'Simple Buddhist monk' Dalai Lama marks landmark 90th birthday
Chanting of red-robed monks and nuns rang out from Himalayan hilltop forested temples in India, home to the Dalai Lama since he and thousands of other Tibetans fled Chinese troops who crushed an uprising in their capital Lhasa in 1959.
"I am just a simple Buddhist monk; I don't normally engage in birthday celebrations," the Dalai Lama said in a message, thanking those marking it with him for using the opportunity "to cultivate peace of mind and compassion".
Dressed in traditional robes and a flowing yellow wrap, he walked with the aid of two monks while flashing his trademark beaming smile to thousands of followers.
Beijing condemns the Nobel Peace Prize winner -- who has led a lifelong campaign for greater autonomy for Tibet, a vast high-altitude plateau -- as a rebel and separatist.
Alongside the celebrations, however, is the worry for Tibetans in exile that China will name its successor to bolster control over the territory it poured troops into in 1950 and has ruled ever since.
That raises the likelihood of rival challengers to the post; one by self-declared atheist Beijing, the other by the Dalai Lama's office based in neighbouring India, a regional rival of China.
- 'Good heart' -
The celebrations on Sunday are the culmination of days of long-life prayers for Tenzin Gyatso, who followers believe is the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, a man whose moral teachings and idiosyncratic humour have made him one of the world's most popular religious leaders.
"While it is important to work for material development, it is vital to focus on achieving peace of mind through cultivating a good heart and by being compassionate, not just toward near and dear ones, but toward everyone," he said in his birthday message.
"Through this, you will contribute to making the world a better place."
The celebrations also included his key announcement that, after being inundated with messages of support from fellow Tibetans both inside and in exile, the spiritual institution will continue after his death.
He said he had received appeals from followers from across the Himalayan region, Mongolia and parts of Russia and China.
The seemingly esoteric matters of reincarnation have real-world political consequences, with Tibetans fearing his death will mark a major setback in his push for more autonomy for the Himalayan region.
The Dalai Lama said his India-based office alone would "exclusively" identify that successor -- prompting a swift and sharp reply from China that the reincarnation "must be approved by the central government" in Beijing.
China said the succession would be carried out "by drawing lots from a golden urn", foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters on Wednesday.
That urn is held by Beijing, and the Dalai Lama has warned that, when used dishonestly, it lacks "any spiritual quality".
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered effusive birthday greetings on Sunday, calling the Dalai Lama an "enduring symbol of love".
India and China are intense rivals competing for influence across South Asia, but have sought to repair ties after a 2020 border clash.
- 'Freedom and dignity' -
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said in a statement that Washington was "committed to promoting respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Tibetans".
Among the crowds attending the celebrations was Hollywood star Richard Gere, a longtime backer of the Tibetans in exile, who on Sunday said the Dalai Lama "totally embodies selflessness, complete love and compassion and wisdom".
Messages of support were also given by former US presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, as well as Barack Obama, who said the Dalai Lama had shown what it means to "speak up for freedom and dignity".
The ceremony ended with the Dalai Lama eating a slice of cake and thousands singing "happy birthday".
No details have been released for the future succession.
All so far have been men or boys, often identified as toddlers and taking up the role only as teenagers.
The current Dalai Lama, himself identified in 1937, has said that if there is a successor it will come from the "free world" outside China's control.
In a speech to followers on Sunday, the Dalai Lama said his practice of Buddhism meant he had dedicated his life towards seeking compassion.
"I'm now 90 and... when I reflect on my life, I see that I have not wasted my life at all", he said, speaking in Tibetan.
