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Dalai Lama urges compassion on 90th birthday
He said he would continue his work on promoting human values and religious harmony.
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Pranavi Sharma - Sun, 06, Jul 2025
- 00:58 EDT
- 48
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Dalai Lama / Facebook
On the eve of his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama released a message urging people to focus on compassion and inner peace. The Tibetan spiritual leader shared his thoughts on July 5, ahead of celebrations being held by Tibetan communities and supporters around the world.
He noted that while he does not usually mark his birthday, the scale of the commemorations prompted him to speak. Calling himself “a simple Buddhist monk,” the Dalai Lama said he appreciated that many were using the occasion to highlight the values of compassion, warm-heartedness, and altruism.
He stressed the importance of balancing material development with mental well-being. Cultivating a good heart and compassion, he said, can contribute to a better world. Compassion, he added, should not be limited to one’s close circle but extended to all people.
He said he would continue his work on promoting human values and religious harmony. His message also drew attention to ancient Indian philosophical traditions that explain the workings of the mind and emotions, and the role of Tibetan culture in advancing ideas of peace and compassion globally.
The Dalai Lama cited Indian Buddhist philosopher Shantideva, whose verse, he said, serves as a personal aspiration:
“As long as space endures,
As long as sentient beings remain,
Until then, may I too remain
To dispel the miseries of the world.”
He concluded by thanking people who used the occasion of his birthday to reflect on peace of mind and compassion.
Earlier this week, on July 2, the Dalai Lama addressed the issue of his reincarnation. He said the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which he founded, is the only body authorized to recognize his successor. This stands in contrast to China’s position, which insists that any reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must be approved by the Chinese central government.
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