In the temple and courtyard an estimated 5000 people were gathered to take part in the prayers. As His Holiness reached the edge of the yard he stepped down from the golf cart in which he had been riding to walk to the temple. He was welcomed by Tashi Shölpa dancers as well as dancing Snow Lions and Yaks who performed to the sound of singers and the beat of drums.

Rich garlands of flowers hung from the canopy overhead. The traditional red carpet up the centre of the yard was decorated in addition by a series of auspicious symbols painted on red cloth. As monks escorting His Holiness played horns, TIPA artistes sang and danced in welcome. At the foot of the temple, he paused to watch another group of dancers whose performance was particularly energetic. The TIPA artistes continued to sing and dance as His Holiness walked to the temple where he took his seat on the throne.

Ling Rinpoché, who presided over today’s ceremonies sat facing His Holiness. To his right was the Abbot of Namgyal Monastery, Geshé Lobsang Samten, and to his left the Dorjé Lobpön, Lobsang Dhargyey.

Today’s ritual was based on an Amitayus Ritual: ‘Extracting the Pure Essence’ composed by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama following a vision he had of Guru Padmasambhava in the form of Amitayus. The Eight Aspects of Guru Rinpoche and Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal were invoked. Following a praise to the Three Jewels there was a recitation of ‘Clouds of Ambrosial Blessings’, a prayer that recalls the sublime series of His Holiness’s previous lives, thirty-six in India and more in Tibet, including the line of kings who first ruled the Land of Snows.

The verses referring to His Holiness include the following:

To you, wondrously born in Taktser,
According to the predictions of Shridevi (Palden Lhamo),
Near the birthplace of Guru Manjunath (Jé Tsongkhapa)
In Dhomay (Amdo), to a family that originated in Central [Tibet]--we pray.

You alone perform the perfect activities of the sublime Buddhas.
All the Buddha's teachings without distinction
You have the power to hold, preserve and propagate.
Jampel Ngagi Wangpo (Empowered with Mañjusri's Speech), to you we pray.

In your learning and understanding, you compare with the Six Ornaments and the Two Supreme Ones,
In respecting the training of a monk, you are the equal of the Arhat Upali,
In your perfect activities, you are the Victor Tsongkhapa in person.
Lobsang Yeshe (Excellent Intellect and Wisdom), to you we pray.

For compassionately promoting the path of non-violence
You have received the highest awards for peace.
Respected worldwide, you are Kalachakra in person-
Jewel-like Tenzin Gyatso (Oceanic Holder of the Doctrine), to you we pray.

There was a short break in the prayers as tea and sweet rice were distributed, eaten and drunk.

The ritual proceeded with steps to expel obstructions, form the protection circle, supplicate the lineage masters, bless the long-life substances and the tormas, visualize Amitayus, bless the tsok offerings and so forth. There followed a section about repelling the seduction of the five classes of dakinis derived from a dream of Terdag Lingpa, a close associate of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama. The verses here evoke the qualities of the Lama and end ‘may you remain firm’.

The actual long-life offering began with a supplication to the lineage masters and continued with an offering of long-life substances. Ling Rinpoché offered His Holiness the long-life arrow which he flourished before him. Supported by representatives of the patrons Rinpoché then made a mandala offering accompanied by a request that, out of compassion, His Holiness would live long. He then offered a statue of White Tara, a scripture and a stupa—representations of the body, speech and mind of the enlightened ones. Next, he offered long-life liquor, long-life pills, the eight auspicious symbols, the seven royal emblems, and the eight auspicious substances. Meanwhile, the line of patrons, many of them carrying statues, moved swiftly past His Holiness’s throne through the temple.

The prayer for His Holiness’s long life composed by his Tutors was recited. Members of the Nepal Tibetan Lhamo Association offered statues of Thang-tong Gyalpo, reputed founder of the Tibetan opera tradition, Milarepa and King Songtsen Gampo.

