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Times of Oman
09-07-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Tibetans and Koreans celebrate His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's 90th birthday with a long-life prayer ceremony
Busan: The Tibetan and Korean Buddhist communities in Busan came together to celebrate the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with a Long Life Prayer Ceremony held at Gwaneumsa Temple on July 6, according to local Tibetan organizers. The event, known in Korean as Jangsu Kido Beobhoe, began at 9:30 AM and was marked by traditional Tibetan and Korean Buddhist rituals. A large portrait of His Holiness was placed before the temple's main altar, which features the thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara (Gwaneum Bosal), symbolising compassion--a virtue strongly associated with the Dalai Lama. The spiritual ceremony included mandala offerings, long-life prayers, and collective chanting of Guru Yoga by both Tibetan and Korean monks. Lay practitioners and attendees offered ceremonial white scarves, or khatags, to the portrait of the Dalai Lama, expressing their respect and prayers for his continued guidance. Leaders from the Korean Buddhist sangha delivered remarks highlighting the Dalai Lama's contributions to global peace and harmony. The atmosphere was both reverent and celebratory, with emotional moments during shared prayers and the symbolic uniting of Tibetan and Korean traditions. Following the ceremony, participants shared a vegetarian meal and enjoyed a three-tiered birthday cake inscribed with "Happy Birthday to Your Holiness the Dalai Lama." Group photos and warm conversations followed, strengthening bonds between the two communities. The term "Dalai Lama" means "Ocean of Wisdom" in Mongolian. In Tibetan Buddhism, Dalai Lamas are revered as incarnations of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1949, the 14th Dalai Lama assumed full political authority but fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising. Since then, His Holiness has lived in exile in Dharamshala, India, promoting peace, compassion, and Tibetan cultural preservation. Celebrations of his 90th birthday took place not only in South Korea but across Tibetan communities worldwide. The diaspora expressed hope that the Dalai Lama's spiritual legacy will endure through a future recognised reincarnation.
The Independent
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Dalai Lama marks 90th birthday amid rising tensions over succession
The Dalai Lama celebrated his 90th birthday as thousands of his followers gathered in a small Himalayan town in India, a landmark occasion seen as a test of his global influence and the intertwined geopolitical struggle. World leaders and prominent figures from across the globe offered their support to the Buddhist leader, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, regarded as one of the world's most influential religious leaders. A packed crowd of his devotees and supporters, including Hollywood personalities, political figures, and hundreds of red-robed monks and nuns, gathered to celebrate the Dalai Lama's birthday on Sunday in Dharamshala. His supporters were undeterred by heavy monsoon rain and thick fog in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala, where the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism has been living in exile since fleeing Chinese rule in Tibet in 1959. However, the outpouring of support for the exiled Tibetan leader has set the stage for a political and geopolitical struggle over his succession, between the Tibetan Buddhist community in exile in India and China 's Communist Party, which claims sole authority to approve the next Buddhist leader. In his message to the world on his 90th birthday, the 14th Dalai Lama called himself a 'simple Buddhist monk' and shared a message of 'compassion, warm-heartedness, and altruism'. '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. Through this, you will contribute to making the world a better place,' the 90-year-old said. He said he will continue to promote religious harmony, human values, and 'draw attention to the ancient Indian wisdom that explains the workings of the mind and emotions, as well as Tibetan culture and heritage'. Wearing his traditional robe and a flowing yellow wrap on his special day, the Dalai Lama, born Tenzin Gyatso, was escorted to the temple courtyard by a group of monks. Tibetan artists beat drums and played bagpipes to welcome him while senior lamas struck cymbals in his honour. The head of the democratically elected Tibetan government-in-exile, Penpa Tsering, raised the Tibetan flag as the musicians played the Tibetan anthem. The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, led the congratulatory message for the Tibetan spiritual leader, saying: '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,' he added. Mr Modi's support for the Dalai Lama was notable, as China, a tense rival on India 's border, warned New Delhi to choose its words carefully, raising the spectre of renewed friction between two rivals who had been on a path to mending ties. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also sent a message, which was read during the celebrations in India, urging that the Dalai Lama continue to inspire people by embodying a message of 'unity, peace, and compassion'. 'We support efforts to preserve Tibetans' distinct linguistic, cultural and religious heritage, including their ability to freely choose and venerate religious leaders without interference,' the statement added. Taiwan 's president, Lai Ching Te, who has been one of the most vocal leaders to oppose China 's territorial claims, said the Dalai Lama has set an example in the world that 'resonates with all who cherish freedom, democracy and respect for human rights'. Video messages from three former US presidents, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama, were played during the celebrations, conveying birthday wishes. 'At a time when we see the forces of division tearing at the fabric of our common humanity … I'm grateful for your enduring efforts to build a better, kinder, more compassionate world,' Mr Clinton said. Richard Gere, Hollywood actor and long-time follower of Tibetan Buddhism, attended the celebrations and praised the Dalai Lama, calling him 'the most extraordinary man to ever walk on this planet'. He was notably present at the Tsuglagkhang temple events. Several Indian politicians and Buddhist leaders also took part in the celebrations in the Himalayan town. Indian Minister Kiren Rijiju, a practising Buddhist, attended the celebrations and participated in the Tibetan and Indian national anthem ceremonies. He called him India 's 'most honoured guest' and said he remains committed to supporting the Tibetan cause, adding that devotees will follow the Dalai Lama's guidance. Earlier this week, he irked China after backing the Tibetan leader's stance on his succession, contradicting China. He later clarified it was a personal opinion after Beijing warned India against interfering. The Dalai Lama has declared that he will be reincarnated after his death and confirmed that only his office has 'sole authority' to recognise his future reincarnation, a process for choosing the next leader after his death. In comments that sparked outrage from China, the Dalai Lama said his successor would be born in the 'free world' — outside China. Many exiled Tibetans fear that China will name its own successor to bolster control over Tibet, a territory it invaded in 1950 and has ruled ever since.
