The Dalai Lama opens US Senate Session with Prayers
The full-length video is below:
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/dalailamasenate2014-full.mp4
It was a historic morning in the Senate Thursday, when the Dalai Lama gave the Senate’s opening prayer in place of Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black.
Attendance, however, left something to be desired. A good number of staffers were gathered on the floor and in the galleries, but the chamber was by no means packed. Perhaps a dozen senators were present when Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., brought the Senate into session and yielded to the Dalai Lama for the morning prayer.
“We make our world. Speak or act with a pure mind, and happiness will follow you,” he said. “This is my favorite prayer. Daily I pray this.”
Following the opening prayer, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., requested that the Senate recess in order for senators to meet with the Dalai Lama.
“His Holiness often says that he is only a simple monk, born to a farming family in northeastern Tibet. But to millions of people in Tibet and across the globe, he is much more — he is a source of hope and inspiration in a world that can sometimes seem dark,” Reid said. “The presence of His Holiness in this chamber today inspires me — as I hope it does all of us — to renew our commitment to speak and act with a pure mind and help dispel the misery of the world.”
Before the Senate convened, the Dalai Lama could be seen on the Senate floor greeting several senators, including Leahy and California Democrat Dianne Feinstein. There was also an exchange with Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, the first Buddhist elected to the Senate.
The Dalai Lama has a series of meetings on both sides of the Rotunda Thursday.
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/dalailamasenate2014-short.mp4
Source: http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/dalai-lama-gives-senate-opening-prayer-video/
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Wow….historical moment for the US Senate session to start off after an opening prayer by H.H. The Dalai Lama the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet. That’s wonderful, it was probably the first time that a Buddhist had given the opening prayer. Dalai Lama’s compassion, wisdom and message have inspired those present to create a set of policies and programs to help Tibetans in their quest for rights and dignity. They welcomed Dalai Lama’s call to help dispel the misery of the world. Dalai Lama a Nobel Peace Prize recipient has touches everybody’s conscience.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Seng Piow for this sharing.
感謝仁波切分享這個歷史性事件，美國參議院能接受並承認達賴喇嘛是一頁有力的讯息，促進和平，超越種族及宗教。相信美國政府將支持達賴喇嘛在他的佛法理念帶來世界和平。
US is indeed a free country. With HHDL doing the opening prayers, it just shows how much Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, has caught on in the country.
I am glad Buddha’s way of life, his teachings are reaching far and wide, not limited to Oriental countries only.
Dalai Lama has benefitted millions over and he is still benefitting sentient beings still. The Dalai Lama have done a lot for Tibetans and the people over, not to mention he brought Buddhism to a whole new level. Buddhist all over have to be thankful for the Dalai Lama’s unending efforts.
The Dalai Lama delivers a beautiful prayer with senators of many different faiths at the opening. We can say it is an interfaith moment for that historic moment to promote religious harmony among the senators.
Wow! It is exciting that world leaders are expanding their mind to welcome leadership and methods of humanity. I hope that benchmark events such as this will only open more opportunities to re-habituate our attitudes towards spirituality and humanity consciousness in our daily lives.
I hope that greater presence of spiritual attitude will allow us to realize that such aspects of life is not and should not be limited to weekends or when-i-am-free. Instead, it should be incorporated to empower mundane routines.
Yes, this was indeed a unique historical moment for the US Senate session to start off after an opening prayer by H.H. The Dalai Lama in place of the senate chaplain, Barry C. Black. His Holiness, is a well-respected world wide spiritual leader, and is a source of hope and inspiration to millions of people, both around the Globe and Particularly to Tibet. He has touched peoples’ hearts transcending religious, national and political barriers, as a man of universial peace with his simplicity, profundity and greatness of compassion! His Holiness’ presence in the US senate will show to the World that America is nation with a freedom of speech and religions. This will also serve as a spiritual encouragement to many around the world to act, speak and assist with a pure mind like the Dalai Lama, to help dispel the miseries of the suffering of all beings. Many heartfelt thanks to Rinpoche for the sharing of this post. Om mani padmi hung.
‘We make our world,speak or act with pure mind,and happiness will follow you like a shadow that never leaves’ and reciting the verses from Shantideva prayer by HHDL is so sweet and short but very true and inspiring! Thank you for sharing the beautiful videos.
how fortunate are we the congress accepts wholeheartedly the contribution of this simple monk
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this post…
Its very meaningful and is truly Buddhism no barriers…
Thanks for Rinpoche’s sharing. This is really wonderful can see Dalai Lama and hear his voice.Dalau Lama really humble, who were there were fortunate to receive direct blessing from Dalai Lama. May Dalai Lama have good health and long life.
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this with us. It”s really touching to hear very meaningful prayers.May His Holliness wishes be fulfiiled..and may all miseries be dispelled.
This is such a good way to open the US senate session. I am sure that all the prayers done that day will bring many benefits. Thank you for sharing Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing on this historic moment of H.H. Dalai Lama in the opening prayer for US Senate Assembly.
