'Simple Buddhist monk' Dalai Lama marks landmark 90th birthday
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".
Dressed in traditional robes and a flowing yellow wrap, he walked with the aid of two monks while flashing his trademark beaming smile to thousands of followers.
Beijing condemns the Nobel Peace Prize winner -- who has led a lifelong campaign for greater autonomy for Tibet, a vast high-altitude plateau -- as a rebel and separatist.
Alongside the celebrations, however, is the worry for Tibetans in exile that China will name its successor to bolster control over the territory it poured troops into in 1950 and has ruled ever since.
That raises the likelihood of rival challengers to the post; one by self-declared atheist Beijing, the other by the Dalai Lama's office based in neighbouring India, a regional rival of China.
- 'Good heart' -
The celebrations on Sunday are the culmination of days of long-life prayers for Tenzin Gyatso, who followers believe is the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, a man whose moral teachings and idiosyncratic humour have made him one of the world's most popular religious leaders.
"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," he said in his birthday message.
"Through this, you will contribute to making the world a better place."
The celebrations also included his key announcement that, after being inundated with messages of support from fellow Tibetans both inside and in exile, the spiritual institution will continue after his death.
He said he had received appeals from followers from across the Himalayan region, Mongolia and parts of Russia and China.
The seemingly esoteric matters of reincarnation have real-world political consequences, with Tibetans fearing his death will mark a major setback in his push for more autonomy for the Himalayan region.
The Dalai Lama said his India-based office alone would "exclusively" identify that successor -- prompting a swift and sharp reply from China that the reincarnation "must be approved by the central government" in Beijing.
China said the succession would be carried out "by drawing lots from a golden urn", foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters on Wednesday.
That urn is held by Beijing, and the Dalai Lama has warned that, when used dishonestly, it lacks "any spiritual quality".
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered effusive birthday greetings on Sunday, calling the Dalai Lama an "enduring symbol of love".
India and China are intense rivals competing for influence across South Asia, but have sought to repair ties after a 2020 border clash.
- 'Freedom and dignity' -
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said in a statement that Washington was "committed to promoting respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Tibetans".
Among the crowds attending the celebrations was Hollywood star Richard Gere, a longtime backer of the Tibetans in exile, who on Sunday said the Dalai Lama "totally embodies selflessness, complete love and compassion and wisdom".
Messages of support were also given by former US presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, as well as Barack Obama, who said the Dalai Lama had shown what it means to "speak up for freedom and dignity".
The ceremony ended with the Dalai Lama eating a slice of cake and thousands singing "happy birthday".
No details have been released for the future succession.
All so far have been men or boys, often identified as toddlers and taking up the role only as teenagers.
The current Dalai Lama, himself identified in 1937, has said that if there is a successor it will come from the "free world" outside China's control.
In a speech to followers on Sunday, the Dalai Lama said his practice of Buddhism meant he had dedicated his life towards seeking compassion.
"I'm now 90 and... when I reflect on my life, I see that I have not wasted my life at all", he said, speaking in Tibetan.
"I would not have regrets at the time of my death; rather I would be able to die very peacefully."
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Dalai Lama celebrates 90th with Tibetan Buddhists
The Dalai Lama has turned 90 surrounded by thousands of followers, who thronged 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. Sitting on Sunday before a packed audience that included hundreds of red-robed monks and nuns who braved incessant rain to see him, he said: "When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all." "I live my life in the service of other sentient beings," he added. Dressed in a traditional robe and a flowing yellow wrap, the Dalai Lama was escorted to the temple courtyard by a group of monks, as Tibetan artists beat drums and played bagpipes 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. Recognised worldwide in his red robes and wide smile, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th 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 birthday party capped a week of celebrations, during which the Nobel Peace Prize winner 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 and recognised as per past Buddhist traditions. On Saturday, the Dalai Lama said he hoped to live 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. Dignitaries including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sent their wishes to the Tibetan leader. Modi said the Dalai Lama has "been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline" while Rubio said the Buddhist spiritual leader "continues to inspire people by embodying a message of unity, peace and compassion". The celebration was also attended by hundreds of followers from around the world including Hollywood movie star Richard Gere. "He is the most extraordinary man to ever walk on this planet," said Gere, as the crowd broke into a rapturous applause. In a birthday message on his website on Saturday, the Dalai Lama reiterated that he was "just a simple Buddhist monk" and that he will "continue to focus on my commitments of promoting human values religious harmony". Celebrations were also held in Kathmandu, Nepal, where hundreds of Tibetan refugees, monks and foreign diplomats marked the day with Buddhist prayers, chanting and dances. 