The next prayer for His Holiness’s long life was ‘The Melody of the Nectar of Immortality’ composed by Jamyang Khentsé Chökyi Lodro. His Holiness was presented an appliqué thangka depicting Yellow Yamantaka and a painting of White Tara.

TIPA performed one song for His Holiness’s long life, then another that had been composed to celebrate his 90th birthday. The Nepal Tibetan Lhamo Association sang a song to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

A prayer to Guru Padmasambhava was followed by ‘Exhorting the Guardian Deities, Protectors of Tibet, to Act’, which His Holiness wrote in the early 1970s. It concludes with the following verse:

Extend the lives of the protector of the Land of Snows
And of the noble holders of the teachings,
Cause the teachings and beings, equal to space, to flourish happily,
And let all wishes be spontaneously fulfilled!

A thanksgiving mandala offering, along with representations of the body, speech and mind of the enlightened ones, was made to His Holiness in gratitude for his accepting the request to live long.

The ceremony was concluded with the recitation of ‘The Sage's Harmonious Song of Truth—A Prayer for the Flourishing of the Non-Sectarian Teachings of the Buddha’ written by His Holiness, many verses of which end with the line—‘Long may these teachings of the Buddha flourish in the Land of Snows!’. Towards the end His Holiness wrote:

Throughout all the worlds, may war, conflict, famine and evil thoughts or actions
Be eradicated entirely, so that even their names are no longer heard!
May the minds of beings be infused with love! May signs of virtue increase throughout the environment and beings!
And may an ocean of happiness and well-being pervade the whole of space!

In short, for as long as space endures,
And for as long as there is suffering among beings,
May I too remain, to bring them benefit and happiness,
In all ways, directly and also indirectly!

The ‘Prayer of the Words of Truth’ was followed by the dedication verses from the Samantabhadra Prayer.

Walking from the temple to the lift, and again as he rode through the courtyard in an open golf cart, His Holiness smiled and waved cheerfully at people in the crowd eager to catch his eye.

His Holiness then walked through the courtyard to his throne at the foot of the temple. 253 of the nuns who had participated in this year’s Winter Debate and 33 Geshé-mas, who graduated this July and received their degree certificates during this Jang Gunchö—Winter Debate—assembly, sat on either side of the aisle. The Geshé-ma graduates sat in the front rows.

Once His Holiness was seated, Geshé-ma Ngawang Chökyi, offered him representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha as is traditional. The Geshé-ma graduates then presented him with a thangka painting of the three Deities of Longevity—Amitayus, White Tara and Namgyalma and a painting of the Twenty-one Taras.

Nuns, both graduates and students, then proceeded to give a debate presentation that displayed their knowledge and analytical skills. His Holiness observed their exchange with pleasure.

On this occasion a new booklet had been published containing praises by His Holiness of twenty-one exemplary Buddhist practitioners who were women, some of whom were Indian, while the others were Tibetan. In the booklet, each four line praise was accompanied by a painted illustration. His Holiness was requested to give an oral transmission of this work, which he did by reading it aloud to the nuns, who followed his words in their own copies of the text.

After his meeting with nuns who had participated in the Winter Debate and the Geshé-ma graduates, His Holiness briefly observed debates taking place in the Main Tibetan Temple as part of the annual examinations held by Namgyal Monastery School. As events came to an end, His Holiness rode in a golf cart through the courtyard as the nuns chanted the ‘Mig-tse-ma’ prayer. His Holiness waved and smiled at them on either side as he passed.

“You have devoted your life to the cause of people around the world who are denied their rights,” he wrote.

“I have long believed that a country governed by the rule of law, with an independent judiciary and a free press, is best placed to serve its own people and, in turn, the wider global community. Where the rule of law is absent, injustice and suffering inevitably follow.

“As a Tibetan, I deeply appreciate your efforts, during your tenure as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to call on China to address the underlying issues in Tibet.”

