Latest news with #Lamas
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'80s Heartthrob, 67, Files for Divorce From 6th Wife
'80s Heartthrob, 67, Files for Divorce From 6th Wife originally appeared on Parade. An actor who has had hearts fluttering for decades is about to get divorced for the sixth time. Lorenzo Lamas, 67, portrayed hunky Lance Cumson on over 200 episodes of Falcon Crest, which aired from 1981 to 1990. Lamas later starred on Renegade for several years and played Hector Ramirez on The Bold and the Beautiful for a couple of years. According to TMZ on July 8, Lamas filed for divorce from his current wife, Kenna Nicole Lamas, 40. The media outlet indicated that Lamas listed the date of their separation as January 21, and he requested that neither party receive support. On January 16, Lamas talked with Fox News about keeping his relationship with his wife going. "Communication, communication ... I would say forgiveness is a big part of it. Also, not putting blame." Lamas added, "Because in a relationship, there's two people, and it takes two people to make it or break it. And if you're always like blaming each other for this and that, you're just never going to have that peace. You know? So maturity, communication, forgiveness." In February 2021, Lamas gushed over her in a Facebook post and revealed they were engaged. "Kenna and I got engaged in Vegas last night. I know I know, what the heck was she thinking?! One things for sure, we both feel like we've won the love lottery with each other." Lamas continued, "Since our first embrace, she's held me captive. She fills my heart with feelings I've never felt, dreams I've never had and wishes I've never thought of." "Kenna Nicole, the love of my life, said she'd take my hand in marriage in order that we spend our lifetime together as one and I couldn't feel more joy in my heart," his post noted. People noted that the couple wed in October 2023 and initially met in April 2020. '80s Heartthrob, 67, Files for Divorce From 6th Wife first appeared on Parade on Jul 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Tibetan political leader slams Chinese ambassador's remarks on Dalai Lama's reincarnation
The political leader of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Sikyong Penpa Tsering, has dismissed the recent remarks made by Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, on the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama, saying they reflect a complete ignorance of the concept of reincarnation. Sikyong Penpa Tsering (AFP) Taking to social media recently, the Chinese diplomat shared that the Dalai Lama has no authority to decide whether the reincarnation system will continue or not. This comes after the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader announced on July 2 that the 600-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama will continue and that Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation. Sikyong Penpa Tsering said, 'The social media post by the ambassador is ignorant of the very concept of reincarnation, because the whole purpose of reincarnation is for a spiritually realised person to decide where he or she should be reborn to carry on the responsibilities or activities of the previous life or lives.' Sikyong said that the post, in fact, reflects complete ignorance of the very notion of reincarnation and the reason and objective behind it. 'For a government that does not believe in any religion, being responsible for recognition and forcing Lamas inside to be part of that decision-making process is pitiful,' Tsering said. Taking to X, ambassador Xu Feihong shared that in fact, as a unique succession method of Tibetan Buddhism, the practice of Living Buddha reincarnation has continued over 700 years. 'Currently, there are over 1,000 reincarnation systems of Living Buddhas in Xizang and Tibetan-inhabited prefectures/counties of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces. The 14th Dalai Lama is part of this long-standing historical tradition and religious succession, not otherwise. The reincarnation of Dalai Lamas neither began from him nor will end due to him. He has no authority to decide whether the reincarnation system shall continue or be abolished,' he added. In his July 2 statement, the Dalai Lama said his decision was influenced by numerous requests from Tibetan spiritual leaders, members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, and the Buddhist diaspora in the Himalayas, Mongolia, the Russian Federation and Asia, including mainland China, that the institution should continue. The spiritual leader reiterated that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation and no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter. After this announcement, an irate Beijing, which describes the Dalai Lama as a 'separatist', countered that the spiritual leader's reincarnation 'must be approved by the central (Chinese) government'. The process of recognising the reincarnations of lamas in Tibetan Buddhism is solely and uniquely a Tibetan religious tradition. In contrast, China maintains that the process of selecting his successor must adhere to Chinese law, asserting its control over Tibetan Buddhism and rejecting any succession beyond its authority.