"I would not have regrets at the time of my death; rather I would be able to die very peacefully."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
'Political tension': Anthony Albanese, the US and China, explained
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Xinjping, questions have been raised over how the US will view the visit and whether there could be consequences for Australia. The visit comes after US President Donald Trump announced new tariff rates of 25 per cent on some trading partners, including Japan and South Korea. US tariffs on Australian products remain at 10 per cent, but with relations between the two allies strained, could the US respond negatively to Australia potentially strengthening ties with China? Here's what you need to know. Australia's relationship with China Albanese is set to visit China from Saturday, his second trip to the country since he became prime minister in 2022. China is Australia's largest two-way trading partner, and buys almost a third of Australia's exports. Trade between the two countries was worth almost $312 billion in 2024, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The relationship appears to be strengthening after a period of volatility, which included China placing restrictions on some Australian exports between 2020 and 2024. China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has called for greater collaboration in fields such as AI, healthcare and green energy under a revised free-trade deal between the two nations. In an opinion piece published in the Australian Financial Review, Xiao wrote that it was "time to advance bilateral relations with steady progress". He wrote that China was willing to review the two countries' trade agreement with "a more open attitude and higher standard", including further consolidating traditional areas and actively pursuing new growth areas. Christoph Nedopil, director of the Griffith University Asia Institute, said while there is a "mutual interest" in strengthening the relationship between Australia and China, this has been years in the making. He does not believe China is seeking to take advantage of rocky relationships between the US and its allies, including Australia. "China has been trying to make bilateral and multilateral alliances even before Trump was in office, it's not that the stabilisation of the Australia-China relationship only came when Trump was in office," Nedopil said. "And a number of the topics that are on the agenda are not new topics." In a press conference on Tuesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked whether the Australian government was considering freer trade with China, Korea and Japan in response to Trump's tariffs. Trump announced on Tuesday he would impose tariffs of at least 25 per cent on South Korea and Japan from August unless the countries can strike deals with the US. The US imposed tariffs on China of 145 per cent earlier this year and average US tariffs on Chinese exports now stand at around 50 per cent, according to the US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. While Chalmers did not directly address the issue of the US tariffs, he said stabilising Australia's relationship with China was positive for the economy, workers, employers and industries. "A good, stable, reliable trading relationship with China is key to making sure that our economy continues to grow the right way," he said. "We want good, reliable, diverse trading relationships right around the world. We've got wonderful exports, we've got huge opportunities." Chalmers said the government was "optimistic about the future when it comes to Australia's place in the global economy". 'Political tension' between Australia and the US While Australia's ties with China could be building, the relationship with the US is somewhat strained, according to David Andrews, senior policy advisor at the Australian National University's National Security College. "It's a relationship we've had for decades and decades now, and we have consistently viewed that as our most important strategic partner and one of our closest international friends and alliances," he said. "At the same time, it's clear that we're going through a period of political tension and relational tension." Andrews believes much of the tension has come as a result of Trump's tariffs, which he announced in April, along with "heavy-handedness" of the US government. But he said while the relationship is "challenging" at the moment, diplomacy and international relations are constantly evolving. "There is an ongoing, persistent rebalancing of that relationship to understand what is being asked of us and therefore how much we are willing to accept as well," he said. "I think that the prime minister has been very clear that [in] putting a very public sense of boundary or limit on what we will do and how far we'll go and the implications for the relationship." Could the US change tariffs on Australia? At the time of writing, Australia has not received a tariff increase, meaning most of its exports to the US remain subject to the baseline 10 per cent, while there is a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium exports. The government would continue to try to negotiate a total exemption from US tariffs, Albanese said, even though no country in the world had done so. Andrews said the "status quo" of the 10 per cent tariff is likely Australia's "best case scenario", and pointed out that no other trading partners had been unable to negotiate an exemption. "Obviously, it would be great if we could get some sort of exemption on the steel and aluminium tariff, for example, but I don't see any evidence that's likely to change," he said. "It's a dispositional change in the way the United States views the international economic order, and we can't convince them otherwise. "It would be wildly optimistic to think that we could make any, I think, improvement on our situation." While a tariff reduction or exemption may be unlikely, some have questioned whether the US government could raise tariffs on Australia in retaliation to Albanese's meeting with Xi. Nedopil said it's difficult to predict the actions of the Trump administration. "In a way, the US policymaking at this time seems to be very news-driven and so very short-term sentiment-driven," he said. "So what President Trump might consider as disrespect can lead to a short-term decision announcement that might be more negative." The relationship between China and the US is complex, with the two considered economic and strategic competitors. Nedopil said he believes the rivalry has become "much more intense" on a number of fronts, which he says is "undermining US dominance", which Trump may take into consideration. "And I think the other shift that has taken place ... is that actually a lot of Asian countries and emerging economies are not viewing China as negatively as they used to. "I think there are dynamics that make the US seem not as strong and potentially [not] feel as strong and therefore also trying to hold onto power with a number of different means." Additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Gaza ceasefire may take more time, says Israeli
