From: Mohinder Verma
CHOGLAMSAR, LEH, July 3: The sacred and auspicious 33rd Kalachakra initiation began today at Jivetsal with nearly one lakh devotees from across the globe attending the elaborate ritualistic prayers performed by the monks under the guidance of Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama.
Since morning thousands of vehicles carrying devotees and monks were seen heading towards Choglamsar from different parts of Leh town to reach the venue of Kalachakra initiation, which is being held at Leh after 38 years.
Elaborate security and other arrangements have been made by the Leh Police and District Administration for smooth 12-day long Kalachakra initiation in collaboration with organizers of the event Ladakh Buddhist Association and Ladakh Gonpa Association etc.
While giving introductory teachings following prayers by the monks, Buddhist spiritual leader, Dalai Lama said, “the main objective of my visit is to give introduction of Buddhism to the people along with Kalachakra initiations”. He advised the devotees to generate Bodhichita–a feeling to help all sentient beings and feeling of non violence in thought, speech and action.
“All human beings irrespective of different faiths and believes want happiness and no one want sufferings. Therefore, generation of love and compassion is the main message that all religions of the world teach”, he said, adding “to generate and practise such teachings should be very important to live a meaningful and successful life whether one follows a particular religion or not”.
Further laying stress on developing compassion, he said, “this is the core and essence of Buddhist teaching without which even Kalachakra is meaningless”, adding “in order to gain happiness and be free from suffering it is important to remove the cause which lies within us in the form of “I”.
“Unless this ‘I’ is reduced it is difficult to have clear heart and mind to develop compassion and patience as basic things needed to gain true happiness”, Dalai Lama said with apt attention from the devotees including foreigners.
He urged upon the devotees to make special efforts to cleanse their hearts and minds towards transforming themselves into becoming good and warm hearted humans during the coming two days as groundwork before receiving the Kalachakra would help in grasping the concept of emptiness taught by Buddhism. He gave special verses for recitation by the devotees during next two days for this process of transforming ones heart.
As Buddhist spiritual leader gave teachings in Tibetan language, large number of devotees were seen carrying FM radio to listen the translated version of Dalai Lama’s teachings. For the convenience of the devotees, the organizers had prominently displayed the frequency ranges required to be tuned to listen the teachings in different languages.
The teachings of spiritual leader were translated into 13 different languages, which includes Tibetan, English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Mongalian, Russian, Spanish, French, Italian, Hindi and Ladakhi.
The Kalachakra ritual commenced at 7 am and continued till 9 am. After the completion of self generation prayers, Dalai Lama started giving introductory teachings for around an hour to the devotees. He will have ritual prayers and preliminary teachings respectively up to 13th of July.
The enthusiasm among the devotees over the Kalachakra initiation being held in Leh after 38 years can be gauged from the fact that even physically handicapped persons were seen reaching the venue to participate in the prayers and listen Dalai Lama. Aged and inform devotees from remotest corners of the Leh and Zanskar area of Kargil district were also seen participating in the prayers.
Governor, N N Vohra is likely to reach Leh on July 5 to meet spiritual leader Dalai Lama.
Prominent among others who participated in introductory function of Kalachakra initiation were Minister for Urban Development, Nawang Rigjin Jora, CEC LAHDC Leh, Rigzin Spalbar, MP Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang.
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