News18
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
'He Belongs To Universe': Richard Gere Receives Dalai Lama's Blessings On His 90th Birthday
Last Updated: Richard Gere received blessings from the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday in Dharamshala. Celebrations included anthems, dancers, and Indian ministers. Hollywood actor and practising Buddhist Richard Gere received blessings from the Tibetan spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, on his 90th birthday on Sunday. The actor was seen interacting with the Tibetan spiritual leader amid ongoing birthday celebrations in which Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh also participated. Speaking at the event, Gere said, 'Your Holiness, on behalf of all us as Westeners, there was something very sweet I saw at religious conference, the confirmation that his Holiness agreed to continue the institution of Dalai Lama. But many of the Lamas who spoke out, they were openly declaring, Dalai Lama doesn't belong to the Tibet anymore, he belongs to the world… He belongs to the universe." VIDEO | At the 90th birthday celebrations of Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, actor Richard Gere (@RichardGere66) says, 'Your Holiness, on behalf of all us as Westeners, there was something very sweet I saw at religious conference, the confirmation that his Holiness agreed to continue… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 6, 2025 Richard Gere, who is famous for his iconic roles in various Hollywood movies, has time and again tried to bring the Tibetan cause to a global platform. Speaking about his Dharamshala trip, Gere earlier said, 'All of my friends are here to celebrate the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama. This monastery is very important to me and my friends. It is always a delight being here." Dharamshala Celebrates Dalai Lama's 90th Birthday Before starting the celebrations, the Tibetan and Indian national anthems were played at the Main Tibetan Temple, where his 90th birthday celebrations were held. Thousands of people had gathered in Dharamshala for the celebrations, and masked dancers were seen twirling to the sounds of gongs in traditional outfits. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wished Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday. 'I join 1.4 billion Indians in extending our warmest wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday. He has been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline. His message has inspired respect and admiration across all faiths. We pray for his continued good health and long life," wrote the prime minister. The Dalai Lama's 90th birthday comes days after he announced his succession plans and stated that only his office has the 'sole authority" to decide who will be his future reincarnation. 'No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter," said the Dalai Lama in his recorded message. The statement contradicted China's long-standing position on the issue, and Beijing soon clarified that it holds the right to choose the next Dalai Lama based on old traditions from the time when China was ruled by emperors. First Published: July 06, 2025, 11:16 IST
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Indian Express
Dalai Lama turns 90: At McLeodganj, why celebrations are tinged with anxieties
A fine drizzle has hung over the Dhauladhar foothills all day, coating the deodar trees in mist and leaving the paved mountain roads slick and gleaming. As the rain taps softly on the tin roofs of McLeodganj, the scent of wet earth rises through the winding lanes that lead to an often-overlooked building. Here, Tek Chand, 37, moves through two small rooms with a broom in his hand. The air is damp, the wood slightly musty. But the rooms remain unchanged — sheltering an overlooked chapter in the modern history of Tibet and its people. 'These rooms have stayed untouched,' he says. Once known as Swarg Ashram, the modest structure is perched just beyond the town's edge, at the end of a quiet road veiled in fog. In 1960, when the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, and his entourage of family members, senior Lamas and others arrived in India after a perilous journey from Tibet, he travelled through Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), Tezpur (Assam) and Mussoorie, before finally reaching Dharamshala and then, the ashram in McLeodganj. For eight pivotal years, the ashram served as the residence of the Tibetan spiritual leader as he began rebuilding a displaced nation in exile. Over 2 km and a world away from this hushed hillside is the vibrant heart of McLeodganj, often called Mini-Lhasa. Today, it hums with reverence and celebration in anticipation of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday on July 6. An expected public address at his current residence and monastery complex, Tsuglagkhang, is the big draw. Restaurants dish out Tibetan cuisine to throngs of visitors and pilgrims from around the world stroll alongside crimson-robed monks, many hoping to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama himself. The compound, which includes his private