His Holiness concluded “I warmly welcome you to the community of Nobel Peace Laureates and look forward to your continued contribution to making the world a better place for us all.”

“May I congratulate you on India's emergence as a confident and strong nation,” he wrote. “This great country's success also contributes significantly to global peace, stability and development.

“I consider myself a proud messenger of India, which presents to the world an example of Ahimsa and Karuna — peace and harmony born from India's ancient wisdom.

“Once again, I would like to extend my deep gratitude to the Government and people of India for the warm and generous hospitality shown to me and my fellow Tibetans for well over 67 years now.”

His Holiness concluded by offering prayers and good wishes once more.

An announcement was made inviting members of the gathering to join in these prayers while also praying for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life in a ceremony organized by the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), the All Ladakh Gonpa Association (ALGA) and the Tibetan Community of Ladakh. The ceremony was held on the Shewatsel Teaching Ground near Choglamsar, Leh, and was attended by an estimated 25,000 people.

His Holiness drove from his residence at the far end of the ground to the teaching pavilion, smiling and waving as members of the public pressed against the fence to see him as he passed. When he reached the pavilion a group of Ladakhi drummers stood over their drums beating out a warm welcome while groups of laymen and monks blew horns.

Once His Holiness had taken his seat on the stage, members of the crowd paid their respects by prostrating before him. Prayers began with Drukpa Thuksé Rinpoché presiding. A procession of people belonging to the groups who had organized the ceremony filed past in front of the stage as Rinpoché offered His Holiness a silk scarf. ‘The Seven Limb Prayer’ from the ‘King of Prayers, the Samantabhadra Prayer’, was recited followed by a ‘tsog’ offering from which His Holiness took and ate a portion.

Thuksé Rinpoché offered a mandala that His Holiness accepted and from which he took a pinch of grain that he tossed in the air. Rinpoché then offered representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha in the form of a statue, a scripture and a stupa. Next, he presented the two yellow monastic robes, the Namjar and Chögö, a lower robe (shamthab), a pandit’s hat, a mat to sit on (dingwa), an alms bowl filled with fruit, a monastic staff (a kharsil, used to alert householders to a monk’s arrival at their door begging for alms), the seven royal symbols (the precious wheel, the precious elephant, the precious horse, the precious jewel, the precious queen, the precious minister and the precious general), the eight auspicious symbols (an umbrella, a golden fish, a vase, a lotus, a white conch shell, an endless knot, a victory banner and a Dharma Wheel), as well as the eight auspicious substances (a right-coiling conch shell, yogurt, durva grass, vermillion powder, bilva fruit, a mirror, a medicinal substance, and white mustard seed).

The procession of offerings was brought to an end by a solitary, white-haired, white-robed elderly man who betokened longevity. The extensive prayer for His Holiness’s long life composed by his two tutors entitled ‘Song of Immortality’ was recited. Thuksé Rinpoché, other representatives of the organizers and the elderly man came forward to receive His Holiness’s blessings.

His Holiness remarked: “I feel we should also pray for the flourishing of the Buddha’s teaching in Tibet and mainland China, in other words, in places where it has prevailed but has declined, and in places where it has not yet reached. Let us all pray that the tradition of Buddhism that we have preserved will continue to survive and flourish. In Tibet, we maintained a very pure tradition. There are many places where this tradition has attracted interest. I will pray for the continual spread and flourishing of the Buddha’s teaching.

“Growing numbers of people are taking interest in Buddhism these days. People in the Himalayan region, lay-people and monastics, have a single-pointed faith and devotion to the teaching. We have a vast and profound tradition—let us pray it will continue to flourish among the Chinese people as well.

“I am doing my best to be practical about how I go about my practice. You too should do the same, not just paying lip-service to the tradition, but being practical to the best of your ability, about how you put the teachings into effect.”

