Dalai Lama hopes to live more than 130 years, he says ahead of 90th birthday
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The Dalai Lama, who is celebrating his 90th birthday on Sunday, made these comments during a ceremony organized by his followers to offer prayers for his long life. He has previously told followers worried about his health that he may live to the age of 110.
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'I have been able to serve the Buddha dharma and the beings of Tibet so far quite well, and I hope to live over 130 years,' the Dalai Lama told thousands of followers who had gathered Saturday in India's northern town of Dharamshala.
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Dharamshala has been the Dalai Lama's home in exile since 1959 after he fled Tibet in the wake of a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Since then, he has sustained Tibet's aspirations for greater autonomy under Chinese Communist Party rule and mobilized Tibetans inside and outside China.
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On Wednesday, the Dalai Lama said that he intends to reincarnate, paving the way after his death for a successor to take on a mantle stretching back 500 years. Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama can choose the body into which he is reincarnated.
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That announcement ended years of speculation that started when he indicated that he might be the last person to hold the role.
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The Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism also said that the next Dalai Lama should be found and recognized as per past Buddhist traditions, while stressing that his office will lead the search. In the past he has said his successor will be born in the 'free world' — outside China.
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China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and has insisted that only Beijing has the authority to approve his successor. It also says it will reject anyone chosen without Beijing's consent.
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Tibetan Buddhist Phuntsko Tsering, who lives in Dharamshala, said the Dalai Lama's latest remarks were aimed at thwarting Beijing's attempts to identify his successor.
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'What he trying to do is signal China that it shouldn't meddle in the process of reincarnation,' Tsering said.
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Meanwhile, the exiled Tibetan community of more than 20,000 people in Dharamshala is gearing up to celebrate the Dalai Lama's birthday on Sunday. His followers have put up giant posters and billboards across town, as tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the event, including Buddhist leaders of various sects and followers from across the world.
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Barbara Weibel, a U.S. citizen who has been following Buddhism for more than 30 years, said she 'had to be here for this.'
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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
A tiny town in India's Himalayas buzzes with activity to celebrate Dalai Lama's 90th birthday
DHARAMSHALA, India (AP) — Thousands of Tibetan Buddhists began streaming in India's Himalayan town of Dharamshala on Sunday to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama, who said days ago that he plans to reincarnate after dying. Hundreds of red-robed monks and nuns braved incessant rain and poured through the narrow streets of Dharamshala to make their way towards the main Dalai Lama temple, where the spiritual head was scheduled to deliver a speech. A crowd of Tibetans — some carrying ceremonial offerings — walked beside them. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, has been living in exile since he fled Chinese rule in Tibet in 1959, and his birthday will be attended by thousands of his followers from around the world along with celebrities and officials from the United States and India. Earlier this week, the Nobel Peace Prize winning Buddhist spiritual leader said he plans to reincarnate after his death, ending years of speculation that he might be the last person to hold the role. He also said that the next Dalai Lama should be found and recognized as per past Buddhist traditions. On Saturday, the Dalai Lama said he hoped of living for decades more, until the age of 130. In the past the Dalai Lama has said his successor will be born in the 'free world' — outside China. Many exiled Tibetans, however, fear China will name its own successor to the Dalai Lama to bolster control over Tibet, a territory it poured troops into in 1950 and has ruled ever since. China, which views the Dalai Lama as a separatist, has repeatedly said that it alone has the authority to approve the next spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. It also says it will reject anyone chosen without Beijing's consent. Recognized worldwide in his red robes and wide smile, the Dalai Lama describes himself as a 'simple Buddhist monk.' But millions of Tibetan Buddhists worship him as living manifestations of Chenrezig, the Buddhist god of compassion. The Dalai Lama was thrust onto the Tibetan throne in 1937. Soon after, Chinese troops swept into his homeland in the 1950s and crushed a failed uprising, forcing him to escape with thousands of his followers to India where he established a government in exile. Since then, he has spent more than seven decades in exile and sustained a nation in exile by managing to build a community that's kept the Tibetan culture and identity alive. The Dalai Lama has also become one of the world's most recognizable figures while leading a Tibetan diaspora through their struggle for autonomy and opposition of China's control of Tibet.
