Early Public Events and Travel

In early September 1955, His Holiness traveled by car to Lhasa to meet His Holiness Dalai Lama and receive teachings. This was his first experience of traveling by car. While making offerings to His Holiness Dalai Lama, he gave an extensive explanation of the mandala in the presence of the monks from Namgyal Monastery (His Holiness Dalai Lama's private monastery) and a lay assembly including many high-ranking government officials led by Cabinet Ministers. The assembly praised him highly for his extraordinary knowledge at such a young age. Since then, his wisdom has been proclaimed throughout Tibet.

In 1956, after the Great Monlam Festival in Lhasa, he and his entourage went on a pilgrimage to the south of Lhasa. There they visited many Sakya Monasteries. During this visit, His Holiness established Dharma connections with the local people by bestowing empowerments, oral transmissions, and other teachings as requested by the monasteries he visited in those areas.

That year, the Chinese leaders organized a major meeting of the Preparation Committee for the Tibetan Autonomous Region. His Holiness was obliged to attend this meeting and had to cut short his tour. Many other high lamas, leaders and officials were at the meeting too. During this conference, despite his youth, he made a speech that was highly praised. It was an uncomfortable time for His Holiness, as he was not allowed to take any attendants with him. He vividly recalls the kind gesture of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, who carried him in his arms through the crowd and allowed him to rest on his lap during the conference.

During this time, Jamyang Khyentse Choekyi Lodroe visited Sakya and bestowed many empowerments. In his biography, Vajradhara Khyentse Rinpoche wrote that he saw His Holiness as the real embodiment of the highly realized master Ngagchang Chenpo Kunga Rinchen.

In 1956, His Holiness went on pilgrimage to India. The entourage visited Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha; Sarasvati, his principal residence and then Kushinagar where Lord Buddha manifested his Mahaparinirvana. They also went to Varanasi, and the Deer Park at Saranath where Lord Shakyamuni Buddha first turned the wheel of Dharma, giving the teaching on the Four Noble Truths. They then visited Bodh Gaya where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and where future Buddhas will become enlightened. His Holiness and his entourage made thousands of offerings at the Bodhi tree. They went to Rajgir where Lord Buddha taught the Prajnaparamita Sutra. They visited nearby Nalanda University, which has been in ruins for centuries. This University had produced thousands of illustrious scholars including Mahasiddha Virupa, who pioneered the Lam Dre teachings and was the most prominent disseminator of the Buddhist doctrines in India. The entourage chanted prayers and made offerings at all these sacred places.

Later that year when Kyabje Luding Khen Rinpoche visited Sakya, he received a major empowerment from His Holiness. On the last day, as a token of gratitude, Luding Khen Rinpoche made a mandala offering with an extensive explanation.

{ page 6: Enthronement & Departure }