Brussels: On the occasion of the holy month of Buddha Purnima, six Tibetan Buddhist institutions based in Belgium comprising Dzogchen Gelek Palbarling, Shedrub Tengyeling, Tsechen Association, Karma Sonam Gyatsoling, Chokling Jedenkhang, and Sera Jey Buddhist Cultural Centre offered long-life prayers to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the monastery in Schoten on 27 May.

The prayer ceremony was presided by Ranyak Paltrul Rinpoche, Lama Zoepa Rinpoche, Lama Tashi Nyima, Metok Rinpoche, and Ven Tseten Phuntsok. It was attended by the chief guest, Belgium’s Office of Tibet Representative Rigzin Genkhang, and special guest, President of the Belgian Buddhist Union Carlo Luyckx, Executive director of Schoten Institute Karel Bolckmans, Directors and Geshes of religious associations, Directors of Tibetan association-led associations, and weekend schools.

At the event, Ranyak Paltrul Rinpoche spoke about the significance of offering the long-life prayer ceremony, followed by President Palden Tsering of the Tibetan Association who said that the aim of the prayer ceremony was to implement the four commitments of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in daily life. President of the Belgian Buddhist Union Carlo Luyckx in his address said that due to everyone’s efforts in the past 17 years, the Government of Belgium is about to officially recognise Buddhism as a religion, and everyone must continue to dedicate their efforts and all the institutions must pray for overcoming the obstacles in accomplishing this. Executive director of Schoten Institute Karel Bolckmans noted that this time unlike previously, many religious associations had come together to take part in the ceremony. This was the first time so many religious associations had come together and thanked Shedrub Tengyeling’s Ven Tseten Phuntsok, particularly for his role in achieving this.

Chief guest, Representative Rigzin Genkhang praised the achievement of the six Tibetan Buddhist associations coming together for the long-life offering ceremony and expressed hope that in the future even more could come together. The purpose of offering the long-life ceremony this time was to collectively accumulate merits to dedicate it to the long life of His Holiness and remove all obstacles to achieving the same. On behalf of the Belgium Budhist Associations presented a statue of Buddha to the President of the Belgian Buddhist Union Mr. Carlo Luyckx as a token of gratitude.

A discourse was held on His Holiness’s four principal commitments by the Geshes in the afternoon.

Around 200 people participated led by the Tibetan Buddhist associations and local Tibetan community.

Representative Rigzin Genkhang was accompanied by Secretary Thinley Wangdue of the Office of Tibet, Brussels at the ceremony.