His Holiness then announced that he would give the oral transmission of a number of mantras. He asked members of the congregation to repeat them three times after him as he recited the mantras of the Buddha—Om muni muni maha muniye svaha, of Avalokiteshvara—Om mani padmé hung, of Manjushri—Om ara patsa nadhi, of Arya Tara—Om taré tutaré turé svaha and of Guru Rinpoché—Om ah hung vajra guru padma siddhi hung.

“May whatever merit we have generated here cause us to reach the enlightened state of a Buddha,” His Holiness prayed, “so we may also lead others to that state. The blessing of the Buddha’s teaching is stable among us, let us hope interest in Buddhist philosophy will spread further in India, China, the West and Africa.

“Now, let us pray together, reciting Om mani padmé hung—the mantra of Avalokiteshvara—for those who have died and those who continue to suffer as a result of the terrible floods in Rasuwa in Nepal and Kyirong in Tibet.”

Recitation of the Prayer to the 16 Arhats or Elders resumed. Each verse invoked an Elder and was said three times mentioning what he held in his hands, where he is said to reside as follows—obeisance to Angaja, dwelling on the Great Mount Ti-Se surrounded by 1,300 arhats; Ajita, on Mount Rishi surrounded by 100 arhats; Vanavasin, in the Sapta-Parana cave surrounded by 1,400 arhats; Kalika, on the Island of Tamra-Dvipa surrounded by 1,100 arhats; Vajriputra, in the Land of Sinhaladvipa surrounded by 1,000 arhats; Bhadra, on an Island of the Yamuna surrounded by 1,200 arhats; Kanakavatsa at the holy place of Kashmir surrounded by 500 arhats; Kanakabharadvaja, in Pashchim-Godaniya surrounded by 700 arhats; Bakula, on Uttara-Kuru surrounded by 900 arhats; Rahula, on the Island of Priyangu surrounded by 1,100 arhats; Chudhapanthaka, on Gridha-Kuta-Parvata surrounded by 1,600 arhats; Pindola Bharadvaja, on Videha surrounded by 1,000 arhats; Panthaka, in the Heaven of Thirty-three surrounded by 900 arhats; Nagasena, on Mount Vipula-Parshva surrounded by 1,200 arhats; Gopaka, on Mount Bihula, surrounded by 1,400 arhats; Abheda, on the Great Mount Himvat, surrounded by 1,000 arhats; Upasaka Dharma-Tala and the four guardian kings, Dhritarashtra, Virudhaka, Virupaksha, and Vaishravana, who subdue their retinues and guard the four gates. Each verse concluded with the wish—Please bless the Guru to live long and encourage the doctrine to flourish.

A thanksgiving mandala offering was presented to His Holiness in gratitude for his having agreed to live long by a lay representative of the organizers. The Chief Representative Officer of the Tibetan Community in Ladakh, as well as representatives of the LBA and ALGA offered representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha. The Ladakhi translator paid his respects. President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, Chering Dorjee Lakrook approached to pay his respects and His Holiness gave him a warm hug.

There was a recitation of a ‘Prayer to the Protector Deities of Tibet’ that His Holiness composed in the 60s. This was followed by a ‘Praise to Amitayus: the

Imminent Rising of the Sun’, which concluded:

By the force of the praises and requests made to you,
May all diseases, evil spirits, poverty, and quarrels be calmed,
And may the Dharma and good fortune increase
In the regions in which I and others dwell.

Next came ‘A Prayer for the Flourishing of the Non-Sectarian Teachings of the Buddha’, which included the following verses:

This is the supreme and noble tradition for practising,
Without mistake, the essence and gradual stages of the path,
Which incorporates all three pitakas and all four classes of tantra,
Long may these teachings of the Buddha flourish in the Land of Snows!

May the lives of the masters who uphold these teachings be secure and harmonious!
May the sangha preserve these teachings through their study, meditation and activity!
May the world be filled with faithful individuals intent on following these teachings!
And long may the non-sectarian teachings of the Buddha continue to flourish!

