Latest news with #Kashag
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dalai Lama's birthday celebrated in Gajapati
1 2 Berhampur: A day-long cultural show, a quiz competition among schoolchildren, and special rituals marked the celebration of the 90th birthday of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on Sunday at Gajapati's Chandragiri, one of the settlements of Tibetans in exile. Clad in their traditional dress, settlers — including women and children from all five camps in the district — gathered near the settlement office at Chandragiri to celebrate the occasion with much fanfare. A special prayer wishing for the long and healthy life of the Dalai Lama was performed, while artists presented traditional Tibetan folk dances and songs. Gajapati collector Bijay Kumar Dash attended the event as the chief guest. Among others, the settlement officer Karma Lodey Sangpo, former settlement officer Khenpo Pema Tenphell, and local Tibetan Assembly vice-chairman Tsering Yangzom were also present. Settlement officer Karma read out the statement issued by the Kashag (governing council of Tibet) on the occasion. He said the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has decided that a year of compassion will be observed worldwide, beginning with the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebration this year. "This initiative aims to honour the Dalai Lama's kindness and spread his vision," added Karma. On the eve of his birthday, the Dalai Lama said in a message on Saturday that he would continue focusing on his commitments to promoting human values and religious harmony.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Dalai Lama's 90th b'day: Tibetan admin announces ‘year of compassion' initiative
1 2 D ehradun: On the occasion of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday on Sunday, the Central Tibetan Administration announced a 'year of compassion' initiative to be observed worldwide. The primary objective is to undertake efforts to spread values of compassion in the global community. On July 2 this year, the Dalai Lama announced the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Tibet and followers worldwide. "We call upon all Tibetans and friends of Tibet to begin within their own communities to participate in programmes organised by the Central Tibetan Administration and to independently undertake efforts to spread values of compassion in the global community. During more than 66 years of exile, we Tibetan refugees transformed from exiles into the most exemplary refugee community, and the foundation of these achievements is rooted in His Holiness' teachings. The best way to repay this kindness is to put his guidance into practice," read a statement from the Kashag, the former governing council from Tibet. "May the day when we Tibetans in Tibet and in exile could freely and jointly celebrate His Holiness' birthday soon come," it said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The Tibetan community in Dehradun organised cultural programmes on Sunday to mark the occasion, where CM Pushkar Singh Dhami also lent support. He announced widening the Buddha Temple road in the capital. "Dalai Lama has taught peace, non-violence, and compassion to the world. These teachings are even more valuable in the current times. Uttarakhand has always provided love, respect and safety to Tibetans, and we will continue to offer them support for cultural, educational and communal development," said the CM. On the occasion, 113 birds were also released to signify the number of years the current Dalai Lama is expected to live, though recently he claimed that he would live 30-40 years longer than the previous prediction.
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
US backs Tibetans' right to choose their next religious leader without Chinese interference
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Kashag said that on July 2 the Dalai Lama magnanimously announced the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama, in accordance with the fervent aspirations of the people of Tibet and devoted followers worldwide. 'This announcement represents an unequivocal assurance for the continuity of the religious, cultural, linguistic, and national identity of Tibet and the Tibetan people. On behalf of all the Tibetan people, both in Tibet and in exile, and Tibetan supporters around the world, we express our boundless gratitude to Your Holiness for this immeasurable blessing,' it read. It further stated, 'We also extend our deep appreciation to the religious heads and religious representative-delegates to the 15th Religious Conference for their special resolution expressing gratitude to His Holiness, rejecting the Chinese government's malicious interference in matters of reincarnation, and adopting a unanimous resolution declaring such interference unacceptable." "We earnestly pray that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will continue to remain as the beacon of light for the Tibetan people, and may the fortunate disciples continue to receive His Holiness's uninterrupted blessings throughout all lifetimes,' Meanwhile, Tibetan religious leaders have unanimously supported the Dalai Lama's declaration that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue and reaffirmed that the sole authority to recognise his reincarnation lies with the Gaden Phodrang Trust and the Office of the Dalai Lama. During the penultimate session of the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference held at the Dalai Lama's residence on Friday, the leaders criticised the Chinese government for allegedly interfering in Tibetans' spiritual matters. A resolution passed at the meeting asserted, 'Reincarnation is a religious matter. China is using this for political ends, which we will not accept.'