quarters and a grand Tibetan temple, is now the heart of the Tibetan community in exile. But beyond the festivities, the air is thick with significance. On July 2, in a statement that resonated across the Tibetan world and beyond, the Dalai Lama declared that the centuries-old institution of the Dalai Lama would continue, and that his 'reincarnation' would be managed solely by his Gaden Phodrang Trust in accordance with Tibetan traditions — not Beijing's directives. The idea of reincarnation is rooted in a Buddhist belief system that all living beings are bound by a cycle of birth and death. The pronouncement by the Dalai Lama followed a three-day Tibetan religious conference in Dharamshala. Spiritual leaders from all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism — Gelug, Nyingma, Sakya, and Kagyu — had convened to discuss the sensitive and politically charged question of succession. With Chinese authorities signalling their intentions to control the next reincarnation, the Dalai Lama's announcement reasserted the Tibetan community's spiritual independence — a message of both defiance and continuity. The Dalai Lama is central to the economy and spiritual identity of McLeodganj. His presence has transformed this once-quiet Himalayan hamlet into an internationally recognised hub of Tibetan Buddhism, fuelling tourism, business growth and cultural vibrancy. Events such as the 90th birthday bring new cycles of economic opportunity paired with growing concerns over infrastructure and sustainability. According to local tourism officials, foreign arrivals to McLeodganj surged from around 2,700 in 2021 to over 51,000 in 2023. The momentum has continued into 2025. In the first six months of the year, officials say, over 10 lakh tourists, both domestic as well as international, have arrived in Kangra district. Despite this effortless integration of cultures and communities, the Tibetan issue has always been a sensitive one for India, Tibet and China since the early 1950s. While then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru welcomed waves of embattled Tibetans and granted the Dalai Lama asylum in 1959, even in the face of immense criticism and fears of 'antagonising China', after the India-China war in 1962, Delhi has been cautious about its public pronouncements on the Dalai Lama. Since then, the Indian government has adopted a more nuanced position. While maintaining that the Dalai Lama is a 'revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India' and that he has 'all the freedom to carry out his religious activities in India', Delhi doesn't officially support the Tibetan community's political activism in India. More so now, when India and China are working towards normalising the bilateral relationship after a tense border standoff since 2020. On July 4, the Ministry of External Affairs released a carefully worded statement saying the government 'does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion. The Government has always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and will continue to do so.' Beijing, which views the Dalai Lama as a 'separatist', prohibits any public show of devotion towards the Tibetan spiritual leader. For China, a say in the selection process of the Dalai Lama, a deeply revered figure in Tibet, is seen as a way to exert its authority over the Tibetan people. China has rejected the Nobel Peace laureate's succession plan, insisting that any future heir must receive its seal of approval. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the reincarnation 'must be chosen by drawing lots from a Golden Urn, and approved by the central government (of China).' A day later, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju — who, along with Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, is representing the Indian government at the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday event in Dharamshala on July 6 — said the decision (on the incarnation of the Dalai Lama) would be taken by the established institution and the Dalai Lama himself, no one else. Rijiju's statement ties in with New Delhi's position that the Dalai Lama is a religious leader. Tucked against the forested slopes of the Dhauladhar mountains, just above the noisy cafés and narrow alleyways of McLeodganj, stands Tsuglagkhang, a place at once sacred and deeply political. This Tibetan Buddhist temple, also known as the Tsuglagkhang Complex, is not just a religious site — it is the emotional and spiritual centre of the Tibetan community in exile. Constructed in the 1960s after the 14th Dalai Lama settled in India, it was built to provide a new seat for the Gaden Phodrang (the institution that governs the reincarnation process of the Dalai Lama), the Tibetan government-in-exile and a place of worship for thousands of Tibetan refugees. Over the decades, it has grown from a modest structure into a sprawling complex that includes the main temple, the Namgyal Monastery, the Dalai Lama's private residence, and his office. The temple itself is simple but serene. Its architecture draws from traditional Tibetan monastic design — bold red and gold beams, intricately carved woodwork, and prayer flags