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 recognisable figures while leading a Tibetan diaspora through their struggle for autonomy and opposition of China's control of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has turned 90 surrounded by thousands of followers, who thronged 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. Sitting on Sunday before a packed audience that included hundreds of red-robed monks and nuns who braved incessant rain to see him, he said: "When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all." "I live my life in the service of other sentient beings," he added. Dressed in a traditional robe and a flowing yellow wrap, the Dalai Lama was escorted to the temple courtyard by a group of monks, as Tibetan artists beat drums and played bagpipes 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. Recognised worldwide in his red robes and wide smile, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th 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 birthday party capped a week of celebrations, during which the Nobel Peace Prize winner 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 and recognised as per past Buddhist traditions. On Saturday, the Dalai Lama said he hoped to live 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. Dignitaries including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sent their wishes to the Tibetan leader. Modi said the Dalai Lama has "been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline" while Rubio said the Buddhist spiritual leader "continues to inspire people by embodying a message of unity, peace and compassion". The celebration was also attended by hundreds of followers from around the world including Hollywood movie star Richard Gere. "He is the most extraordinary man to ever walk on this planet," said Gere, as the crowd broke into a rapturous applause. In a birthday message on his website on Saturday, the Dalai Lama reiterated that he was "just a simple Buddhist monk" and that he will "continue to focus on my commitments of promoting human values religious harmony". Celebrations were also held in Kathmandu, Nepal, where hundreds of Tibetan refugees, monks and foreign diplomats marked the day with Buddhist prayers, chanting and dances. 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 recognisable figures while leading a Tibetan diaspora through their struggle for autonomy and opposition of China's control of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has turned 90 surrounded by thousands of followers, who thronged 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. Sitting on Sunday before a packed audience that included hundreds of red-robed monks and nuns who braved incessant rain to see him, he said: "When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all." "I live my life in the service of other sentient beings," he added. Dressed in a traditional robe and a flowing yellow wrap, the Dalai Lama was escorted to the temple courtyard by a group of monks, as Tibetan artists beat drums and played bagpipes 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. Recognised worldwide in his red robes and wide smile, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th 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 birthday party capped a week of celebrations, during which the Nobel Peace Prize winner 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 and recognised as per past Buddhist traditions. On Saturday, the Dalai Lama said he hoped to live 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. Dignitaries including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sent their wishes to the Tibetan leader. Modi said the Dalai Lama has "been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline" while Rubio said the Buddhist spiritual leader "continues to inspire people by embodying a message of unity, peace and compassion". The celebration was also attended by hundreds of followers from around the world including Hollywood movie star Richard Gere. "He is the most extraordinary man to ever walk on this planet," said Gere, as the crowd broke into a rapturous applause. In a birthday message on his website on Saturday, the Dalai Lama reiterated that he was "just a simple Buddhist monk" and that he will "continue to focus on my commitments of promoting human values religious harmony". Celebrations were also held in Kathmandu, Nepal, where hundreds of Tibetan refugees, monks and foreign diplomats marked the day with Buddhist prayers, chanting and dances. 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 recognisable figures while leading a Tibetan diaspora through their struggle for autonomy and opposition of China's control of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has turned 90 surrounded by thousands of followers, who thronged 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. Sitting on Sunday before a packed audience that included hundreds of red-robed monks and nuns who braved incessant rain to see him, he said: "When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all." "I live my life in the service of other sentient beings," he added. Dressed in a traditional robe and a flowing yellow wrap, the Dalai Lama was escorted to the temple courtyard by a group of monks, as Tibetan artists beat drums and played bagpipes 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. Recognised worldwide in his red robes and wide smile, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th 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 birthday party capped a week of celebrations, during which the Nobel Peace Prize winner 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 and recognised as per past Buddhist traditions. On Saturday, the Dalai Lama said he hoped to live 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. Dignitaries including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sent their wishes to the Tibetan leader. Modi said the Dalai Lama has "been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline" while Rubio said the Buddhist spiritual leader "continues to inspire people by embodying a message of unity, peace and compassion". The celebration was also attended by hundreds of followers from around the world including Hollywood movie star Richard Gere. "He is the most extraordinary man to ever walk on this planet," said Gere, as the crowd broke into a rapturous applause. In a birthday message on his website on Saturday, the Dalai Lama reiterated that he was "just a simple Buddhist monk" and that he will "continue to focus on my commitments of promoting human values religious harmony". Celebrations were also held in Kathmandu, Nepal, where hundreds of Tibetan refugees, monks and foreign diplomats marked the day with Buddhist prayers, chanting and dances. 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 recognisable figures while leading a Tibetan diaspora through their struggle for autonomy and opposition of China's control of Tibet.
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