Dalai Lama at 90: Amid memories of a thump, a question – what next?
The Dalai Lama has announced that he will have a successor after his death, continuing a centuries-old tradition that has become a flashpoint in the tussle with China over Tibet's future.
It was 2008, and Beijing was all set to showcase its hosting of the Olympic Games, China's coming-out party as it were. With global attention focused on the country, Tibetan protesters resisting Chinese control of their region used the moment to raise awareness of their cause. By April, some 100 of them had died, many setting themselves on fire.
Beijing was livid. The Dalai Lama, whose base has been the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala since shortly after fleeing Tibet in 1959 to escape the Chinese occupation of the region, was blamed for instigating the unrest. Then Premier Wen Jiabao denounced him as a 'splittist'.
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CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Dalai Lama, on eve of 90th birthday, aims to live for decades more
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama said on Saturday (Jul 5) he hopes to live until he is more than 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death. The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday, and as China insists it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama told Reuters in December he might live to 110. "I have been able to serve the Buddhadharma (the teachings of Buddhism) and the beings of Tibet so far quite well," he said between prayers, clearing his throat now and then. "And still, I hope to live over 130 years," he said, sparking applause and cheers among his followers. The 14th Dalai Lama, already the longest-lived head of Tibetan Buddhism, spent about 90 minutes at the prayers in his temple. The ceremony was attended by thousands of followers from around the world who gathered in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala, where he has lived since fleeing Tibet in 1959 in the wake of a failed uprising against Chinese rule. "We have lost our country and we live in exile in India, but I have been able to benefit beings quite a lot. So, living here in Dharamshala, I intend to serve beings and the dharma as much as I can," he said in Tibetan, which was translated simultaneously in English and other languages. China, keen to consolidate its control over Tibet, views the Dalai Lama as a separatist. Beijing insists its leaders would have to approve his successor, in a legacy from imperial times. The Dalai Lama has previously said that he would reincarnate in the "free world" outside China and this week told his followers that the sole authority to recognise his reincarnation rests with his non-profit institution, the Gaden Phodrang Trust. DEVOTEES STREAM IN The Dalai Lama is a charismatic figure whose following extends well beyond the millions of Tibetan Buddhists living around the world. He won the 1989 peace prize for what the Nobel committee said was keeping alive the Tibetan cause and seeking genuine autonomy to protect and preserve the region's unique culture, religion and national identity without pressing for independence. At the prayers on Saturday, he sat on a throne before a large statue of the Buddha, with dozens of monks seated in front of him. Marigold garlands hung from pillars as his followers and journalists crowded around the main temple area. Oracles and other figures, shaking in trance, arrived to pay their obeisance to their guru. Monks struck cymbals and played ornate long trumpets in honour of the Dalai Lama and others. The Dalai Lama said he prays daily to benefit all sentient beings and feels he has the blessings of Tibet's patron deity, Avalokitesvara. "Looking at the many prophecies, I feel I have the blessings of Avalokitesvara," he said. "I have done my best so far. At the least, I hope to still live for 30 or 40 years more."
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
CDAC honours 264 volunteers, partners at inaugural combined Appreciation Day
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Health Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Ong Ye Kung speaking at CDAC's inaugural Volunteers' and Partners Appreciation Day on July 5. SINGAPORE – Dr Chang Shin Yi started questioning her self-worth when her elder daughter started secondary school in 1992. 'Coming from Taiwan, my English was not up to par, making it difficult to find a job in Singapore,' Dr Chang, who has a PhD in counselling, told The Straits Times. She eventually brushed up on the language, went on to found the Friends-In-Deed Counselling Society. Determined to help others overcome their fear of the Chinese language, Dr Chang jumped at the opportunity when she found out from a friend that the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) was looking for volunteers to help give tuition to less privileged students, workers, seniors and families within the Chinese community. Today, 33 years later, the grandmother of five, now 70, is the longest serving volunteer, playing roles at the frontline as well as being in the editorial committee of the organisation's newsletter. On July 5, she was among the 264 individuals and organisations honoured for their unwavering service, and they received their awards from Health Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Ong Ye Kung at CDAC's inaugural Volunteers' and Partners Appreciation Day. Dr Chang, in her over 30 years with CDAC, had deepened her impact on the ground, particularly supporting at-risk youth and vulnerable families. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in a more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Singapore As her muscles weaken, 26-year-old leans on best friend for strength and support Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi She even spearheaded key initiatives such as the Parenting Conference and the support group for families with adolescents. 'Having volunteered at the CDAC, its staff and volunteers have become my family. It is a place where I was fortunate to have found support and bonding,' she said. Although she was nominated several times for awards and having declined all of them, Dr Chang finally decided to accept the CDAC award, after much persuasion. 'I feel both happy and humbled by this,' she said. Dr Chang Shin Yi was among the 264 individuals and organisations honoured for their unwavering service on July 5. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Mr Ong, who is also the Chairman of the CDAC Board, said under the 2017 'Planting Grass, Growing Trees' strategy, CDAC had offered 8,000 bursaries and 15,000 places for tuition and enrichment in 2024, of which 3,500 places were allocated for other student activities, such as learning through play. 'At the same time, we provided more dedicated and customised help to 1,400 families, as well as mentorship and character-building programmes to 320 students,' he added. CDAC had, at its 33rd annual general meeting on June 18 , announced that it aims to more than double the number of places for academic, enrichment and learning support programmes from over 15,000 today to over 30,000 spots. Elaborating on that announcement, Mr Ong said on July 5 that the group could do so in three ways. First, invest in the skills and knowledge of its volunteers by training 600 new volunteers over the next three years in essential mentoring and befriending skills, which are core to the CDAC. 'For example, from the Supervised Homework Group to Project YOUth Can Shine – we have over 180 volunteers guiding our young learners today. Without their help, we won't be able to make an impact. But your impact can be even greater if you possess the relevant professional skills,' he said. Second, deploy up to 1,000 volunteers to the 12 CDAC centres and Vibrance @ Yishun by 2030 'to encourage children to pick up hobbies that will help them focus their attention, engage in social groups and learn new skills'. 'Finally, CDAC aims to expand our academic and mentoring programmes through our partners' networks. CDAC will share our curriculum (and) provide training to our partners, who can then expand our programmes to more beneficiaries, while maintaining the objectives and quality of the programmes,' Mr Ong said. He added that a social organisation like CDAC can only make a difference with the help of volunteers and partners. 'By working together, we hope to strengthen the community spirit of 'a little from all, together it's more',' Mr Ong said, citing the CDAC tagline.
Business Times
8 hours ago
- Business Times
Trump says US will start talks with China on TikTok deal this week
[NEW YORK] US President Donald Trump said on Friday (Jul 4) he will start talking to China on Monday or Tuesday about a possible TikTok deal. He said the United States 'pretty much' has a deal on the sale of the TikTok short-video app. 'I think we are gonna start Monday or to China, perhaps President Xi or one of his representatives, but we would pretty much have a deal,' Trump told reporters on Air Force One. Last month, Trump extended to Sep 17 a deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the US assets of TikTok. A deal had been in the works this spring to spin off TikTok's US operations into a new US-based firm, majority-owned and operated by US investors, but it was put on hold after China indicated it would not approve it following Trump's announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump said the United States will probably have to get a deal approved by China. When asked how confident he was that China would agree to a deal, he said, 'I'm not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it's good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it's good for us.' REUTERS
