Special Prayers in Tokyo

Special Prayers for the Flood and Mudslide Victims held in Tokyo
[Tibet House Japan, Friday 20 August 2010]

Tokyo: A special prayer service for the flood and mudslide victims in India, Pakistan, Tibet and China was held at Joenji, a Japanese Buddhist Temple in Tokyo. Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan and East Asia organized the prayer session; around forty Tibetans and Japanese participated.
Mr. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya of the Liaison Office briefed the gravity of the situation in the affected area and said that this prayer session is in tandem with the prayers held in Dharamsala and Tibetan settlements throughout India and abroad. He said that the prayer is for the peace of those deceased, and for early normalization of the lives of those affected, and to pray that such disasters are not repeated.

Regarding the mudslide disaster in Drugchu area of Tibet, which claimed the lives of more than 1300 Chinese and Tibetans and many rendered homeless, Mr. Arya said that the disaster is viewed by some experts and environmentalists as "a man made disaster". "Through this prayer service we would also like to appeal to the Chinese leadership to refrain from further damaging the already fragile ecology of Tibet." He said.

Mr. Lobsang, Vice President of Tibetan Community in Japan [TCJ] led the prayers. Recitation of Tara and Heart sutra, [Dolma and Sherab Nyingpo], Guru prayers and Mani mantra etc were done. As Tibetan texts with Japanese translation and transliteration were made available, the Japanese participants also recited the prayers along with the Tibetans. Japanese version of Heart Sutra, Hangya Shingyo was also offered.

Mr. Arya thanked the participants, and took the opportunity to thank the Japanese public for their generous donation for Kyegudo Earthquake Relief Fund. A brief report on how the fund has been transferred to the Relief Committee in India was also made. He further appealed for similar relief assistance for the affected areas in Ladhak, and Drugchu in Tibet.

The participants offered butter lamps at the altar, some made donation for the relief activities. Many expressed shock and sympathy.