Narendra Modi on Monday has extended birthday wishes for the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader of Tibetan descent, as much of the world is aware of his long track record of peace, compassion and harmony.
"Warm birthday wishes for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His message of peace and harmony is the heart of this world. His moral and spiritual strength and commitment to the good of humanity are commendable. We wish him a long and healthy life," PM Modi wrote.
The Dalai Lama was born on July 6, 1935, in a farming family in the small village of Taktser in the Amdo region of Tibet. Born Lhamo Thondup, he was identified at two years old as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama according to Tibetan Buddhist traditions. He was later given the name Tenzin Gyatso and formally assumed the role of the 14th Dalai Lama.
Who is the Dalai Lama?
The Dalai Lama is the highest spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism to the extent of being called the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists and the political leader of Tibet for centuries.
In 1959, after an uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, the Dalai Lama fled to India with thousands of Tibetan refugees. He has lived in exile in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, which serves as the base of the Tibetan government-in-exile and the global centre of Tibetan Buddhism.
He traveled the world and has been involved in non-violence, religious harmony, compassion, environmental responsibility and dialogue as solutions to global conflicts.
Why does the Dalai Lama matter so much?
The Dalai Lama is one of the world’s most respected spiritual leaders. He is a man of faith but his teachings transcend religion and focus on universal human values - kindness, compassion, forgiveness, peace and coexistence.
His advocacy for the peaceful resolution of the Tibet conflict in dialogue rather than violence has received international recognition. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for defending the rights and cultural identity of the Tibetan people in the absence of violence.
The Dalai Lama’s public speaking at universities, international forums and religious conferences is far from being limited to politics but it is now also a global ambassador for mindfulness, mental well-being and interfaith understanding.
He has also promoted the scientific investigation in meditation, neuroscience and psychology and has encouraged the collaboration between Buddhist scholars and scientists to study human consciousness and emotional health.
India's long relationship with the Dalai Lama
India has had a longtime relationship with the Dalai Lama since it granted him asylum in 1959. Dharamshala is his home for over 60 years, and he is an emblem of India’s humanitarian values and religious freedom.
Indian governments have maintained cultural and humanitarian relations with the Tibetan people as well as balancing diplomatic considerations.
The Dalai Lama is still seen in India and throughout the world as a leader who is respected by many, so Modi’s birthday message is very much in line with that. He is the spiritual leader of today's world and so is the Dalai Lama’s message to this nation at large, and his message of peace, empathy and moral leadership is inspiring many as well.
The Dalai Lama, who is now 91 years old, is still a powerful symbol of hope, resilience and non-violence as he is a symbol of hope and a man of peace; and in a world on the brink of a generation of global discord and a world in which people’s hearts and minds are growing more and more divided than ever before, the Dalai Lama is also a great symbol for the world.
