HH the Dalai Lama visits Madison
Tenshug: Long life celebration for "Man of Peace"
(Photos on this page) Tibetan
Cultural Show, Tibetan Mega
Concert; (Left) WTA Pres. Lobsang
Tenzin; Long Life Initiation
Ceremony; Candlelight vigil; Long
Life Offering; HH the Dalai Lama

By Heidi M. Pascual  

      On July 19-24, His Holiness the Dalai Lama (the spiritual and temporal
leader of Tibet who has been in exile in Dharamsala, India since 1959), visited
Madison, Wis., for the seventh time. Thousands of people all over the world —
of Tibetan descent and others — came to listen to his teachings and to
participate in the Tenshug, the ceremonial long life offering to HH the Dalai
Lama. It was the first time this special ritual was ever conducted in the West,
and it was conducted at Alliant Energy Center’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
According to Ven. Geshe Sopa’s explanation in Tibetan (as translated by Sharpa
Tulku (Tenzin Trinley), “Tenshug is done to request the spiritual teacher (lama)
to live a long life for the preservation of the Buddhist teachings (dharma) and
the happiness of all living beings.” Ven. Sopa further  wrote: “In order to sustain
the dharma in the world for a long time and to benefit beings, the lamas have
incarnated through successive lives as ordinary people.”  
      At the Tenshug ceremony on July 24, the offering was made through
supplications to Goddess White Tara, the deity of longevity.
      HH the Dalai Lama delivered his public talk on the first day of his visit,
highlighting the search for happiness of all people, and his message of peace.
The next four days were dedicated to his teaching, while the evenings were
dedicated to cultural shows and concerts.
      Wis. Tibetan Association President Lobsang Tenzin was elated by the visit
of HH the Dalai Lama and the huge turnout. “We want HH to live long for his
teaching on love and compassion,” Tenzin said. “He has a great connection with
Deer Park, the Tibetan community and UW-Madison, especially Prof. Richard
Davidson, that’s why he visited Madison again this year.”  
      Tenzin told Asian Wisconzine that there are 32 Tibetan communities in
North America, yet HH the Dalai Lama came to Madison, Wis. “We’re very
honored to receive him for two consecutive years,” he said. “It’s a lot of work,
but it’s worth it; and I’m very happy to be part of the organizing committee.”  
After the Mega Concert on July 23, attendees and participants gathered at the
Alliant Energy parking lot and held a candlelight vigil. “This candelight vigil is a
worldwide prayer for peace and for those who lost their lives in China’s
earthquake, in the recent Lhasa protests, and in the Burma riots too,” Tenzin
explained. “We are hoping for the best, as far as Tibet is concerned; as His
Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “‘Be optimistic.’”