Japan Times
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
'Simple Buddhist monk' Dalai Lama marks landmark 90th birthday
Calling himself a "simple Buddhist monk" who usually didn't celebrate birthdays, the Dalai Lama marked his 90th on Sunday by praying for peace after China insisted it would have final say on who succeeded the Tibetan spiritual leader. 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."
The Guardian
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Buddhist rebirth v Chinese control: the battle to choose the Dalai Lama's successor
Few celebrations have the hills of Dharamshala abuzz like the birthday of the Dalai Lama. But this year, as monks and devotees flooded into the mountainous Indian city before the Tibetan spiritual leader turns 90 on Sunday, the mood of anticipation has been palpable. For years, the Dalai Lama had promised that around his 90th birthday he would make a long-awaited announcement about his reincarnation. Finally, in a video broadcast to Tibetan monks and leaders on Wednesday, he laid out what the future would hold. It came amid fears of a ruthless succession battle between the Tibetan community and the Chinese government, which for decades has sought to control the institution of the Dalai Lama, revered as the highest teacher in Tibetan Buddhism. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, confirmed he would remain in the role until he died. Then, as per centuries of tradition, he would be reincarnated, and only his inner circle – a trust of closely allied monks – would have the 'sole authority' to locate his successor; an often lengthy process to track down a child in which his spirit has been reborn. 'No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,' the Dalai Lama told his monks. The announcement ended years of speculation that, in an attempt to prevent Chinese interference, the Dalai Lama might put forward an alternative mode of reincarnation, such as transferring his spiritual essence to a successor who could be found while he was still alive. To the great worry of many in the Tibetan diaspora, he had even hinted that he may not reincarnate at all. The Dalai Lama's latest statement was a clear defiance of the Communist party in China, which has long held the view that only it has the authority to decide the next Dalai Lama and has even enshrined the right into Chinese law. However, Tansen Sen, a scholar of Indo-Chinese relations and Buddhism, noted that the Dalai Lama's message struck a more diplomatic tone than some of his previous statements. In earlier writings, he had said the 15th Dalai Lama would be born in the 'free world' – taken to mean outside China – but this time he did not repeat that. 'I see this as a very strategically handled announcement which avoided ruffling China's feathers too much,' said Sen. 'The Dalai Lama is not only a religious leader, he is also a shrewd thinker and I think he realises that there are larger issues at play, particularly that he is caught geopolitically between India and China.' However, China's sensitivity over the issue was evident in the absence of the Dalai Lama's statement from all Chinese or Tibetan media. 'China's propaganda managers seem very reticent for this news to reach Tibetans or even Chinese,' said Robert Barnett, a scholar of Tibetan history at Soas University of London. 'Presumably that's because Chinese leaders fear a popular outpouring of support for the Dalai Lama, or they are struggling to agree on how to respond.' China invaded and took control of the autonomous region of Tibet in 1950. After a failed uprising by Tibetans in 1959, China threatened to arrest the Dalai Lama – who acted as a religious and political leader – forcing him into exile in India. After his perilous escape across the Himalayas, in April 1959 the Dalai Lama met the then-Indian prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who declared – against much opposition within his own government – that the Tibetan spiritual leader 'should be allowed to live in peace' in India. Since then, the Dalai Lama, along with other Tibetan religious leaders, civilians and parliamentarians in exile, have established their political and religious headquarters in Dharamshala, high in the Himalayan mountains. From his outpost, the Dalai Lama has been both a religious leader and a tireless and highly effective global advocate for the Tibetan cause and community over the past 66 years. He has vocally resisted calls by China for it to have any say over the institution of the Dalai Lama or to meddle in the succession process. Within greater Tibet, home to 6 million people, Chinese authorities have imposed increasingly draconian measures and censorship to try to crush the influence of the Dalai Lama, including banning images of him. Beijing has described the Dalai Lama as a 'wolf in monk's clothing' and views him as a dissident and separatist, even as he advocated for greater Tibetan autonomy within China, rather than full independence. Chinese efforts are widely seen to have failed, and as the Dalai Lama's international profile has grown – he has a Nobel peace prize and millions of devotees, including some of the world's biggest celebrities – he remains more revered than ever. His presence as a constant thorn in the side of Chinese efforts to impose complete homogeneity over Tibet means