Presentation of Authentic Buddha Relics to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was honorued with the presentation of authentic and sacred relics of the Buddha on April 4th, 2024, at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala, India. The presentation was done by Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Maha Nayaka Thero who is the chief incumbent of Waskaduwa Sri Subhuthi Viharaya.

Upon arrival at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala, the relic was taken to be presented to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a culturally rich procession in accordance with Tibetan tradition.

At the temple, Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Maha Nayaka Thero had the distinct honour of presenting the relic to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This sacred offering symbolizes a profound gesture of respect and reverence towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama who embodies the core teachings of compassion and kindness that define Buddhism.

The relics, originally entrusted to the erudite Sri Lankan Buddhist monk Waskaduwe Subhuthi Thero by British official William Peppe in India, hold a storied history. Discovered during the excavation of Piprahwa in Kapilavastu in 1898, these relics have since been revered as precious artifacts embodying the essence of Buddha’s teachings. Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayaka Thero expressed profound admiration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, lauding him as a compassionate and kind spiritual leader who epitomizes the core tenets of Buddhism. His Holiness, revered worldwide and regarded as a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva, is deemed worthy of receiving such a sacred relic.

The event was overseen by Dr. Damenda Porage, the founding Chairman of the Sri Lankan Tibetan Buddhist Brotherhood Society, who played a pivotal role in its coordination.

©satipatthana.net