The following article is from the Winter, 1986 issue of the Snow Lion Newsletter and is for historical reference only. You can see this in context of the original newsletter here.

H.H. the Dalai Lama recently bestowed the Kalachakra Initiation to the largest gathering of Buddhists since the 1950's. An amazing crowd of more than a quarter of a million came to receive the week-long initiation. Over 9,000 monks were in attendance. On one day a Western monk led the 9,000 monks as the umdze (chant master). He led not only the monks of the big three- but also monks from the four different lineages of Tibetan Buddhism who had gathered there. Among the many high lamas present were H.H. Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, head of the Sakya lineage, H.H. Ganden Tri Rinpoche, head of the Gelug lineage, H.H. the Drikung Kyabgon, Chetsang Rinpoche and H.H. Taglung Rinpoche of the Kagyu lineage, and H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and the Dhungse of H.H. Miling Trichen Rinpoche of the Nyingma lineage. In addition to the initiation, H.H. the Dalai Lama gave many teachings. In the evening there was folk dancing and other cultural events. Elaborate and extensive long life prayers were offered to H.H. the Dalai Lama.

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Long-life offering to the Dalai Lama at the Kalachakra Initiation.

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