Dharamshala – His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama safely returned to his residence in Dharamshala on Monday, from Bodhgaya via New Delhi, after nearly two months of teachings to thousands of people in Sikkim, West Bengal and Bodhgaya in Bihar. Tibetans, devotees and well-wishers warmly welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Dharamshala.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama safely returned to his residence in Dharamshala on January 22, 2024, from Bodhgaya via New Delhi. His Holiness the Dalai Lama was received by Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Deputy-Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, the head of the Tibetan colony in Dharamshala, Kunchok Migmar, and other representatives of various Tibetan NGOs based in Dharamshala. Meanwhile, hundreds of Tibetans and local residents lined the streets from the airport to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's residence, carrying traditional Tibetan white scarves, incense and flowers, with tears of joy and big smiles on their faces and they welcomed their Tibetan spiritual leader to Dharamshala.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a teaching on <<The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas>> to around 40,000 people at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, Sikkim, India, on December 12, 2023. Then His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a teaching on <<Generation of Bodhicitta>> to around 30,000 people at Sed-Gyued Monastery, Siliguri, West Bengal, India, on December 14, 2023. His Holiness the Dalai Lama then arrived to Bodhgaya on December 15, 2023.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurated the First International Sangha Forum in Bodhgaya, in the state of Bihar, on December 20, 2023, more than 2,000 sangha members and participants from 33 countries, including Sangharajas, Abbots and heads of Buddhist institutions.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended the World Peace Prayer Ceremony with Sakya Gongma Rinpoche, Jangtse Chöje Rinpoche, Ganden Tri Rinpoche, and other high-ranking Buddhist lamas, on December 23, 2023 at the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar, India. Buddhist delegates, who attended the International Sangha Forum 2023 and public also joined the prayer and prayed the world peace.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave three-day teaching on Nagarjuna's In Praise of Dhammadhatu (choying toepa) to the 50,000 people from 50 countries, mostly Himalayans, Tibetan monks, nuns and laypeople, including around 15,000 foreigners, at the Kalachakra Teaching Ground in Gaya, Bihar, India, from December 29 to 31, 2023.
The Central Institute of Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, and its alumni, and people belonging to the Tibetan settlement at Paonta Sahib, offered a longlife prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama on January 1, 2024.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama was invited to preside over the Gelukpa University Convocation and the award of Geshé Lharampa degrees to Geshés on January 3, 2024.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama joined the prayers of the 35th Nyinma Monlam Chemo at the Mahabodhi Temple and His Holiness also made a pilgrimage to the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India, on January 18, 2024, before leaving for New Delhi on January 19, 2024. His Holiness the Dalai Lama safely returned to his residence in Dharamshala from New Delhi, on January 22, 2023.