The ceremony was concluded by a recitation of the ‘Prayer of the Words of Truth’ that recalls the pledge of Avalokiteshvara—Chenrezig.

O protector Chenrezig, compassionately care for
Those who have undergone myriad hardships,
Completely sacrificing their most cherished lives, bodies, and wealth,
For the sake of the teachings, practitioners, people, and nation.

Thus, the protector Chenrezig made vast prayers
Before the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
To fully embrace the Land of Snows;
May the good results of these prayers now quickly appear.

His Holiness walked from his throne to the edge of the platform and waved to members of the audience. He saluted the drummers and horn players gathered at the foot of the steps to see him off. Then he rode in a golf cart from the teaching pavilion back to his residence smiling warmly and waving as he went.

He wrote, "As Your Majesty may be aware, I have visited Norway several times, and was privileged to receive the Nobel Peace Prize from the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The government and people of Norway have been very kind to me and my fellow Tibetans, and your assistance and support for the Tibetan people's peaceful struggle for freedom and dignity are deeply appreciated."

He added that "His Majesty lived a meaningful life marked by a strong sense of service."

His Holiness concluded the condolence message with his prayers.

Since this region has seen calamities in the past as well, these are certainly symptoms of a deeper underlying cause — whether climate change or other factors. I hope that appropriate follow-up measures will be taken, wherever possible, to help ensure that such disasters do not recur.

With my prayers,

Dalai Lama

27 August 2026

“Today, the world is passing through a very difficult and uncertain time,” he wrote. “Historically, your country has played a leadership role in international affairs, and it is my hope that even as you work for the development of your own nation, you will also work closely with other countries to resolve the problems before us — both urgent and long-term — with a firm belief in the oneness of humanity and a shared desire for peace and happiness.

“As you may be aware, we Tibetans have long enjoyed a historic and unique relationship with your country. During my several visits there, I have deeply appreciated the warmth extended to me by people from all walks of life, as well as their support for my efforts to promote human values, nonviolence, and interfaith harmony.”

His Holiness concluded, “I wish you every success in meeting the challenges that lie ahead in fulfilling the needs and aspirations of the British people, and in contributing to the creation of a more peaceful and compassionate world for us all.

Spreading compassion and kindness continues to be my life's primary mission. Such an attitude is essential to making our world a better place for everyone. I therefore call on my brothers and sisters everywhere, both young and old, to practice warm-heartedness and compassion, with genuine concern for the well-being of others. To be able to do so is, I believe, what it means to lead a meaningful and purposeful life of service.

As you may be aware, following a successful medical procedure on my left knee in New Delhi last month, I have since been recuperating here in Ladakh. As in past years, I find the climate here at this time of year well suited to my health, and I therefore plan to remain in Ladakh for the next several weeks.

With my prayers and good wishes,

DALAI LAMA

8 July 2026

Full of smiles, His Holiness greeted the estimated 25,000 strong crowd from the edge of the platform. Next, he lit a butter lamp to mark the auspicious opening of the day’s celebrations. Representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha were presented to His Holiness by Chering Dorjay Lakrook, President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration, and Thiksé Rinpoché.

A birthday cake in a form like a ritual cake was presented to His Holiness. He took a pinch and ate it in lieu of ‘cutting the cake’.

Cering Dorjay addressed the gathering: “I prostrate to the Buddha Gautama who, moved by compassion, gave us the teachings to rid us of all wrong views. I greet His Holiness, whose name is Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshé Tenzin Gyatso, members of the Sangha, the Guests of Honour, the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commissioner, Yeshi Wangmo, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Dolma Tsering, and Penpa Tsering, President of the CTA.

“Today, everyone in the audience has gathered to celebrate His Holiness’s 91st birthday. On this occasion, on behalf of the LBA, and Tibetans living in Ladakh, I greet His Holiness the Dalai Lama and wish him a ‘Happy Birthday’. It is our good fortune to have him here among us. I pray that he lives a long and healthy life and that all his wishes may be fulfilled.”

