Teachings and Talks at Sarnath, Varanasi
On the occasion of 80th Birthday Celebrations
In the morning of 8 November 2019, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche left Dharamshala, and by flight via Delhi arrived in Varanasi, where His Eminence was accorded a revered reception at the airport by Sarnath-located Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies’ Vice-chancellor, the president and members of the Institute’s alumni association. Upon arrival at the Institute, His Eminence Rinpoche was welcomed reverently by the Institute’s lecturers, staff members, alumni from various parts of the world, students and others.
In the morning of 9 November 2019, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche graced, as requested, as the Chief Guest, at the international conference on “Tibetan and Himalayan Studies”, convened in the Institute’s Atisha Hall, and organised by the Institute’s Alumni Association . His Eminence Rinpoche gave a guidance talk on the occasion.
The proceedings began with lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by recital of verses of auspiciousness in Tibetan and Sanskrit. Thereafter the re took place offering of greeting ceremonial scarves to the honourable guests, and then welcome speech by Mr Thupten Lungrig the president of Alumni Association, and an introductory speech on the conference by Prof. Jampa Samten. There followed the launch of a digital copy of Sanskrit-Tibetan Dictionary, and offering of the initial copies to the honourable guests. Subsequent to that, Prof. T. N. Sidha, the Vice-chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Kashividyapeet University, gave a speech, and then a speech by the conference’s president Prof. Geshe Ngawang Samten, the Vice-chancellor of the Institute. Thereafter, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the Chief Guest for the session, gave a speech. At the end, Dr Himamshu Pandey, the Deputy Registrar, gave the gratitude speech.
In the morning of 10 November 2019, at the request of Alumni Association of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a public teaching on The Seven-point Thought Training, in the Institute’s Atisha Hall. Thereafter, the association offered His Eminence Prof. Rinpohce a tenshuk, a formal request to kindly live long, through the rites of Homage and Delighting of Sthaviras. The Tibetan sweater merchants from the area also attended the teachings and the tenshuk.
In the afternoon, His Eminence Rinpoche kindly gave time for those seeking audience, which took quite a long time.
In the evening, as a part of the programmes for the 80th Birthday Anniversary Celebrations, the present students of the Institute and alumni members presented His Eminence Rinpoche a cultural show in the Institute’s Atisha Halla.
In the morning of 11 November 2019, organised by Alumni Association of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, a felicitation ceremony in gratitude and on the occasion of the 80th Birthday Anniversary of His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche was convened in the Institute’s Atisha Hall. As requested by the association, His Eminence Rinpoche attended the event, which began with lighting of the ceremonial lamp, and then recitation of verses of auspiciousness in Tibetan and Sanskrit, and offering of ceremonial scarves to the honourable guests. The welcome speech was given by Mr Thupten Lungrig the president of the association. Prof. Jampa Samten gave an introductory speech on the felicitation ceremony and the two-volume felicitation publication, which were then formally launched by His Eminence Prof. Rinpoche. Dr Penpa Dorje gave an introductory speech on the special edition of Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Verses, of which the initial copies were offered to the honourable guests. On behalf of the association, Mr Thupten Lungrig presented to His Eminence Prof. Rinpoche a silver Wheel of Teachings Flanked by Two Deer, as an expression of gratitude to His Eminence from all the alumni members. Two members of the association read Felicitation Citation in Tibetan and Sanskrit. Thereafter, appreciation awards were presented to alumni members who had contributed greatly in educational field in the wider society. Prof. Wangchuk Dorje Negi gave a talk on the greatness and immense contributions of His Eminence Rinpoche. This was followed by a speech by Mr Pema Jungney the Special Guest for the occasion; a speech by Dr Valmiki Prasad, a former Secretary of the Home Ministry, Government of India, and a former Governer of Sikkim. His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a talk on the occasion, followed by words of Thanks by from the organising committee.
In the afternoon, at the request of the Alumni Association, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a talk, to a gathering of alumni members from many countries, who have come for the 80th anniversary celebrations, in Atisha Hall. His Eminence advised the need for those graduating from such a Institute—where one studies the major texts on Buddha’s teachings—to be distinct in the service of the society at large by being leaders in thought.
In the morning of 12 November 2019, His Eminence Rinpoche paid a holy visit to the historical Dhammek Stupa and others in the archaeological precincts at Sarnath, and also called upon some acquaintances in the area.
At midday, upon leaving the Institute the lectures, staff members, alumni members, students and others accorded a revered see-off to His Eminence Rinpoche; the Institute’s Vice-chancellor and the officials of Alumni Association accompanied His Eminence Rinpoche to the airport, from where His Eminence departed for Delhi.
