Shimla: Exiled Tibetan monks offer prayers to celebrate Dalai Lama’s birthday

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) (India), July 6: Tibetan Buddhist monks in exile celebrated the 89th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama in Shimla on Saturday.

Monks gathered to offer morning prayers for the long life of the Dalai Lama at Dorje Drak Monastery in Shimla.

Young monk Nawang Tashi Rapten, Taklung Tsetul Rinpoche and the head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism also participated in the prayers.

Acharya Lodoe Zangpo, a Tibetan Buddhist monk, said Buddhists celebrated the Dalai Lama’s 89th birthday and prayed for his long life. He said Buddhists regard the Dalai Lama as a “peacemaker” and “very important” in this age of decadence.

Speaking to ANI, Zangpo said, “Today we are celebrating the 89th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Early in the morning, we offered long life prayers and long life mandalas in front of his throne. We celebrated the cutting of the cake and now we have offered all the prayers for his long life in the continuation of the Buddha Dharma in this world.”

Asked about the importance of the Dalai Lama for peace, he said, “It is very important for all of us because of this period of decadence. There are so many changes, negative things and wars in this world. We see him as a peacemaker and a peace giver and he teaches a message of peace to us and all over the world. So we consider him very important in this period of decadence.”

The 14th Dalai Lama was born into a small farming family in Takster, Tibet, on July 6, 1935. He was named Lhamo Thondup, which literally means “Wish-fulfilling Goddess,” according to the Dalai Lama’s website.

At the age of two, young Lhamo Dhondup was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. In October 1939, he was brought to Lhasa and was officially installed as head of state of Tibet on February 22, 1940.

At the age of six, Lhamo Dhondup was named Tenzin Gyatso. On November 17, 1950, the Dalai Lama was formally enthroned as the temporal ruler of Tibet in a ceremony held at Norbulingka Palace.

In March 1959, after the suppression of the Tibetan national uprising, the Dalai Lama was forced into exile in India with more than 80,000 refugees. For more than 60 years, the Dalai Lama has worked to promote peace, love and compassion.

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