His Holiness was then invited by Tenzin Topdhen, Director of the Tibet Museum, to tap an iPad to launch a series of animated films about him inspired by a graphic biography created by Tibet House, New York entitled ‘Man of Peace: The Life and Legacy of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering read a statement from the Kashag, the CTA Cabinet:

“On the auspicious 91st birthday of His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama, the Kashag, on behalf of Tibetans inside and outside Tibet offer him our deepest prostrations. We extend warm greetings to the distinguished guests, members of the monastic community and people around the world who are celebrating this great occasion with joy and devotion.

“Last year, the Kashag officially announced the worldwide celebration of the Year of Compassion. This was an expression of gratitude to His Holiness for his immeasurable kindness and sought to promote global awareness of his four principal commitments. The first is to promote basic human values; the second is to foster greater harmony among our religious traditions; the third is to contribute to the preservation of Tibet's unique language and culture, as well as the protection of the natural environment of the Land of Snow — and the fourth is to encourage a revival of awareness and understanding of ancient Indian knowledge.

“These commitments represent an extraordinary vision for fostering lasting peace, harmony and well-being for all sentient beings and the world. The CTA has undertaken an extensive program to make these commitments better known. At the same time, religious, humanitarian and community service activities such as raising prayer flags, the rescue of animals destined for slaughter, recitations of the Kangyur, and recitation of mantras have been done. In addition, there have been many acts of public service and compassion such as donation of food, clothing and bedding to the elderly and people with disabilities.

“Throughout the Himalayan region numerous groups and organizations have carried out tree-planting initiatives, environmental clean-up campaigns and other programs in observance of the Year of Compassion. It is also heartening to note that several cities around the world, but especially in the USA, have officially proclaimed His Holiness’s birthday as a Day of Compassion. This is a powerful affirmation of the universal relevance and enduring appeal of his message about compassion, non-violence, interfaith harmony and human values.”

Next, the LBA honoured the Education Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ms Bhanu Prabha, for her work to transform schools in Ladakh. His Holiness presented her with a framed certificate and gave a statue of the Buddha.

There followed a set of songs to celebrate His Holiness and his birthday by Dorjay Stakmo and his group. The lyrics described His Holiness as, “The deity with a white lotus in his hand, you, who gaze upon all sentient beings with compassion, our protector Padmapani. You are like the sun, our Lama, champion of peace, we bow down to you. Your knowledge and compassion are vast as space and deep as the ocean.”

His Holiness was then invited to address the gathering.

“Today, here in Ladakh, people have unwavering faith, devotion and strong spiritual bonds. Many people from around the world have also gathered here. You have been praying that I will live long, and from my side I pray,

Wherever the Buddha's teaching has not spread,
And wherever it has spread but has declined,
May I, moved by great compassion, clearly elucidate,
This treasury of excellent benefit and happiness for all.

“There are people in the world who have no spiritual belief. When I went to China in 1954-55, Mao Zedong told me that religion was like opium. However, practice of the Dharma is not just about propitiating deities and saying prayers. It’s actually about transforming your mind and turning your mind towards the practice of virtue. The significance of the practice of Dharma is to have a calm mind, to train the mind.

“On my part, as soon as I wake in the morning I say this prayer (mentioned above) as Jé Tsongkhapa has written among the dedication verses at the end of his ‘Great Stages of the Path to Enlightenment’. ‘Where the Dharma has not spread, or where it has spread but declined, may I be the one who revives and spreads it out of compassion.’

“We Tibetans of all three provinces — U-Tsang, Kham and Amdo — are devout followers of the Buddhadharma. This teaching of the Buddha has become part of our cultural tradition, so we have learned to discipline our minds and create peace within.

“During my travels I’ve seen that the Buddhadharma has great influence on Chinese people. We Tibetans have become exiles staying in settlements in different parts of India and our Indian neighbours and people from elsewhere, have come to appreciate Tibetans. Please join me in making this prayer, ‘May I, moved by compassion, illuminate the teaching of the Buddha, reviving it where it once spread but declined, and so forth.’

