Gere, banned from China for his activism, warned against the Communist Party’s control over Tibetan children and the Dalai Lama’s succession, calling it a spiritual and human rights crisis.
BY PC Bureau
July 3, 2025 — Hollywood actor and longtime advocate for Tibetan rights, Richard Gere, arrived in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, this week to participate in celebrations marking the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. A devoted follower of Tibetan Buddhism for over four decades, Gere used the occasion to reaffirm his unwavering support for the Tibetan people, emphasizing the urgent need to protect their culture and defend their human rights.
Gere’s presence at the event, widely discussed on social media platforms such as X, underlines his enduring bond with the Tibetan community and his vocal opposition to the Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet.
A Lifelong Bond with Tibet
Gere’s association with Tibet began in the late 1970s during a transformative journey through Nepal and India, where he encountered Tibetan Buddhist monks and visited refugee camps near Pokhara. Profoundly moved, he embraced Tibetan Buddhism under the Gelugpa tradition and forged a spiritual connection with the Dalai Lama during their first meeting in Dharamshala in the early 1980s.
Dharamshala erupts in joy as celebrations for the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday are underway! Hollywood actor Richard Gere joins the festivities, highlighting the significance of both the occasion and the monastery. This marks a momentous milestone for the revered spiritual… pic.twitter.com/EpbMtRKmGQ
— DD News (@DDNewslive) July 1, 2025
Since then, Gere has dedicated himself to the Tibetan cause. In 1987, he co-founded Tibet House US to preserve Tibetan art, culture, and philosophy. He later joined the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), serving as its chairman since 1995. Through ICT, Gere has become a leading voice on Tibet, addressing platforms such as the U.S. Congress, European Parliament, and the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva. He has also played a pivotal role in facilitating the Dalai Lama’s visits to the United States, amplifying his message of compassion, non-violence, and global responsibility.
READ: Tibetans Slam China’s Boarding School Abuses at UNHRC
A Voice That Refuses to Be Silenced
Gere’s activism has come at a personal cost. His outspoken criticism of China’s occupation of Tibet—most famously at the 1993 Academy Awards—led to a lifetime ban from entering China and made him a controversial figure in Hollywood, with some studios avoiding him to maintain access to the Chinese market.
Still, Gere remains resolute. Recalling a private conversation with the Dalai Lama during a recent public event in Dharamshala, he shared:
“Once I went to His Holiness feeling very tired. I asked him, ‘Can I stop now?’ He said, ‘Yes, you can stop—when I stop. Which is never.’ This is not a commitment for one lifetime. This is for many lifetimes.”
A Global Call to Protect Tibetan Identity
Gere’s visit comes amid growing international scrutiny of China’s treatment of Tibetans, especially its use of state-run boarding schools to indoctrinate over one million Tibetan children. These children are forcibly separated from their families, taught exclusively in Mandarin, and denied access to Tibetan language, culture, and religion.
At a UN Human Rights Council sideline event in Geneva on June 27, 2025, international experts denounced this policy as a form of forced assimilation. Gere has long echoed these concerns, telling the U.S. Senate in 2020 that the succession of the Dalai Lama “must not be controlled by the Communist Party, but by Tibetan Buddhists alone.”
A Personal Pilgrimage to Dharamshala
At a gathering of Tibetan youth at Tsuglagkhang Monastery, Gere reflected on his spiritual journey and personal connection to Dharamshala. “This monastery is very important to me and my friends. It’s always a joy being here,” he said, highlighting the significance of the site where the Dalai Lama has lived in exile since 1960.
READ: India Backs Dalai Lama’s Right to Choose His Successor
His visit—equal parts celebration and advocacy—served to reinvigorate international support for the Tibetan cause. Gere’s enduring presence in Dharamshala underscores his unique role as a global ambassador for a people who continue to struggle for dignity, cultural preservation, and autonomy.
A Message Beyond One Lifetime
As Richard Gere stood alongside the Dalai Lama in the Himalayan foothills, the message he carried was clear: the fight for Tibet is not political theatre—it is a moral responsibility. A commitment not just for one generation, but for many lifetimes.