Israeli officials say that gaps can be bridged between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas at peace talks in Qatar, though it may take more than a few days to reach a deal to free hostages and halt fighting. Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar since Sunday in a renewed push for an agreement, after US President Donald Trump said last week he had hope that a new US-backed proposal could lead to a deal. Trump met on Monday evening with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who floated plans - vehemently opposed by all major Palestinian groups - for some of Gaza's residents to be relocated abroad. The Israeli leader also presented Trump with a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. A Qatari spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, said on Tuesday that Qatari and Egyptian mediators were not yet discussing a final ceasefire deal, but still seeking agreement on a framework of principles that would lead to more detailed talks. "Talks have not begun as of yet, but we are talking to both sides over that framework," Al Ansari said. "Both parties are still in Doha. So that's always a good sign." Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a major role in crafting the latest ceasefire proposal, will travel to Doha this week to join discussions there, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. The proposal envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely. There was no immediate fresh readout on the talks from Hamas or Palestinian sources on Tuesday. Palestinian sources had said on Monday that progress had been held up by Israel's limits on allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli minister Zeev Elkin, who sits in Netanyahu's security cabinet, said that there was "a substantial chance" a ceasefire would be agreed. "Hamas wants to change a few central matters, it's not simple, but there is progress," he told Israel's public broadcaster Kan on Tuesday. Senior Israeli officials briefing journalists in Washington said it may take more than a few days to finalise agreements in Doha. Another Israeli official said progress had been made. In Gaza City, children walked through debris, where residents said an Israeli airstrike had hit overnight, with children among the casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately provide details on the target of the strike. "We hope that a ceasefire will be reached and that the massacres against the Palestinian people will stop," said Mohammed Joundiya, standing in the rubble left in the aftermath of the attack. At Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, former hostage Keith Siegel, who was released in February in a previous ceasefire, described the anguish of those held incommunicado for hundreds of days in Hamas captivity. "We have a window of opportunity to save lives," he said, "every minute is critical." Hamas has long demanded an end to the war before it would free remaining hostages; Israel has insisted it would not agree to end the fighting until all hostages are released and Hamas dismantled. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to still be alive. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing around 1200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. Israel's subsequent campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, displaced almost the entire population of more than two million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis in the enclave and left much of the territory in ruins. Israeli officials say that gaps can be bridged between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas at peace talks in Qatar, though it may take more than a few days to reach a deal to free hostages and halt fighting. Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar since Sunday in a renewed push for an agreement, after US President Donald Trump said last week he had hope that a new US-backed proposal could lead to a deal. Trump met on Monday evening with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who floated plans - vehemently opposed by all major Palestinian groups - for some of Gaza's residents to be relocated abroad. The Israeli leader also presented Trump with a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. A Qatari spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, said on Tuesday that Qatari and Egyptian mediators were not yet discussing a final ceasefire deal, but still seeking agreement on a framework of principles that would lead to more detailed talks. "Talks have not begun as of yet, but we are talking to both sides over that framework," Al Ansari said. "Both parties are still in Doha. So that's always a good sign." Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a major role in crafting the latest ceasefire proposal, will travel to Doha this week to join discussions there, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. The proposal envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely. There was no immediate fresh readout on the talks from Hamas or Palestinian sources on Tuesday. Palestinian sources had said on Monday that progress had been held up by Israel's limits on allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli minister Zeev Elkin, who sits in Netanyahu's security cabinet, said that there was "a substantial chance" a ceasefire would be agreed. "Hamas wants to change a few central matters, it's not simple, but there is progress," he told Israel's public broadcaster Kan on Tuesday. Senior Israeli officials briefing journalists in Washington said it may take more than a few days to finalise agreements in Doha. Another Israeli official said progress had been made. In Gaza City, children walked through debris, where residents said an Israeli airstrike had hit overnight, with children among the casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately provide details on the target of the strike. "We hope that a ceasefire will be reached and that the massacres against the Palestinian people will stop," said Mohammed Joundiya, standing in the rubble left in the aftermath of the attack. At Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, former hostage Keith Siegel, who was released in February in a previous ceasefire, described the anguish of those held incommunicado for hundreds of days in Hamas captivity. "We have a window of opportunity to save lives," he said, "every minute is critical." Hamas has long demanded an end to the war before it would free remaining hostages; Israel has insisted it would not agree to end the fighting until all hostages are released and Hamas dismantled. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to still be alive. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing around 1200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. Israel's subsequent campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, displaced almost the entire population of more than two million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis in the enclave and left much of the territory in ruins. Israeli officials say that gaps can be bridged between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas at peace talks in Qatar, though it may take more than a few days to reach a deal to free hostages and halt fighting. Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar since Sunday in a renewed push for an agreement, after US President Donald Trump said last week he had hope that a new US-backed proposal could lead to a deal. Trump met on Monday evening with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who floated plans - vehemently opposed by all major Palestinian groups - for some of Gaza's residents to be relocated abroad. The Israeli leader also presented Trump with a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. A Qatari spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, said on Tuesday that Qatari and Egyptian mediators were not yet discussing a final ceasefire deal, but still seeking agreement on a framework of principles that would lead to more detailed talks. "Talks have not begun as of yet, but we are talking to both sides over that framework," Al Ansari said. "Both parties are still in Doha. So that's always a good sign." Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a major role in crafting the latest ceasefire proposal, will travel to Doha this week to join discussions there, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. The proposal envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely. There was no immediate fresh readout on the talks from Hamas or Palestinian sources on Tuesday. Palestinian sources had said on Monday that progress had been held up by Israel's limits on allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli minister Zeev Elkin, who sits in Netanyahu's security cabinet, said that there was "a substantial chance" a ceasefire would be agreed. "Hamas wants to change a few central matters, it's not simple, but there is progress," he told Israel's public broadcaster Kan on Tuesday. Senior Israeli officials briefing journalists in Washington said it may take more than a few days to finalise agreements in Doha. Another Israeli official said progress had been made. In Gaza City, children walked through debris, where residents said an Israeli airstrike had hit overnight, with children among the casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately provide details on the target of the strike. "We hope that a ceasefire will be reached and that the massacres against the Palestinian people will stop," said Mohammed Joundiya, standing in the rubble left in the aftermath of the attack. At Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, former hostage Keith Siegel, who was released in February in a previous ceasefire, described the anguish of those held incommunicado for hundreds of days in Hamas captivity. "We have a window of opportunity to save lives," he said, "every minute is critical." Hamas has long demanded an end to the war before it would free remaining hostages; Israel has insisted it would not agree to end the fighting until all hostages are released and Hamas dismantled. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to still be alive. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing around 1200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. Israel's subsequent campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, displaced almost the entire population of more than two million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis in the enclave and left much of the territory in ruins. Israeli officials say that gaps can be bridged between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas at peace talks in Qatar, though it may take more than a few days to reach a deal to free hostages and halt fighting. Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar since Sunday in a renewed push for an agreement, after US President Donald Trump said last week he had hope that a new US-backed proposal could lead to a deal. Trump met on Monday evening with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who floated plans - vehemently opposed by all major Palestinian groups - for some of Gaza's residents to be relocated abroad. The Israeli leader also presented Trump with a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. A Qatari spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, said on Tuesday that Qatari and Egyptian mediators were not yet discussing a final ceasefire deal, but still seeking agreement on a framework of principles that would lead to more detailed talks. "Talks have not begun as of yet, but we are talking to both sides over that framework," Al Ansari said. "Both parties are still in Doha. So that's always a good sign." Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a major role in crafting the latest ceasefire proposal, will travel to Doha this week to join discussions there, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. The proposal envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely. There was no immediate fresh readout on the talks from Hamas or Palestinian sources on Tuesday. Palestinian sources had said on Monday that progress had been held up by Israel's limits on allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli minister Zeev Elkin, who sits in Netanyahu's security cabinet, said that there was "a substantial chance" a ceasefire would be agreed. "Hamas wants to change a few central matters, it's not simple, but there is progress," he told Israel's public broadcaster Kan on Tuesday. Senior Israeli officials briefing journalists in Washington said it may take more than a few days to finalise agreements in Doha. Another Israeli official said progress had been made. In Gaza City, children walked through debris, where residents said an Israeli airstrike had hit overnight, with children among the casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately provide details on the target of the strike. "We hope that a ceasefire will be reached and that the massacres against the Palestinian people will stop," said Mohammed Joundiya, standing in the rubble left in the aftermath of the attack. At Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, former hostage Keith Siegel, who was released in February in a previous ceasefire, described the anguish of those held incommunicado for hundreds of days in Hamas captivity. "We have a window of opportunity to save lives," he said, "every minute is critical." Hamas has long demanded an end to the war before it would free remaining hostages; Israel has insisted it would not agree to end the fighting until all hostages are released and Hamas dismantled. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to still be alive. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing around 1200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. Israel's subsequent campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, displaced almost the entire population of more than two million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis in the enclave and left much of the territory in ruins.
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Gaza ceasefire may take more time, says Israeli
Israeli officials say that gaps can be bridged between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas at peace talks in Qatar, though it may take more than a few days to reach a deal to free hostages and halt fighting. Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar since Sunday in a renewed push for an agreement, after US President Donald Trump said last week he had hope that a new US-backed proposal could lead to a deal. Trump met on Monday evening with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who floated plans - vehemently opposed by all major Palestinian groups - for some of Gaza's residents to be relocated abroad. The Israeli leader also presented Trump with a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. A Qatari spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, said on Tuesday that Qatari and Egyptian mediators were not yet discussing a final ceasefire deal, but still seeking agreement on a framework of principles that would lead to more detailed talks. "Talks have not begun as of yet, but we are talking to both sides over that framework," Al Ansari said. "Both parties are still in Doha. So that's always a good sign." Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a major role in crafting the latest ceasefire proposal, will travel to Doha this week to join discussions there, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. The proposal envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely. There was no immediate fresh readout on the talks from Hamas or Palestinian sources on Tuesday. Palestinian sources had said on Monday that progress had been held up by Israel's limits on allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli minister Zeev Elkin, who sits in Netanyahu's security cabinet, said that there was "a substantial chance" a ceasefire would be agreed. "Hamas wants to change a few central matters, it's not simple, but there is progress," he told Israel's public broadcaster Kan on Tuesday. Senior Israeli officials briefing journalists in Washington said it may take more than a few days to finalise agreements in Doha. Another Israeli official said progress had been made. In Gaza City, children walked through debris, where residents said an Israeli airstrike had hit overnight, with children among the casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately provide details on the target of the strike. "We hope that a ceasefire will be reached and that the massacres against the Palestinian people will stop," said Mohammed Joundiya, standing in the rubble left in the aftermath of the attack. At Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, former hostage Keith Siegel, who was released in February in a previous ceasefire, described the anguish of those held incommunicado for hundreds of days in Hamas captivity. "We have a window of opportunity to save lives," he said, "every minute is critical." Hamas has long demanded an end to the war before it would free remaining hostages; Israel has insisted it would not agree to end the fighting until all hostages are released and Hamas dismantled. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to still be alive. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing around 1200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. Israel's subsequent campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, displaced almost the entire population of more than two million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis in the enclave and left much of the territory in ruins.
