Long life prayer for Karmapa and Professor Sempa Dorje at KIBI

February 5, 2020

On 4 February 2020, Guru Rinpoche Day, the staff of Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI), together with the sangha, offered a long life prayer for Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, and Professor Sempa Dorje.

This ceremony, which is called Tenshug, brought to a conclusion a five day puja of Dolkar Yishin Khorlo (Tsedub) from 31 January 2020 – 4 February 2020. This puja was presided over by Maniwa Lama Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche as the Dorje Lopon (Vajra Master). Maniwa Lama Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche guided the KIBI residents and visiting sanghas from Diwakar Buddhist Institute (Kalimpong) and Karma Dubgyud Choeling monastery (Ladakh) through the ritual, which the KIBI lay community also participated in.

The long life ceremony, or Tenshug, is a powerful way of praying for the teacher to live long for the benefit of all beings. It is marked by an elaborate display of devotion, expressed through prayers and symbolic offerings, such as mandalas, offerings of body, speech, mind, and the eight symbols of auspiciousness. On a deeper level, the Tenshug is performed in order to pacify obstacles (especially to long life), and for the fulfilment of all benevolent wishes of the teacher.

In the presence of the Karmapa and Professor Sempa Dorje, the gathered devotees extended their heartfelt prayers for the well-being of all our precious teachers, as well as all sentient beings. Through the merit accumulated during this ceremony, there was the deep wish that all obstacles may be pacified and longevity accomplished.

KIBI marked this auspicious occasion with the release of a new book, ‘Illuminating Sun: Commentary elucidating the meaning of the King of Aspiration Prayers, the Aspiration for Noble Excellent Conduct.’ (Arya-bhadra-carya-pranidhana-raja)