Photo: OHHDL
His Holiness the Dalai Lama turned 85 on July 6. Messages from Tibetans, friends and supporters have been delivered from around the world to congratulate the Tibetan spiritual leader on his birthday. His Holiness has said that large celebrations, made impossible by COVID-19 restrictions, were not necessary, and asked instead that followers wishing to mark the occasion “recite the Mani mantra [Om Mani Padme Hum] at least a thousand times”.
A group of people from Taiwan who gathered to celebrate His Holiness 85th birthday was given a short teaching on Geshé Langri Tangpa’s Eight Verses for Training the Mind which focuses on the awakening of mind of Bodhichitta.
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) also known as the Tibetan Government-in-exile marked the day with a special celebration, together with the Speaker and members of the Tibetan Parliament. Dr Sangay said that his office and “Tibetan people, those inside Tibet and those in exile pay our heartfelt greetings to His Holiness, the most revered leader of Tibet, the world’s leading spokesman for peace, the epitome of Buddha’s wisdom and unconditional compassion.” He spoke of the untiring efforts of His Holiness on behalf the Tibetan communities in exile which has today made the Tibetans the most successful refugees in the world.
CTA President cutting a celebratory cake at Gankyi hall
Photo: Phayul
Tibetan non-government institutions, friends and supporters of Tibet send birthday wishes to His Holiness through various online platforms.
85 video messages from world leaders, His Holiness’s friends, and the heads of various traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and the native Tibetan Bon religion sent their wishes; these were shared on Tibet.net – the official website of the CTA.
Leaders of the Tibetan Buddhism sects and Bon religion expressed heartfelt greetings and gratitude for His Holiness’s tireless service to humanity and to Buddha dharma. They offered prayers for His Holiness’s long life for the benefit of all the sentient beings.
A number of world leaders marked the occasion, including former United States President George Bush Jr; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi and Chinese Civil Rights Activist, Chen Guangcheng, among others [to see the full list please click here].
In Russia, in line with the restriction on gatherings, thousands of Buddhists and well-wishers marked the day with a number of celebratory events online.
Voice of Tibet (VOT) – the Tibetan and Chinese news radio station and online news site based in Dharamshala – organised a musical tribute programme; 11 participants, all Tibetans living in various exile communities, each released a musical tribute to His Holiness through via VOT. They held an online public vote and has awarded Rs 25,000 [US$ 330 and £ 260] to the winner, with another Rs 25,000 awarded to one selected by a VOT panel.
On July 7, His Holiness thanked everyone for sending birthday greetings from around the world. He gave a reassurance that his health is good and that he is looking forward to continuing his service to humanity. His Holiness added, “In the world in which we live today, nations are no longer isolated and self-sufficient as they once were. We have all become much more interdependent; therefore, there is a need to be even more aware of the oneness of humanity. The interests of others are our own. Climate change and the current pandemic, which threaten us all, are challenges that teach us that we must work together, making a concerted effort to reach our common goal of a more caring and more peaceful world.”
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