Practices for Tibet and His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Practices for Tibet and His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Date of Advice:
May 2018
Date Posted:
August 2020

Rinpoche gave this advice regarding practices to be done by FPMT centers to help the situation in Tibet and to fulfill the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The advice was given on Saka Dawa, a holy day which commemorates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Sarnath, India, 2009. Photo: Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

This is for all the FPMT centers. I felt that today, on the day of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing away into the sorrowless state, we should do something for Tibet and for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s holy wishes to succeed and to not take so much time. We should do something quickly for some change to happen, so that some great change will happen in the mainland Chinese government officials’ minds—those who control the politics—for freedom of Tibet, freedom of the middle way, whatever is the best. I did my Mickey Mouse checking, and this is what comes best:

  • Mantra Promised by Tara: 50,000 times
  • Four Mandala Offerings to Tara: 500 times

In regard to the Mantra Promised by Tara, I translated that a long time ago into English. It is for success; this is for anybody who wants to have success. So, to recite this 50,000 times in total and for this to be done by all the FPMT centers.

With bodhicitta motivation, we are doing this for Tibet and to offer strong devotion to His Holiness, to offer service and to fulfill His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s wishes. Then for the mainland Chinese government to change its mind and as quickly as possible for them to realize His Holiness the Dalai Lama is Chenrezig and to be totally devoted and to do exactly what His Holiness the Dalai Lama wishes. Also, to invite His Holiness to China, to totally devote and appreciate him, so that those billions of people can see His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s face and receive teachings and enjoy the unbelievable happiness of Dharma.

Then for there to be total freedom, the middle way, whatever is best for those Tibetan people in Tibet and outside Tibet as well. And for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to come to Tibet and meet the people there. That would be unbelievable, they would enjoy that and it would bring them unbelievable happiness. Probably a few people may die from being so, so happy to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama (joking).

By spreading the stainless Dharma, for it to happen more, so that there are more bodhisattvas and buddhas, more than before when Tibet was free, so they can help spread Buddhadharma in the world. And for Buddhadharma to last a long time and to spread in the ten directions and for more sentient beings to meet Buddhadharma and achieve enlightenment.

So that is the purpose. Then for the Chinese government officials, those who make political plans, to change their mind into total devotion. Also for Tibet to be free and for there to be more bodhisattvas and buddhas than before.

As it takes longer for Tibet to be free, then more and more Tibetan people who are in Tibet can’t stand it. They can’t wait, they can’t wait; they can’t stand it, they can’t stand it, but what can they do? Nothing. So they burn their bodies in the fire. That’s the only thing they can do. Individually, this is all they can do to expose the situation to the world. This is all they can do. So the longer it takes [for change], the more people burn.

In this way, with this motivation, recite the Mantra Promised by Tara, with total devotion to Tara. Also the Four Mandala Offerings to Tara puja should be done 500 times in total by FPMT centers, with this same motivation. That also came out good.

In the Mantra Promised by Tara there is a place where you put in a name or wish, so here in this place you can say: “For the mainland China government to change their mind, to give total freedom to Tibet, the middle way, and for there to be more bodhisattvas and buddhas to come, more than before.”  

This would be very, very good. This is something to do for FPMT, what we can do.

We didn’t get to offer a long-life puja to His Holiness the Dalai Lama recently. In the past we have offered long-life puja, but recently we didn’t get to offer separately a long-life puja. Many monasteries offered this, like in India, also nuns and different sects, but FPMT didn’t get to do it separately. In the past, many times we did this.

I was thinking one time to offer a long-life puja on behalf of all FPMT to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to actually offer a real elephant with great decorations, then maybe the king or minister or a princess and the people would kind of dress up, something like that, and to offer like that. I was thinking to do a very elaborate long-life puja. I am thinking to do this in Bodhgaya or maybe in Kushinagar.

So that’s all. This is the time we should do something. We need to hurry; we should do something. Thank you and good night.

With much love and prayers ...

Note: FPMT students subsequently completed 340,941 mantra recitations and 7,298 Four Mandala Offerings to Tara pujas. Read more and watch the video of Rinpoche thanking students here.