Vancouver Sun
15 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Dalai Lama hopes to live more than 130 years, he says ahead of 90th birthday
DHARAMSHALA, India — Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said that he hopes to live until he is over 130 years old, days after he laid out a succession plan by saying he plans to reincarnate after his death. The Dalai Lama, who is celebrating his 90th birthday on Sunday, made these comments during a ceremony organized by his followers to offer prayers for his long life. He has previously told followers worried about his health that he may live to the age of 110. 'I have been able to serve the Buddha dharma and the beings of Tibet so far quite well, and I hope to live over 130 years,' the Dalai Lama told thousands of followers who had gathered Saturday in India's northern town of Dharamshala. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Dharamshala has been the Dalai Lama's home in exile since 1959 after he fled Tibet in the wake of a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Since then, he has sustained Tibet's aspirations for greater autonomy under Chinese Communist Party rule and mobilized Tibetans inside and outside China. On Wednesday, the Dalai Lama said that he intends to reincarnate, paving the way after his death for a successor to take on a mantle stretching back 500 years. Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama can choose the body into which he is reincarnated. That announcement ended years of speculation that started when he indicated that he might be the last person to hold the role. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism also said that the next Dalai Lama should be found and recognized as per past Buddhist traditions, while stressing that his office will lead the search. In the past he has said his successor will be born in the 'free world' — outside China. China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and has insisted that only Beijing has the authority to approve his successor. It also says it will reject anyone chosen without Beijing's consent. Tibetan Buddhist Phuntsko Tsering, who lives in Dharamshala, said the Dalai Lama's latest remarks were aimed at thwarting Beijing's attempts to identify his successor. 'What he trying to do is signal China that it shouldn't meddle in the process of reincarnation,' Tsering said. Meanwhile, the exiled Tibetan community of more than 20,000 people in Dharamshala is gearing up to celebrate the Dalai Lama's birthday on Sunday. His followers have put up giant posters and billboards across town, as tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the event, including Buddhist leaders of various sects and followers from across the world. Barbara Weibel, a U.S. citizen who has been following Buddhism for more than 30 years, said she 'had to be here for this.' 'I want this long life ceremony to keep him alive as long as possible,' she said. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
National Post
15 hours ago
- National Post
Dalai Lama hopes to live more than 130 years, he says ahead of 90th birthday
DHARAMSHALA, India — Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said that he hopes to live until he is over 130 years old, days after he laid out a succession plan by saying he plans to reincarnate after his death. Article content The Dalai Lama, who is celebrating his 90th birthday on Sunday, made these comments during a ceremony organized by his followers to offer prayers for his long life. He has previously told followers worried about his health that he may live to the age of 110. Article content Article content Article content 'I have been able to serve the Buddha dharma and the beings of Tibet so far quite well, and I hope to live over 130 years,' the Dalai Lama told thousands of followers who had gathered Saturday in India's northern town of Dharamshala. Article content Article content Dharamshala has been the Dalai Lama's home in exile since 1959 after he fled Tibet in the wake of a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Since then, he has sustained Tibet's aspirations for greater autonomy under Chinese Communist Party rule and mobilized Tibetans inside and outside China. Article content On Wednesday, the Dalai Lama said that he intends to reincarnate, paving the way after his death for a successor to take on a mantle stretching back 500 years. Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama can choose the body into which he is reincarnated. Article content That announcement ended years of speculation that started when he indicated that he might be the last person to hold the role. Article content The Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism also said that the next Dalai Lama should be found and recognized as per past Buddhist traditions, while stressing that his office will lead the search. In the past he has said his successor will be born in the 'free world' — outside China. Article content Article content China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and has insisted that only Beijing has the authority to approve his successor. It also says it will reject anyone chosen without Beijing's consent. Article content Article content Tibetan Buddhist Phuntsko Tsering, who lives in Dharamshala, said the Dalai Lama's latest remarks were aimed at thwarting Beijing's attempts to identify his successor. Article content 'What he trying to do is signal China that it shouldn't meddle in the process of reincarnation,' Tsering said. Article content Meanwhile, the exiled Tibetan community of more than 20,000 people in Dharamshala is gearing up to celebrate the Dalai Lama's birthday on Sunday. His followers have put up giant posters and billboards across town, as tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the event, including Buddhist leaders of various sects and followers from across the world. Article content Barbara Weibel, a U.S. citizen who has been following Buddhism for more than 30 years, said she 'had to be here for this.' Article content 'I want this long life ceremony to keep him alive as long as possible,' she said. Article content