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Hope to live, serve Tibetan beings for 30-40 years more: Dalai Lama
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Saturday said that he hopes to live for another 30 to 40 years, until he is 130 years old, days after he said the Gaden Phodrang Trust will be 'solely responsible' for finding his reincarnation. He turns 90 on Sunday. 'I hope to still live for 30 or 40 more years. Your prayers have borne fruit so far…We have lost our country and we live in exile in India. But, I have been able to benefit the beings (of Tibet) quite a lot. So, living here in Dharamsala I intend to benefit, serve beings and the dharma as much as I can,' the Dalai Lama said. He was speaking at the prayer ceremony ahead of his 90th birth anniversary at Tsuglagkhang, the main Dalai Lama temple in McLeodganj. On July 2, the Dalai Lama had announced the 'institution of the Dalai Lama will continue', and his Ganden Phodrang Trust in the office of the Dalai Lama will be 'solely responsible' for finding his reincarnation. The Tibetan government-in-exile has organised a weeklong series of events to celebrate the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday. The long life prayers were offered by his followers, the Kashag (council of ministers), Central Tibetan Administration (Tibetan government-in-exile). The ceremony is considered a prelude to a year-long 'Year of Compassion' celebration, highlighting Tibetans' cultural and traditional legacy. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu, Hollywood actor and Chair of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) Richard Gere, several Indian as well as US government diplomats, senior Lamas, heads of all four Tibetan Buddhism schools were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony. Earlier, the Dalai Lama reached the temple's courtyard from his private residence in a golf cart. Hundreds of Buddhist monks, Tibetan Buddhism followers and tourists thronged the Tsuglagkhang temple to catch a glimpse of the spiritual leader. The Dalai Lama said that ever since he was a child, he had the feeling that he had a strong connection with Avalokiteshvara. 'Looking at the many prophecies, I feel I have blessings of the Avalokiteshvara… today, here we have Gods, and representatives of Gods, and humans gathering the auspicious circumstances for my long life…I have been able to serve the Buddha Dharma and beings of Tibet so far quite well and still I hope to live over 130 years', the Dalai Lama said. On the occasion, the Dalai Lama also recalled meeting Chinese leader Mao Zedong. On Sunday, the Dalai Lama will attend the public programme organised by the Kashag, on behalf of all Tibetan people and address the gathering.
New Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Why continuation of the Dalai Lama institution is such a big deal
A wave of relief and excitement enveloped Tibetan Buddhists on July 2 when the Dalai Lama, their tallest spiritual leader who turns 90 today, said in a video message that the 'institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.' The spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetans till 2011, he gave up political leadership that year, assigned it to a democratically elected body, and was iffy about the continuation of the Dalai lineage. Yet, he continued to be the face of Tibetan resistance against usurper China. The latest decision to perpetuate the institution of the Dalai Lama gave spiritual heft to the ongoing fight for at least internal autonomy despite Chinese stranglehold on their land and way of life. In his July 2 message, he said his reincarnation could be an adult, not necessarily a male, but will be born in a free country, adding the selection will be solely vested with the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the institution of the Dalai Lama. The message reaffirming the continuation of a 600-year-long sacred tradition gave a long-awaited life line to Buddhists in Tibet and the diaspora, most of whom continue to live in exile in India ever since they first arrived with the 14th Dalai Lama in 1959. 'I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter... They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should seek advice and direction from these concerned beings and carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition. I shall leave clear written instructions about this. Bear in mind that, apart from the reincarnation recognized through such legitimate methods, no recognition or acceptance should be given to a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People's Republic of China,' the Tibetan spiritual leader had stated in his September 24, 2011 message, while relinquishing his role as the temporal/political head of the Tibetans and vested the power with the democratically elected Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Since 2011, the Dalai and officials in the Kashag — the Tibetan government-in-exile with headquarters in Dharamshala — have a system in place to continue political work while officers of the Gaden Phodrang Foundation set up in 2015 are tasked with maintaining and supporting the tradition of the Dalai Lama. While the Dalai's formal announcement that the centuries long tradition will continue after his demise was widely welcomed in and outside Tibet and those who follow Tibetan Buddhism across the world, the reincarnation of the Dalai has been at the crux of a seismic India-China relationship. India's decision to continue to host the Dalai Lama has been an enduring flashpoint between the two giant Asian neighbours. For Tibetans, the Dalai Lama represents their most sacred tradition of faith, identity, motherland, culture, language, ethnicity and collective aspiration of continuity as one race. But for the People's Republic of China (PRC), he is a separatist leader. The latter's message - Tibetan Buddhism is separate from Chinese control and it is important to preserve Tibetan Buddhist traditions - was a challenge to PRC's hegemonic and forced control over Tibetan autonomy, Tibetan Buddhism, ethnicity and religious freedom. China took no time to reject the Dalai's message on his reincarnation. The same day, in a rejoinder, the Global Times in China quoted Li Decheng, deputy director-general of and a research fellow with China Tibetology Research Center, as saying that 'managing the reincarnation of Living Buddhas in accordance with the law is an important aspect of China's administration of religious affairs… The reincarnation of Living Buddhas is by no means merely an internal religious matter, nor is it solely the 'unique predestined bond' claimed by the 14th Dalai Lama. Instead, it reflects national sovereignty, governmental authority, religious principles, and the sentiments of lay followers.'
