“When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all,” said the Dalai Lama during a brief appearance, reaffirming his commitment to peace and spiritual service.
By PC Bureau
July 6, 2025 — Despite heavy monsoon rains and dense fog, thousands gathered at the Tsuglagkhang Temple in Dharamshala on Sunday to celebrate the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The day-long celebrations included traditional rituals, prayers, and cultural performances honoring the Tibetan spiritual leader’s legacy of compassion, peace, and nonviolence.
Attendees included monks, nuns, devotees, Indian dignitaries, and international guests. Among the most prominent was Hollywood actor and longtime Tibetan supporter Richard Gere, who greeted the Dalai Lama with reverence, kissed his hand, and received his blessings. Gere, who chairs the International Campaign for Tibet, praised the Dalai Lama as “a being of pure selflessness, love, and wisdom,” calling Tibetan culture a “1,500-year-old treasure for the world.”
The celebration began early, with large crowds lining the streets outside the Tsuglagkhang complex hoping to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since 1959. The event featured traditional Tibetan music, bagpipes, drum performances, long-life prayers led by senior lamas, and the singing of Indian and Tibetan national anthems—highlighting the bond between Tibetans and their Indian hosts.
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Indian Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Rajiv Ranjan Singh were present to honor the spiritual leader, alongside Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Penpa Tsering and Tibetan MPs. Religious leaders from across traditions, including Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni, also attended, underscoring the Dalai Lama’s message of interfaith harmony.
In a parallel celebration, monks at Dorjidak Monastery near Shimla held special prayers led by Nawang Tashi Rapten, the young reincarnate of Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, the former head of the Nyingma tradition. A ceremonial cake-cutting was held for the Dalai Lama’s longevity, with senior monk Kunga Lama calling him “the identity of the Tibetan people and a global symbol of peace.”
The Dalai Lama made a brief public appearance during the event, stating:
“When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to compassion and peace.
Messages from world leaders were read out, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who posted on X:
“I join 1.4 billion Indians in extending our warmest wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday.”
Tributes also came from former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who emphasized the importance of preserving Tibetan heritage and ensuring the right to choose future religious leaders freely.
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The festivities were part of a larger series of events, including a three-day International Buddhist Conference held from July 2–4, during which the Dalai Lama spoke on the future of reincarnation. A commemorative event by the International Buddhist Confederation is also scheduled for July 13 in New Delhi.
As the day ended, the message was clear: His Holiness remains not only a revered Tibetan figure but a global beacon for peace, compassion, and resilience.
