(TibetanReview.net, Dec28, 2017) – The Dalai Lama is to arrive at Buddhism’s holiest site of Bodh Gaya on Jan 2 and give a series of religious teachings beginning Jan 5. He will also be offered a long-life prayer ceremony. Besides, the Chief Minister of Bihar state will join a book release function with him.
His first teaching, organised at the request of Nalanda Shiksha, will be on The Four Noble Truths (chokyi khorlo korwe do) and the Sutra on Dependent Origination (tendrel chi do) and will be held from Jan 5 to 7. The teaching’s venue is stated to have capacity for 35,000 people.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of Bihar is to arrive at Bodh Gaya on Jan 7 to attend a book release ceremony with the Dalai Lama.
And from Jan 14 to 16, the Dalai Lama is to give teachings on Nagarjuna’s Commentary on Bodhichitta and Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva. An Avalokiteshvara initiation will also be conferred over Jan 15-16.
Also on Jan 16, the Dalai Lama will be offered a long-life prayer ceremony jointly by devotees from Mongolia and the Namgyal monastery.
While at Bodh Gaya, the Dalai Lama will also consecrate a newly built Thai Monastery on Jan 25.
Before visiting Bodh Gaya, the Dalai Lama will attend a conference on ‘Mind in Indian Philosophical Schools of Thought and Modern science’ at the Central University of Tibetan Studies (CUTS), Varanasi, over Dec 30-31. He will also grace the 50th founding anniversary of the CUTS on Jan 1.
