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Tibetan exiled leader H.H. the Dalai Lama turns 87

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Hollywood actor Richard Gere greets His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Wednesday during the launch of Dalai Lama Library and Archive in Dharamshala (Photo/OHHDL)

By Choekyi Lhamo

DHARAMSHALA, July 6: The highest Buddhist spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama turned 87 on Wednesday, marking his birthday from his residence here in Dharamshala. The octogenarian leader told the Central Tibetan Administration delegation alongside heads of monasteries that the “truth [has] always been on our side” at gathering on his birthday. “For years, I’ve worked sincerely, respecting the law of causality. The issue of Tibet is not just a political matter, it’s a question of truth,” he said on the occasion.

The Dalai Lama remarked on the evolution of the unique exile community of Tibetans spread across the world, by noting the first steps that built the foundation of learning Tibetan language and culture. “At a certain point the whole question of Tibet seemed about to vanish like a rainbow, but we set up schools and re-established our monasteries so that today Tibetan culture, religion and language thrive in exile. . . In our early days in exile, when we set up schools for Tibetan children with Prime Minister Nehru’s help and support, we appointed religious teachers to teach them,” he said, adding that generations of students in exile have grown up in tune with an appreciation of philosophy and logic.

The President of the Tibetan-government-in-exile, Penpa Tsering along with other Tibetan dignitaries celebrated the day with Indian politicians, including HP Forest minister Rakesh Pathania, and Hollywood celebrity Richard Gere. The distinguished Chief Guest CM Jai Ram Thakur could not make it to the venue due to the rainy weather, but sent his greetings on a virtual address to the Dalai Lama.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering in his address to the audience at the main temple said, “According to mysterious predictions and as per his own wishes, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has repeatedly assured us that he could live to the age of 113. To realize this, we appeal to all the Tibetans to follow the wise counsel of His Holiness.” The incumbent CTA head also said that his cabinet remains committed to fulfilling the aspirations of His Holiness by making efforts to bring necessary changes to the administrative structure alongside ensuring a sound system of governance as per the changing times.

The Dalai Lama at the end of his remarks also deliberated on his plans to visit the capital city of New Delhi for furthering talks of merging ancient Indian understanding of human emotions with modern education. “Once the pandemic subsides, I’m looking forward to going to Delhi to hold discussions with educationists about how we can make education more complete by combining a modern approach with an ancient Indian understanding of the workings of the mind and emotions,” he concluded, noting his wish for contributing to the Nalanda Buddhist tradition. 

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