Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 17: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has earned his first Grammy nomination, receiving global recognition for his spoken-word album Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The project has been shortlisted in the category Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards scheduled for February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles.
The album features the Dalai Lama’s reflections on compassion, peace, and inner wellbeing, accompanied by original compositions from sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash. The collaborative work also features contributions from international artists including, such as Andra Day, Maggie Rogers, Tony Succar, Ted Nash, Debi Nova, and Rufus Wainwright. The project was produced by multi-Grammy winner Kabir Sehgal.
Responding to the nomination, Amjad Ali Khan said the family is honoured to congratulate the Dalai Lama on his Grammy nomination, calling the album a deeply meaningful project that blends His Holiness’ wisdom with music meant to inspire reflection and compassion.
In a statement posted on his Facebook handle, he wrote, “As a family, we would like to congratulate His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his Grammy nomination for Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording. Our album ‘Meditation: Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’ is a project close to our hearts. It brings together the spoken wisdom of His Holiness with original music that invites reflection, stillness, and compassion. Throughout our lives, we have been inspired by his teachings and this collaboration allowed us to create something that carries his message of peace and hope in a new way.
He added that working with the Dalai Lama was a profound privilege, and hoped the nomination highlights the values of peace, hope, and compassion that the Tibetan leader embodies. “We are grateful to every artist who contributed their voice, creativity, and spirit to this vision. Together, we sought to create a listening experience that offers comfort, clarity, and a sense of connection for all who hear it. May this nomination shine a light on the values His Holiness embodies and the timeless need for compassion in our world.”
The Dalai Lama is competing in his category with other high-profile nominees: Kathy Carver for Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story, Trevor Noah for Into the Uncut Grass, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson for Lovely One: A Memoir, and Fab Morvan for You Know It’s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli.
