Longevity

The Bhutanese carry out rituals and prayers through which they request the Buddhas and the enlightened master to live long and help the sentient beings. The ritual of requesting to live long is generally conducted for important spiritual masters by chanting specific prayers written for the longevity of that master. The prayer is often composed by another important religious figure who is said to have gained power of speech so that what he says will come true. The followers of the master for whom the prayers are chanted recite the prayer and often sing it in tunes. The verses often praise the master by highlighting his qualities and achievements and request him to live long and pray to the powerful spiritual forces to make that happen.