By Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Dec 13: Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a teaching on Tuesday at Gangtok’s Paljor Stadium, drawing thousands of devotees from across the globe. The morning of December 12 saw devotees gathering at the stadium as early as 2 am, braving the cold, eager to absorb the wisdom imparted by the foremost Buddhist leader.
The focus of the teachings centred on the ‘Thirty-seven practices of Bodhisattvas,’ accompanied by a ceremony for generating ‘Bodhichitta’ for the well-being of all sentient beings.
Addressing the gathering, the Dalai Lama expressed profound gratitude to his followers, highlighting the importance of religious harmony. He emphasized the common thread of compassion and truthfulness prevalent in every religion, urging respect for diverse faiths to foster peace and unity.
He lauded India’s ability to uphold religious harmony within its diverse population, hailing it as an exemplary model for the world in promoting secular ethics. His Holiness stated, “Humanitarianism is the ultimate life objective, transcending both theists and atheists.” He also conveyed his condolences for the tragic loss of lives caused by the recent flash floods in parts of Sikkim, acknowledging the grief and sorrow it brought.
Following the teachings, the Dalai Lama virtually laid the foundations for two significant state government projects; the Karmapa Park project at Rumtek that aims to build a 52-foot copper statue of the 16th Karmapa and the Fambonglho Nature Park project, costing an estimated 69 crores, 99 lakhs rupees.
Another notable initiative, the Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo Statue Project at Simik-Singtam Khamdong Constituency, East Sikkim, seeks to construct a 50-foot statue of Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo, a revered scholar of ‘Nyingmapa’ Buddhism. This project will be part of the Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo Centre of Excellence, advocating mindfulness and meditation practices.
The Dalai Lama is on a four-day visit to the Himalayan state after a decade-long hiatus and is scheduled to depart for Siliguri in neighbouring West Bengal on Thursday morning. His visit in October was cancelled due to the devastating flash flood in the Teesta River, which resulted in casualties and displaced thousands. The Dalai Lama last visited Sikkim in 2013.
