Dalai Lama to visit Bodh Gaya for 5 days

Over 50,000 people from all over the world are expected to assemble at Bodh Gaya’s Kalchakra Maidan from January 5 to 9, 2010 to hear a discourse from Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, reports Rai Atul Krishna.

Over 50,000 people from all over the world are expected to assemble at Bodh Gaya’s Kalchakra Maidan from January 5 to 9, 2010 to hear a discourse from Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

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“His Holiness will give five-day teachings on Nagarjuna’s in Praise of the Transcendental (jigten ley depar toepa), Atisha’s Lamp of the Path to Enlightenment (jangchup lamdron), Longchen Rinpoche’s Mind In Comfort and Ease (semnyid nyelso) & Tsongkhapa’s Short Version of the Stages of the Path To Enlightenment (lamrim dhuedhon) from January 5 to 8”, says the Dalai Lama’s official website.

It goes on to add: “On the morning of January 9, His Holiness will confer a Long Life Empowerment (tsewang) and a long life offering will be offered to His Holiness”.

The Dalai Lama, Gaya District Magistrate Sanjay Singh confirmed on Tuesday, would reach Bodh Gaya on January 4 and leave the place on January 10. “He’ll stay at the Tibetan temple”, he said.

Singh said he had yet to receive any word from the Centre on the protocol to be followed during the Tibetan leader’s visit. “But it will be a big event for which special security arrangements are being put in place”, he told HT.

“Only yesterday (December 14), we had a meeting with monastery representatives, hotels’ association leaders and nagar panchayat members to facilitate smooth arrangements for the event”, the DM said.

As per the information available so far, the Dalai Lama is not scheduled for any engagement with the political leadership of Bihar. “We have not even received any VIP tour programme so far”, Singh said.

The Dalai Lama’s secretary, Tenzing Taklha, said His Holiness’ office at Dharmashala, too, was not keeping track of any VIP appearance during his Bihar trip. “Normally, we don’t even facilitate VIP visits. Whoever comes, does so on his or her own”, he told HT.