DHARAMSHALA– The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, celebrated his 90th birthday on Sunday, July 6, with a vibrant week-long series of events in Dharamshala, India, where he has lived in exile since 1959. Addressing over 15,000 devotees at a long-life prayer ceremony at the Tsuglagkhang temple in McLeodganj, the Tibetan spiritual leader expressed his hope to live “another 30 or 40 years – even beyond 130,” citing “clear signs” of blessings from Avalokiteshvara, the Buddhist deity of compassion.
The celebrations, attended by dignitaries like Indian ministers Kiren Rijiju and Rajiv Ranjan Singh, and actor Richard Gere, underscored the Dalai Lama’s enduring global influence as a symbol of peace and non-violence.The milestone birthday comes amid heightened tensions over the Dalai Lama’s succession, a deeply spiritual and political issue.
The Dalai Lama reaffirmed that only the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, established to preserve Tibetan Buddhist traditions, holds the authority to identify his reincarnation, explicitly rejecting China’s claim to control the process. Beijing, which views the Dalai Lama as a separatist, insists it alone can approve the next Dalai Lama, raising fears of interference in the centuries-old tradition of reincarnation.
In a video message earlier this week, the Dalai Lama declared, “No one else has any authority to interfere,” addressing concerns among Tibetans and supporters worldwide. The announcement has alleviated anxieties within the Tibetan diaspora, with many, like 27-year-old hotelier Pema Urgen, expressing relief.
“We were unsure about the future, but His Holiness has put those fears to rest,” she said. However, China’s stance looms large, with its past actions, such as appointing its own Panchen Lama, signaling potential conflict over the next Dalai Lama’s selection. The Tibetan government-in-exile and global supporters continue to advocate for religious freedom and autonomy, with events like the Tibet Lobby Day in Washington, D.C., highlighting the cause.
As celebrations continue, from prayer ceremonies to cultural events in Dharamshala and beyond, the Dalai Lama remains steadfast in promoting compassion and human values. His resolve to defy China’s influence while planning for his succession ensures his legacy endures, even as geopolitical pressures mount.
