"Special Envoy Kasur Lodi Gyari (L) presents His Holiness the Dalai Lama's gifts to Dr James Billington, Librarian of the Library of US Congress." Image via TibetCustom.
This from TibetCustom:
The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. organised an event on Monday (19 July) during which the Librarian, Dr James Billington, received three gifts to the Library from His Holiness the Dalai Lama from his Special Envoy Lodi Gyari.
The three gifts consist of an 18th century Thangka of the Buddha from the Paksam Trishing collection; a Mandala offering set; and a golden butter lamp.
Gyari Rinpoche spoke about His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to the Library in February this year, during which he had expressed his desire to make some gifts to the Library’s collection. Rinpoche described the significance of the Thangka. He referred to these gifts as strengthening the bond between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the United States, 102 years William Rockhill had received some gifts from the 13th Dalai Lama, which later became a part of the Library’s collection.
Dr Billington, in his remarks, said he was honoured and humbled to accept these very special gifts from His Holiness. He said that when His Holiness visited the Library he had the opportunity to show him the gifts given by his predecessor, the 13th Dalai Lama, to William Rockhill in 1908. These included a beautiful thangka and a copy of the Tibetan text on the perfection of wisdom, both highly symbolic of the special meeting.
Dr Billington said today’s gifts also have special symbolic significance. He said they reminded him of the Library’s core mission, to offer the light of wisdom and learning to the world through preserving a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations. He said this includes the Library’s Tibetan collection consisting of nearly 13,000 volumes.
Librarian Billington requested Gyari Rinpoche to thank His Holiness for these profound gifts, symbolic also of our friendship, and said he welcomed His Holiness to visit again and again. Dr Billington concluded by wishing Gyari Rinpoche Tashi Delek.
Read the rest here.
Today’s quote is from Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, founder of the Chokgyar Lingpa Foundation. He is the son of the late, great Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (1920-1996), one of the most remarkable Kagyu/Nyingma masters of the last century, as well as the brother of renowned Buddhist masters Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and Mingyur Rinpoche. In addition, he is the father of both the seventh Phakchok Rinpoche and Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche–the reincarnation of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. This is it:
