In a special video message on his 86th birthday today, Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, said that he has taken full advantage of India's freedom and religious harmony ever since becoming a refugee and settling down in India while appreciating the Indian concept of secular values at the same time.
As the Tibetans the world over celebrate the birthday of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama thanked everyone for the greetings that poured in from all corners of the globe, insisting that tough times don't last but happiness does.
"Since I became a refugee and now settled in India, I have taken full advantage of India's freedom and religious harmony. I want to assure you that for the rest of my life I am committed to reviving ancient Indian knowledge. I really appreciate the Indian concept of secular values, not dependent on religion, such as honesty, karuna (compassion) and ahimsa (non-violence)," he said in the video message Tuesday morning.
The 14th Dalai Lama was born at Taktser, a small hamlet in Amdo Province’s Kumbum region on 6 July 1935 to Choekyong Tsering and Dickyi Tsering. He escaped into exile in India in March 1959 after sensing an inevitable threat to his life from the Chinese troops stationed in Lhasa. Along with him, about 80,000 Tibetans also moved to India, Nepal and Bhutan.
In May 1960, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) was moved to Dharamsala, situated in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh with the Tibetan people, both inside and outside Tibet, recognizing it as their sole and legitimate government.
On Tuesday, the Nobel Peace laureate said that he would remain committed to non-violence and compassion until his death.
"This is my offering to my friends. I hope my friends will also keep non-violence and compassion for the rest of your lives," he said.
Spoke on phone to His Holiness the @DalaiLama to convey greetings on his 86th birthday. We wish him a long and healthy life.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2021
In a statement issued on his birthday, the Kashag (cabinet), the highest executive office of the Central Tibetan Administration, said that the Dalai Lama remains one of the few individuals who can reorient Sino-Tibetan history toward a positive direction.
"The Chinese government should therefore recognize that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the key to resolving the Sino-Tibetan conflict. It should utilize the opportunity offered by the mutually beneficial Middle Way Approach to foster a harmonious environment where Tibetans and Chinese can co-exist amicably. Therefore, we appeal to the Chinese government to earnestly invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and China on pilgrimage without any preconditions," the CTA said.
Penpa Tsering, the newly-elected President of Tibetan government-in-exile, said that the Tibetans should study and practice the profound teachings of the Dalai Lama and refrain from engaging in unnecessary squabbles on social media and narrow partisan strife.
"The current global political climate offers a golden opportunity to highlight the Tibet issue. We should therefore duly proceed with his blessings in our hearts to strengthen Tibetan unity. That will be our greatest gift to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on this birthday and I urge everyone to do the same," the President said today.
