Dalai Lama Commences Visit to Sikkim and West Bengal

The 14th Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, commenced his journey to Sikkim and West Bengal on Saturday, where he is scheduled to deliver teachings from December 12 to 14. This visit has sparked diplomatic discussions, particularly in the context of the ongoing border tension between India and China.

During his tour, the Dalai Lama will impart teachings in Gangtok, situated approximately 50 kilometers from the China border. At the request of the Sikkim State Government, he will focus on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s 37 practices of a Bodhisattva (leklen sodunma) at Paljor Stadium in the morning.

Subsequently, on December 14, he will proceed to Salugara in West Bengal, delivering a general teaching followed by the Ceremony for Generation of Bodhicitta (semkye) at Sed-Gyued Monastery.

Chimi Rigzin, the Dalai Lama’s secretary, stated, “His Holiness is visiting Sikkim at the invitation of the State Government of Sikkim and CM Prem Singh Tamang. He will be there for two days, during which he will provide teachings at Paljor Stadium, followed by a state banquet in his honor. On the 14th morning, he will head to Salugara for a public teaching.”

Reflecting on the significance of Sikkim, Rigzin added, “Sikkim is a crucial state. In fact, it was in Sikkim that His Holiness first arrived in India in 1956 to attend the 2500th anniversary of the Buddha Jayanti. Since then, he has visited Sikkim several times and always feels sentimental about it. It’s important to note that Sikkim is a state of the government of India, and China has no reason to be displeased, as China also recognizes Sikkim as a state of India.”