fluttering in the crisp mountain breeze. Inside, the walls are painted with ancient thangka murals, their colours glowing dimly beneath soft natural light. At the temple's heart sits a towering gilded statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, flanked by figures of Avalokiteshvara and Padmasambhava, two deeply revered Bodhisattvas in the Tibetan pantheon. Every morning, the scent of juniper and butter lamps fills the air as monks and devotees begin their prostrations and circumambulations, sending their prayers into the world with every turn of the prayer wheels. This week, the quiet rituals are tinged with anticipation ahead of the celebrations on July 6. Thousands of Tibetans living in exile are expected to gather at Tsuglagkhang to hear the Dalai Lama speak. For months, across exile settlements in India and beyond, Tibetans have been offering prayers, holding ceremonies, and lighting lamps in the hope of extending the life of their spiritual leader. Yet, there is a sadness beneath the surface. Karma Yeshi is the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission in the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and has in the past been minister of finance and a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. 'My father Penpa and mother Namdol came from Tibet through Sikkim in the early 1960s. I was born in Gangtok. We moved to Dharamshala in the mid 1960s. My parents and hundreds of Tibetan refugees who followed His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Tibet to India were the ones who built this Tsuglagkhang temple complex. Indian masons and Tibetan refugees worked day and night to complete its construction in 1968,' he says. But now, he says, 'It is painful.' 'On one hand, we pray for his long life with all our heart. On the other, we are forced to discuss his reincarnation because of what the Chinese government might do,' he says. It's a widely shared concern. On ordinary days, the Tsuglagkhang temple is peaceful. Monks chant in low, steady tones. Children walk hand-in-hand with elders. Foreign tourists sit cross-legged in silent meditation beside Tibetan grandmothers. But these are not ordinary days. Amid celebrations, prayers, and security protocols, hangs a quiet urgency — to listen, to remember, and to hold on. Explaining the reincarnation practice, Dr Lobsang Sangay, former CTA president, who is currently teaching a course on 'reincarnation' at the Harvard Law School, says, 'From the first to fifth Dalai Lamas, their relationship was very close and one could say they recognised each other by virtue of being teacher and disciple. However, the relationship changes after the fifth Dalai Lama takes over the rulership of Tibet and forms the Gaden Phodrang government. The tradition/practice was that after the Dalai Lama dies, a regent is appointed who presides over the Gaden Phodrang government. The primary role of the regent was to find the reincarnation of the Dalai Lamas. The regent appoints a team or teams of search committees which travel around and find candidates. Then the candidate is found/ identified, recognised and enthroned.' On China's role and objections, he says, 'Nobody is asking the Chinese government to find the Dalai Lama. Who asked them? Not even a single follower of the 14th Dalai Lama has asked the Chinese to find his reincarnation. They have no role whatsoever.' 'What His Holiness reiterated today is that the institution of the Dalai Lama shall continue as per the traditions and practices of Tibetan Buddhism. There will be a 15th Dalai Lama, 16th Dalai Lama and so on,' says Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, former Kalon Tripa (head of the Tibetan government-in-exile) who now manages the affairs of the Gaden Phodrang Trust. Far removed from the high-level declarations and international intrigue, the rooms at the Swarg Ashram remain silent. By the time the Dalai Lama arrived in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, the ashram — once a colonial-era retreat — had been quietly repurposed as a sanctuary. Today, its interiors remain largely untouched. A narrow 20×15-foot hall, where the Dalai Lama received visitors, leads to a spartan 10×10-foot bedroom overlooking a small garden, where he once greeted followers and addressed the Tibetan diaspora. Now, the building is under the stewardship of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering, though the rooms of the Dalai Lama have been preserved. 'They stay locked most days,' says Tek Chand. 'A few chairs have been left in case someone from the Central Tibetan Administration or the private office of His Holiness visits. But that happens rarely.' 'It's peaceful here,' he says, as the rain picks up again outside. 'You can still feel something in the walls.' While crowds gather below in bustling McLeodganj, where prayer flags flutter above soaked streets and the aroma of incense mingles with monsoon rain, the legacy of the Dalai Lama's early years in exile endures quietly — tucked into the hills, remembered by few, but foundational to all that followed.
Spectator
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Will China interfere in choosing the next Dalai Lama?