officials have become increasingly determined to control what happens when he dies. In a statement after the Dalai Lama's announcement this week – which was only published in English – the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said his successor 'must be chosen by drawing lots from a golden urn and approved by the central government'. Analysts have widely agreed the most likely scenario after the death of the Dalai Lama is that two successors will be appointed; one located by Tibetan monks, as per tradition, probably outside China and recognised by the Tibetan community in exile, and another selected by the Chinese Communist party from within China. Over the decades, the Dalai Lama's presence in Dharamshala and the free movement he is afforded by India has remained a source of tension in Indo-Chinese relations. Yet since 2020, when border tensions erupted into violent skirmishes, it appeared the Indian government, led by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, began to see the Tibet issue as a direct form of leverage over China. China has emphasised that any country that interferes in the Dalai Lama reincarnation will be sanctioned – a message seen to be directed at India. In a notable break from convention, this week India's minister of minority affairs, Kiren Rijiju, himself a Buddhist, said publicly that reincarnation of the Dalai Lama 'is to be decided by the established convention and as per the wish of the Dalai Lama himself. Nobody else has the right to decide it except him.' China's foreign ministry instantly called on India to 'stop using Tibet issues to interfere in China's domestic affairs'. Amitabh Mathur, a former adviser on Tibet to the Indian government, said it was highly likely that the Dalai Lama's office would have pre-informed New Delhi of the reincarnation announcement, and that Rijiju's statement would not have been made without consulting senior ministries. 'It certainly goes above and beyond what has been said by India before,' said Mathur. He suggested the geopolitical challenges over the Dalai Lama were likely to become more complicated after his death, particularly if the Tibetan officials located his reincarnation inside India, in defiance of China's own possible selection. Tibetan officials have confirmed that unofficial back channels remained open with the Chinese and that the Dalai Lama was doing all he could to prevent the 600-year-old Tibetan Buddhist institution being hijacked by Chinese political interests. 'He's viewing these things from a very practical lens,' said Mathur. 'Don't forget, the Dalai Lama is as well versed in statecraft as he is in spiritual matters.' Nonetheless, as he led prayers on the eve of his birthday, the Tibetan leader – who appeared in good health – emphasised that he did not foresee his death coming any time soon. 'I hope,' he said, 'to live another 30 or 40 years.'
The Guardian
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Buddhist rebirth v Chinese control: the battle to choose the Dalai Lama's successor
Few celebrations have the hills of Dharamshala abuzz like the birthday of the Dalai Lama. But this year, as monks and devotees flooded into the mountainous Indian city before the Tibetan spiritual leader turns 90 on Sunday, the mood of anticipation has been palpable. For years, the Dalai Lama had promised that around his 90th birthday he would make a long-awaited announcement about his reincarnation. Finally, in a video broadcast to Tibetan monks and leaders on Wednesday, he laid out what the future would hold. It came amid fears of a ruthless succession battle between the Tibetan community and the Chinese government, which for decades has sought to control the institution of the Dalai Lama, revered as the highest teacher in Tibetan Buddhism. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, confirmed he would remain in the role until he died. Then, as per centuries of tradition, he would be reincarnated, and only his inner circle – a trust of closely allied monks – would have the 'sole authority' to locate his successor; an often lengthy process to track down a child in which his spirit has been reborn. 'No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,' the Dalai Lama told his monks. The announcement ended years of speculation that, in an attempt to prevent Chinese interference, the Dalai Lama might put forward an alternative mode of reincarnation, such as transferring his spiritual essence to a successor who could be found while he was still alive. To the great worry of many in the Tibetan diaspora, he had even hinted that he may not reincarnate at all. The Dalai Lama's latest statement was a clear defiance of the Communist party in China, which has long held the view that only it has the authority to decide the next Dalai Lama and has even enshrined the right into Chinese law. However, Tansen Sen, a scholar of Indo-Chinese relations and Buddhism, noted that the Dalai Lama's message struck a more diplomatic tone than some of his previous statements. In earlier writings, he had said the 15th Dalai Lama would be born in the 'free world' – taken to mean outside China – but this time he did not repeat that. 'I see this as a very strategically handled announcement which avoided ruffling China's feathers too much,' said Sen. 