Celebrating Glorious 90 Years of His Holiness The 14Th Dalai Lama.

The contributions of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to India, the Buddhist population across the globe and indeed, the whole world, are innumerable. A resident of India since 1959, His Holiness the Dalai Lama self-identifies as a “son of India”, articulating that his mind is entirely suffused with the teachings of the great Nalanda Tradition, and his body sustained by simple Indian cuisine. Be it globally or to audiences within the country, he never misses an opportunity to extol the virtues of ancient Indian wisdom traditions, and the evergreen values of ahimsa (non-violence) and karuna (compassion), holding up India as a role model for the troubled contemporary world, in terms of its sophisticated treatises on wisdom and how to cultivate mental hygiene, and its peaceful nurturing of people of different faiths and identities. In this sense, His Holiness has been an ambassador extraordinaire for India, its indigenous knowledge systems, and its age-old values.

The 14th Dalai Lama is also a deeply revered personage across Buddhist countries and communities, perceived as the living manifestation of the Buddha of Compassion and the foremost holder in the world today of the Nalanda Tradition. In contemporary times, no single figure has done as much to revive the flourishing of Buddhism and Buddhist institutions in the Himalayan region, guiding them on how to revivify their dharma study and practice; to see the Pali and Sanskrit traditions as complementary, and foster a deep bridging conversation between the two; to attract the devout from across East and Southeast Asia for his discourses and teachings, and to spread the teachings in the Western world.

In today’s troubled times, His Holiness has earned his place as a truly global icon for a non-violent approach; as a man of unbiased and unconditional love; and as a believer in the truth. Upholding these values throughout his life and the most challenging circumstances have made his very name synonymous with compassion. The unparalleled stature and unanimous respect across the globe for His Holiness is evident in his being honoured with over 150 significant awards by various countries and universities, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, felicitated the world over time and again for his contributions as an esteemed leader with a vision and message of non-violence, peace and compassion that resonates with all.