Leh/Jammu, August 31: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Sunday led prayers for victims of the devastating floods in Nepal's Rasuwa region and Kyirong in Tibet, which have claimed lives and caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.
Addressing a gathering in Leh, the Dalai Lama urged people to pray for those who lost their lives as well as survivors affected by the disaster.
"Friends, let us all pray for all those suffering in Nepal and Tibet as a result of this dreadful disaster, both the deceased and the survivors," he said.
He subsequently led the congregation in reciting "Om Mani Padme Hum", the mantra associated with Avalokiteshvara, in memory of those who died and for the relief of those continuing to suffer due to the floods in Rasuwa and Kyirong.
The Dalai Lama was speaking at a long-life offering ceremony organised by the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), All Ladakh Gonpa Association (ALGA) and the Tibetan Community of Ladakh at the Shewatsel Teaching Ground near Choglamsar. The event was attended by an estimated 25,000 people.
During the ceremony, he also called for prayers for the survival and flourishing of Buddhist teachings in Tibet and mainland China.
"I feel we should also pray for the flourishing of the Buddha's teaching in Tibet and mainland China," he said, adding that the Tibetan Buddhist tradition should continue to survive and spread to other parts of the world.
The spiritual leader highlighted the growing interest in Buddhism and praised the faith and devotion of people across the Himalayan region.
"People in the Himalayan region, lay-people and monastics, have a single-pointed faith and devotion to the teaching," he said, expressing hope that the tradition would also flourish among the Chinese people.
The Dalai Lama further urged Buddhist practitioners to put their beliefs into practice rather than merely paying lip service to them.
"I am doing my best to be practical about how I go about my practice. You too should do the same," he said, encouraging followers to apply Buddhist teachings in their daily lives.
During the ceremony, he also gave the oral transmission of several Buddhist mantras and offered prayers for the spread of Buddhism in India, China, the West and Africa.
The event featured traditional long-life prayers, religious offerings and recitations, including the "Song of Immortality", composed by the Dalai Lama's two tutors.
The gathering concluded with prayers for the flourishing of non-sectarian Buddhist teachings and for the protection of the Tibetan people and their Buddhist tradition.
The Dalai Lama later waved to the large gathering before returning to his residence.