Tenzin Gyatso, otherwise known as His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, will celebrate his 90th birthday on Sunday. Despite once predicting he would live to 110, the Dalai Lama has perhaps prudently decided that the time is right to discuss his succession. He will host a conference of Lamas and luminaries (including the actor Richard Gere) to discuss the question. China, which annexed Tibet in 1959, causing the then young holy man to flee to India, will be following the preemptive Buddhist conclave with great interest. Traditionally, a Dalai Lama is found according to an ancient system of mystical rites, rather than chosen. The then humble farmer's son Lhamo Thondup was 'proclaimed' the Dalai Lama at the age of 2, based largely on his apparent ability to recognise sacred objects ('It's mine' he apparently exclaimed when presented with such relics). To Beijng's chagrin, the Dalai Lama has, in a recorded address, confirmed the succession will be based on 'past tradition', suggesting a similar process next time, and that only his office, the Golden Phodrang Trust, will be involved. Although officially atheist, communist China demands the right of approval for state-sanctioned religious leaders (meaning a right of approval for a reincarnation it doesn't officially believe in). Chinese state media have already denounced the Dalai Lama's plan and proposed instead the drawing of lots from a Golden Urn – a method employed in the 18th century in a period when the Qing emperor held sway over Tibet. The most recent similar discovery was in 1995 when the Dalai Lama identified the next Panchen Lama (the second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism) but the child soon disappeared and is believed to be being held somewhere in China. Beijing proclaimed an alternative Panchen who turned out to be the son of two party cadres. This has been interpreted as a warning from Beijing of what may happen if the next Dalai Lama does not meet with their approval. China's disapproval is quite likely. The most credible location for the next incarnation is India, where the Dalai Lama has lived for over 65 years and which is home to a Tibetan diaspora 100,000 strong. The least likely location is anywhere controlled by China. The Dalai Lama stated in a memoir published this year that his successor would be found in the 'free world', and instructed his followers to reject any candidate imposed by the authorities in Beijing. If China does produce its own alternative Dalai Lama, it could create tensions with the US. In December 2020, President Trump signed into law The Tibet Policy and Support Act, which empowered the US government to impose sanctions on Chinese government officials if they interfered in the selection process of the next Dalai Lama. One wonders whether the Chinese might be better to leave the whole process well alone. The Dalai Lama has proved to be neither inflexible nor dogmatic: he removed himself from politics in 2011 and advocates a 'third way' which acknowledges the uncontainability of China but seeks to protect Tibetan culture. He has said he will leave 'written instructions' for his successor which are likely to be in a similar vein. Moreover, whoever the next Dalai lama is will have large sandals to fill and is unlikely to be as charismatic or affable. It is hard to think of a more engaging figure on the world stage. Sincere acolytes, plus a fair few 'Dharma bums', have flocked to his retreat in Dharamshala where an image of a peaceful paradise in exile has been assiduously cultivated. Like his fellow Nobel Peace prize laureate Mother Theresa, though with a better sense of humour, the Dalai Lama is almost universally admired and respected. Like Mother Teresa, though, he does have critics, and not all of them are Chinese. Some would like to have seen him take an even stronger line with Beijing. Others see him as gullible. In Japan, his reputation took a dent when he allowed himself to be photographed with the cult leader Shoko Asahara (of the Aum Shinrikyo cult – the group behind the 1995 saron gas attack on the Tokyo subway) an error subsequently seized on by Beijing. The Dalai Lama said he was a 'funny little Japanese man'. Nor is everyone as seduced as the likes of Richard Gere by the happy-clappy image of a Tibetan Shang-ri-la. Serious historians point to the repressive nature of the country led by a ruthless Buddhist elite in the past with violent intersectional conflicts and ordinary Tibetans treated as little more than serfs. As for the supposedly profound sacraments (a way of controlling the masses?) cynics might be put in mind of the Monty Python Holy Grail sketch satirising the mysticism of Camelot, where kings were chosen by the 'Lady of her Lake, her hand clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur…'. But such myths are potent and nobody likes a bully such as China. If a struggle is triggered for the global recognition of the Dalai Lama's legitimate successor, Beijing will have a hard time winning it. Chairman Mao seemingly recognised this way back in 1959 when he heard the Dalai Lama had fled to India. 'Then we have already lost the (propaganda) war' he reportedly said. And they have been losing it ever since.
