Dalai Lama leaves Mayo Clinic in good health and good spirits [Video] (UPDATED)

The Rochester Minnesota based Post Bulletin reported today that the Dalai Lama has been released from his stay at the Mayo Clinic, where he had been admitted last week after a routine check-up. He was greeted there by dozens of traditionally dressed Tibetans, who were invited to come to him for blessings.

The Dalai Lama canceled a series of October appearances in the United States on advice from his U.S. doctors. No specific issues have been named, the 80 year-old religious leader has simply been advised to rest for several weeks. According to a spokesperson, he will be returning soon to his home in Dharamsala, India.

After blessing supporters outside the clinic, the Dalai Lama went to the Mayo Civic Center, where he greeted more supporters (UPDATE: see text of his talk below). One Tibetan man, Dorjee Damdul, drove with his eight year-old daughter from Minneapolis for the opportunity to see the Dalai Lama. As reported in the Post Bulletin:

The Long Life Prayer for the Dalai Lama (available here in full) begins:

OM SVASTI
O our gurus, and your line of lamas, for whom we have the deepest gratitude,
You who are the repository of the three: secret powers of body, speech, and mind of innumerable buddhas,
Who manifest in a miraculous way to each devotee according to his capacity,
To you, who are the wish-fulfilling gems, the source of all virtues and good qualities,
We offer our prayers with intense devotion
That our protector of the great Land of Snows,
Tenzin Gyatso, upholder of the Dharma, the great ocean,
May live for a hundred eons. 
Pour on him your blessings 
That his aspirations may be fulfilled.

A quick translation of his remarks to supporters today (via VOA Tibetan):

As some of you may know, for the last 10 years or so I’ve been coming for physical checkups to the Mayo clinic, almost every year. And in India also, I go for checkups every 6 months or so. And that’s why I’m here this time also.
The last time in India, they told me that my health was good, and here also, they’ve said that my general health was excellent, with no major ailments whatsoever (applause). Now for the last 2 or 3 years I’ve had some issues with my knees. Recently a German doctor, a specialist, said to me, “you’re not 18, you’re 80,” and that things like this are normal (laughs). And I realize the truth in that diagnosis (laughs). As you age, your physical body deteriorates, so you need to be aware of your health, do checkups, and take care of small issues and symptoms.
So I’m very well, and there’s no need for any of you to worry.
However the doctors have told me to rest more. And yes, even I can see that after long trips with sustained activities, I do feel more fatigue than I used to.

We have curtailed some of the planned trips and activities in the next couple of months. In December though, I’ll be completing some Buddhist teachings that I started last year at Sera monastery, and also participating in a conference with scientists in South India. I intend to enjoy and carry out these events in a relaxed manner.