The Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, visited Sankisa in Uttar Pradesh, India, from 30 January–1 February this year, where he offered prayers and gave Dharma teachings, and also met with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
HH the Dalai Lama meeting with Mr. Akhilesh Yadav, the chief minister of UP, India, at Sankisa on 1 February. From uttamup.com
Sankisa is situated in Farrukhabad, UP, and is an historical Buddhist site. It is said to be the place where all Buddhas descend to earth from the Heaven of Thirty-Three (or Tushita), after teaching their mothers there. Tibetan Buddhists celebrate the day of the Buddha’s descent every year. It is known historically as Sankashya, and in the Hindu epic Ramayana and the travelogues of the 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk-pilgrim Xuanzang, is referred to as Kapittha.
Among the things the Dalai Lama and the chief minister discussed was the development of the spiritual site. The chief minister said, “The SP [Samajwadi Party] government is working towards over-all development of Sankisa ‘Mutt’. All necessary formalities are being completed. The plan is ready and work on securing adjoining land is underway for the development of the Buddhist heritage site” (The Times of India). Welcoming the chief minister’s decision, the Dalai Lama advised, “I will ask the state government to also increase expenditure on education, medical and development.”
HH the Dalai Lama on the final day of his teaching in Sankisa, UP, India, on 1 February. From tibetanreview.net
They also discussed secular issues, about which they share certain beliefs. The chief minister was quoted in The Times of India as saying, “As per the spiritual leader, a society can progress only through secular belief. A society is made of people practicing different religions but the path of almost all religions is the same.” With this in mind, the Dalai Lama said that they hope “to set up a spiritual university at this place where students will learn about all religions.”
The Dalai Lama was invited to Sankisa by the Youth Buddhist Society of India. As part of his visit, he unveiled an impressive new replica of the Sankisa Ashokan pillar which is around 40 meters tall with an elephant capital, complete with trunk and tail. He also blessed a chorten (stupa) built by Shechen Monastery according to the wish of the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
HH the Dalai Lama teaching at the Youth Buddhist Society's teaching ground in Sankisa, UP, India, on 31 January. From tibetanreview.net
His Holiness further gave teachings on the Dhammapada, with around 20,000 people attending. These included about 500 Indian Buddhist monks and around 1,000 Tibetans.
The Dalai Lama visited Sankisa for the first time in 1960. During his visit this year, he met with family members of the former village head. The Times of India quoted him as saying, “I am happy to be back at this historical place in Farrukhabad. I had visited this place about 55 years ago and which was the workplace of great socialist Ram Manohar Lohia [an activist of the Indian independence movement]. Lot of development has taken place in Sankisa since then.”