“Everyone prays for peace in the world. I do too through the practice of bodhichitta, the awakening mind, I also make prayers to benefit the teaching and beings as soon as I wake up. I say the above prayer every day and I feel it is being fulfilled. Among Chinese people Buddhism is being revived and is spreading widely. And in many other parts of the world people are taking interest in the teaching of love and compassion. Warm-heartedness, the intention to benefit others, is something that people everywhere admire.

“As soon as I wake up, I reflect on bodhichitta, the altruistic awakening mind, as well as the insight into emptiness. Wherever I go, I have a warm heart and I encourage others to cultivate it too. I try to spread warm-heartedness among other people. ‘May I, moved by compassion, illuminate this treasure linked to happiness, well-being and benefit.

“So, this is my 91st birthday, I’ve reached the age of 91. When I look back on my life, this altruistic thought to help others has been at the core of my practice. This is what I think about the moment I wake up every day. People everywhere seem to admire me because of this sense of warm-heartedness, the thought to benefit others, that I cherish within.

“I’m 91, but according to indications in my dreams it seems I may yet live to be 130. So, I hope to be able to help Chinese people through the teaching of the Buddha and also to help people around the world to lead good, positive lives. This is what I aspire to do — thank you.”

The Ladakhi interpreter translated what His Holiness had said into Ladakhi. Following that, Speaker of the Tibetan-Parliament-in-Exile, Dolma Tsering read out the Parliament’s statement.

“On behalf of Tibetans in Tibet and in exile, the Tibetan-Parliament-in-Exile wishes to express immense joy, devotion and delight in offering heartfelt greetings to His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama who is the very embodiment of compassion, the noble protector of the world and friend of all beings. For the Tibetan people there is no refuge, protector or defender but Your Holiness. You are our hope, protector and patron. Out of gratitude we offer these words of prayer:

“In the entire field of noble works of all the Victors, you alone,
Have shouldered responsibility encompassing the entire teaching of the Buddha,
You have attained authority in upholding, preserving and spreading it without discrimination,
We pray to you, the very embodiment of Manjushri.

“Out of gratitude we should unite as one in working for cause of the Tibetan people.

“In the Land of Snows shrouded in the darkness of misery
The magnificent glow of your compassion
Stands relentless in dispensing feelings of succour and well-being.
May you remain unwavering and steadfast until the end of time.”

Students from the SOS TCV School sang and danced in celebration of His Holiness’s birthday. Ashraf Ali Barch offered felicitations on behalf of the Muslim communities in Leh and Kargil. The Ladakh Theatre Organization under the direction of Mipham Otsal performed a short play based on the story of Angulimala, a violent brigand intent on collecting and making a rosary of a thousand human fingers. Encountering the Buddha, he was subdued by the Dharma, coming to understand that violence does not meet with success and that compassion is a sign of strength not weakness.

His Holiness visibly enjoyed a song and dance by All Groups of Ladakh and the following performance by residents of the Tibetan settlement of Sonam Ling. He was also amused to watch the auspicious presentation of people from Chushot village on the far side of the River Indus.

In his words of thanks, the Vice-President of the LGA, Geshé Lobsang Yashi prayed that His Holiness would live long. He acknowledged the Rinpochés, members of the Sangha, the Sikyong and Indian Government officials. He expressed gratitude to His Holiness for his presiding over today’s celebrations. He thanked him for his presence, saying, “Hearing your voice we are filled with joy. As the Buddha predicted, you are Avalokiteshvara. The Land of Snows is your abode. I request you, Your Holiness, to come to Ladakh time and again.”

He thanked those who had given speeches as well as those who had put on entertaining performances. He thanked everyone who had contributed to making the occasion a success and ended with the following prayer.

