His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching for the Tibetan Youth (Photo courtesy@ Dalailama.com)
2nd June: His Holiness’ two days’ teaching for the youth at Tsuglakhang, Dharamsala concluded today with the Avalokiteshvara Empowerment, thus completing the 16th teaching for the Tibetan youth. In these two days, His Holiness gave teaching on Jhe Tsongka Pa’s “In praise of Dependent Origination and Avalokiteshvara Empowerment”. On the last day of His teaching, just like he left his birthday gift message once, his message this time was, “Wherever you are, think about bodhichitta and emptiness. Doing that will increase your accumulation of merit and wisdom and the more you do that, the more it will help the Tibetan cause”. The very beginning of the holy month of Saka Dawa, was thus a blessed one for all the devotees including those joining online.
School Children with their ritual red blindfolds (photo courtesy@ Dalailama.com)
Apart from the thousands of devotees from all across India and abroad including both young and elder, almost all the students of Upper TCV attended the two days’ teachings without failure. The senior ones were escorted by their class teachers while the smaller ones were escorted by their beloved foster parents and their teachers thereby showing a proper delegation of duties equally. Every day for these two days, the students assembled on the ground as early as 5 a.m. and left for Tsuglakhang in proper order. As usual, there were senior students from TCV Suja, Gopalpur and Chauntra with approximately 300 including their escorts who were all accommodated in the school. His Holiness was pleased seeing the students as usual. In these two days teaching, The remaining students were shown the live telecast of the teaching at their respective schools.
Students receiving the blessing of nectar (Photo courtesy@ Dalailama.com)
The first teaching for the Tibetan youth during the summer began in the year 2007 and since then, His Holiness had been giving these special teachings as requested by Buddhism Introductory Committee of Dharamsala (BICD) Every year thousands of youth and public from all across the world attend the teachings. Except last two years, when the teaching was done online, all the teachings were held in the main courtyard of the temple and Upper TCV school, Dharamsala. The main aim of the teaching is to create more awareness about Tibetan Buddhism and culture among the youth.
The school Captains welcoming His Holiness to the courtyard (Photo courtesy@ Dalailama.com)
During the two days’ teaching, right after His Holiness left the main temple the devotees including the youths were divided into two groups which were conducted by two venerable Geshe las. There were discussions on His Holiness teaching followed by question and answer sessions. Each day, the teaching would end after this much needed break-out sessions with the Geshe las. Morning butter tea and bread were served everyday by the committee.
First day of the teaching at Tsuglakhang (Photo courtesy@ Dalailama.com)
The school Environment and Health club headed by Gen Wangchuk la and Gen Tashi Topgyal la with their strong dedicated team of around 70 students volunteered to clean the temple courtyard every day after the teachings. The special two days’ teaching for the Tibetan youth concluded successfully. His Holiness always let them feel so loved and special. His Holiness always let them feel so loved and special. He also advised them to stay happy. His Holiness promised to stay for twenty more years, which was received so well with the whole courtyard overflowing with the sound of rousing applause out of sheer joy and happiness from the thousand devotees.
Upper Tibetan Children's Village School 