'The Dalai Lama is not only a religious leader, he is also a shrewd thinker and I think he realises that there are larger issues at play, particularly that he is caught geopolitically between India and China.' However, China's sensitivity over the issue was evident in the absence of the Dalai Lama's statement from all Chinese or Tibetan media. 'China's propaganda managers seem very reticent for this news to reach Tibetans or even Chinese,' said Robert Barnett, a scholar of Tibetan history at Soas University of London. 'Presumably that's because Chinese leaders fear a popular outpouring of support for the Dalai Lama, or they are struggling to agree on how to respond.' China invaded and took control of the autonomous region of Tibet in 1950. After a failed uprising by Tibetans in 1959, China threatened to arrest the Dalai Lama – who acted as a religious and political leader – forcing him into exile in India. After his perilous escape across the Himalayas, in April 1959 the Dalai Lama met the then-Indian prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who declared – against much opposition within his own government – that the Tibetan spiritual leader 'should be allowed to live in peace' in India. Since then, the Dalai Lama, along with other Tibetan religious leaders, civilians and parliamentarians in exile, have established their political and religious headquarters in Dharamshala, high in the Himalayan mountains. From his outpost, the Dalai Lama has been both a religious leader and a tireless and highly effective global advocate for the Tibetan cause and community over the past 66 years. He has vocally resisted calls by China for it to have any say over the institution of the Dalai Lama or to meddle in the succession process. Within greater Tibet, home to 6 million people, Chinese authorities have imposed increasingly draconian measures and censorship to try to crush the influence of the Dalai Lama, including banning images of him. Beijing has described the Dalai Lama as a 'wolf in monk's clothing' and views him as a dissident and separatist, even as he advocated for greater Tibetan autonomy within China, rather than full independence. Chinese efforts are widely seen to have failed, and as the Dalai Lama's international profile has grown – he has a Nobel peace prize and millions of devotees, including some of the world's biggest celebrities – he remains more revered than ever. His presence as a constant thorn in the side of Chinese efforts to impose complete homogeneity over Tibet means officials have become increasingly determined to control what happens when he dies. In a statement after the Dalai Lama's announcement this week – which was only published in English – the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said his successor 'must be chosen by drawing lots from a golden urn and approved by the central government'. Analysts have widely agreed the most likely scenario after the death of the Dalai Lama is that two successors will be appointed; one located by Tibetan monks, as per tradition, probably outside China and recognised by the Tibetan community in exile, and another selected by the Chinese Communist party from within China. Over the decades, the Dalai Lama's presence in Dharamshala and the free movement he is afforded by India has remained a source of tension in Indo-Chinese relations. Yet since 2020, when border tensions erupted into violent skirmishes, it appeared the Indian government, led by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, began to see the Tibet issue as a direct form of leverage over China. China has emphasised that any country that interferes in the Dalai Lama reincarnation will be sanctioned – a message seen to be directed at India. In a notable break from convention, this week India's minister of minority affairs, Kiren Rijiju, himself a Buddhist, said publicly that reincarnation of the Dalai Lama 'is to be decided by the established convention and as per the wish of the Dalai Lama himself. Nobody else has the right to decide it except him.' China's foreign ministry instantly called on India to 'stop using Tibet issues to interfere in China's domestic affairs'. Amitabh Mathur, a former adviser on Tibet to the Indian government, said it was highly likely that the Dalai Lama's office would have informed New Delhi of the reincarnation announcement, and that Rijiju's statement would not have been made without consulting senior ministries. 'It certainly goes above and beyond what has been said by India before,' said Mathur. He suggested the geopolitical challenges over the Dalai Lama were likely to become more complicated after his death, particularly if the Tibetan officials located his reincarnation inside India, in defiance of China's own possible selection. Tibetan officials have confirmed that unofficial back channels remained open with the Chinese and that the Dalai Lama was doing all he could to prevent the 600-year-old Tibetan Buddhist institution being hijacked by Chinese political interests. 'He's viewing these things from a very practical lens,' said Mathur. 'Don't forget, the Dalai Lama is as well versed in statecraft as he is in spiritual matters.' Nonetheless, as he led prayers on the eve of his birthday, the Tibetan leader – who appeared in good health – emphasised that he did not foresee his death coming any time soon. 'I hope,' he said, 'to live another 30 or 40 years.'
