chinjor, also expressed their appreciation to Tai Situpa Rinpoche for his contribution to the Buddha Dharma and setting up the learning centre in 1977.
Tai Situpa Rinpoche expressed his gratitude to His Holiness blessing the monastic seat by his presence and teachings and initiations, which will take place tomorrow. Situ Rinpoche also talked about past relationships between different Situpas and the Dalai Lamas. Situ Rinpoche recalled a visit by the current Dalai Lama to Derge in 1955 and bestowing upon him a dharma name.
Monks recited excerpts and interpretations from various scriptures and also exhibited their knowledge of various field of traditional Tibetan sciences.
The Tibetan leader will inaugurate a newly built learning centre in the same premises, accept a long life offering, and give religious discourse of Jangchub Lamdrel.