“This is my favorite prayer. Daily I pray this. That gives me inner strength. So I am asking to serve humanity. As long as space remains and as long as sentient beings remain, until then may I too, remain and help dispel the misery of the world. Thank you.”
I am truly touched with the words given by H.H. Dalai Lama.
How fortunate we are to have H.H. Dalai Lama to save everyone of us from misery and unhappiness. Let’s do our part to spread the peace and happiness by cultivating the same motivation shown by H.H. Dalai Lama. Om Mani Padme Hum.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.I am trully glad that the US senate accept and recognise that the Dalai Lama is a symbol to promote peace to the world.His comparison for peace go beyond race and religion.
We certainly hope that the government of the US will support the Dalai Lama in his course to bring peace to his own country.
Thank you Rinpoche for this lovely post.
Thank you Sharon Ong for the transcript of HH Dalai lama’s prayer.
“With our thoughts , we make our world.”
With these powerful words, HH Dalai Lama began his short prayer before the US Senate, on this historic occasion.
“Speak or act with a pure mind, and happiness will follow you”.
This second sentence packs into a nutshell the central message of Lord Buddha’s teaching on happiness.
This beautiful prayer of the Dalai Lama ends with the last stanza of the lovely and immortal Shantideva’s Bodhhicaryavatara Dedication prayer-
“As long as space remains
And as long as sentient beings remain,
Until then may I too remain and help
To dispel the miseries of the world”.
Beautiful at the start, in the middle and at the end!
“For as long as space remains,
For as long as sentient beings remain,
Until then may I too remain
To dispel the miseries of the world”.
The above that His Holiness everyday recites, showing us how compassion he is to liberate each and every sentient beings in this world. (Om mani padme hum).
Thank you for sharing this historical event, Rinpoche. It is wonderful for the Dalai Lama to begin such an auspicious event with prayers. He is extremely humble and compassionate to all sentient beings.
“This is my favorite prayer. Daily I pray this. That gives me inner strength. So I am asking to serve humanity.
“As long as space remains and as long as sentient beings remain,
until then may I too, remain
and help dispel the misery of the world.
Thank you.”
My heart opens and a tear flows. Simple words from a simple monk. I imagine Tsem Rinpoche in his silver years just like the Dalai Lama. Humble, unassuming and full of simple truths and great wisdom.
We make our world. Speak or act with a pure mind, and happiness will follow you like a shadow that never leaves is really meaningful . Its same like what we have done in our life , the karma will follow us like a shadow that never leaves as well .
We make our world. Speak or act with a pure mind, and happiness will follow you like that shadows that never leave is really meaning full . Its like what we have done in our life, the karma also will follow us like the shadow that never leave .
Thank you for sharing this historical and remarkable moment with us Rinpoche. Having the Dalai Lama to open the US Senate Session with prayer shows us how much Buddhism has reached out there. The Americans have once again set themselves as an example to the world that they are a nation with freedom of speech and religion.
The Dalai Lama in his prayer has given the true essence of the Buddha’s teaching. May the words of wisdom of his holiness remain in the mind of those who were present that day and transform them to always have pure mind when they speak and act.
OM MANI PADME HUNG
It is so good to hear His Holiness chanting the Shantideva over youtube! His Holiness has done so much for Buddhist all over.
How wonderful. Few words with so much meaning.
A moment in history – reflecting the open minds of the U.S senate & appreciation of the work of HHDL.
Om mani pedme hum
It is indeed fortunate for those who can meet H.H. Dalai Lama in person and especially on this rare occasion, the opening prayer for US Senate Assembly. A historical moment indeed. His Holiness work tirelessly for all sentient being. Hope this will plant a big karmic seed in them just by seeing H.H.
Its is truly an awesome and a historical morning for the US Senate. How wonderful to start an opening prayer by HHDL in the meeting. I rejoice for the wonderful blessing. It is amazing that Buddhism is growing and be inspiring to many. Im a proud Buddhist and always!!
May the Dharma teaching continues to grow and benefit to all.
Another milestone indeed.
OM MANI PADME HUNG
Thank you for this post, Rinpoche. I love his short but yet meaningful prayer at such a historical event. He is so humble and compassionate. He actually altered his speech a little to say “all Gods” in place of Buddha.
I found the transcript from http://time.com/14056/dalai-lama-senate-prayer/.
With our thoughts, we make our world. Our mind is central and precedes our deeds. Speak or act with a pure mind, and happiness will follow you like a shadow that never leaves. The second sentence. [Speaking in foreign tongue] May there be joy in the world with harvest and spiritual rest. May every good fortune come to be and may all our wishes be fulfilled. [Speaking in foreign tongue] This is my favorite prayer. Daily I pray this. That gives me inner strength. So I am asking to serve humanity. As long as space remains and as long as sentient beings remain, until then may I too, remain and help dispel the misery of the world. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing the transcript