I pray to you, O Supreme Noble Lotus Holder (Padmapani):
You are the adamantine Gentle Glory who has Mastery of Speech,
Your vase of Sublime Insight is replete with the nectar of Exalted Wisdom,
And you are embellishing jewellery (beautifully adorning)
the Vast playful Ocean of Upholders of Dharma!

His Holiness then left for his residence, smiling all the way, although celebrations went on after he’d gone, while the traditional song ‘Happy Birthday to you...’ was sung merrily with words in Tibetan.

At our core, we are all the same human beings. We all seek happiness and wish to be spared such suffering. It is in this spirit of our shared humanity that we each bear a responsibility to help and support one another. I am therefore greatly encouraged that hundreds of international rescue workers have already arrived in Venezuela to stand alongside its people to help in this hour of profound grief.

I would also wish to say how deeply moved I remain by the openness and enthusiasm shown by people from all walks of life in Venezuela — during my four-day visit in 1992 — toward the values I have been promoting: loving-kindness, compassion, contentment, self-discipline, and harmony among the world's religious traditions. That same warmth of spirit, I have no doubt, will carry the Venezuelan people through this most difficult time.

With my prayers,

Dalai Lama

27 June 2026

“Throughout his treatment, His Holiness’s personal medical team and the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama remained in close coordination with the administrative and medical staff at Apollo Hospitals. His Holiness is stable and expected to make full recovery. He was discharged on Friday morning, 12 June.

“It has been a great honour for the hospital and the medical team to serve His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We are grateful for the trust and confidence placed in us and privileged to have been able to contribute to His Holiness’s care.”

Dr. Rajesh Malhotra
Senior Consultant
Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals
New Delhi

“Karnataka is home to more than 30,000 Tibetans in exile,” His Holiness wrote, “the largest concentration of the Tibetan diaspora in India. We are deeply grateful to the State and its people for their enduring friendship and generous support. It is a source of great pride that our principal centres of learning, rooted in the Nalanda tradition of ancient Indian wisdom, have found their home in Karnataka.

“I take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt appreciation to the state government and people of Karnataka for the warmth and hospitality they have extended to the Tibetan community settled there.

“I wish you every success in meeting the challenges that may lie ahead, and in honouring the hopes and aspirations of the people of Karnataka, particularly in making a real difference to the lives of its most vulnerable citizens.”

His Holiness ended by offering his prayers and good wishes.

June 4, 2026

His Holiness walked from the gate to his residence through the temple courtyard and took his seat on the veranda below the temple.

First of all, a group of Tibetan students led the singing of the Tibetan and Indian national anthems. Four monks from Namgyal Monastery then chanted prayers invoking the blessings of the Three Jewels, the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Tea and rice were served while a Tashi Shölpa dance was performed.

Students from the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) sang and danced, evoking the people, and the way they dressed, from the three provinces of Tibet. “We are the people of Tibet, the people of Chenrezig,” the song went, “let us unite.” Finally, in pairs the dancers exchanged katas, silk scarves, as a gesture of friendship.

The Chief Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, Yeshi Wangmo, offered His Holiness a kata and representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha. She then read the lines of the oath for taking responsibility as Sikyong and Penpa Tsering repeated them after her. She then read the lines of the pledge of truth which he again duly repeated after her. She offered him a kata and he sat down to sign the oaths of office. The Honourable Sikyong then prostrated before His Holiness and offered him representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha.

While TCV students played flutes and drums the outgoing Kalöns (Ministers) and former Kalöns offered katas to Penpa Tsering. He was then invited to make an inaugural address. He began by saluting His Holiness: “Champion of peace, symbol of the Tibetan people, emanation of Avalokiteshvara, I am immensely grateful that on this occasion of swearing-in of the 17th Kashag His Holiness kindly agreed to preside over the ceremony.

“I greet the guests and dignitaries who have come from far away to be with us today, the staff of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and members of monastic and lay-communities.

“When I took part in the 2021 election for Sikyong, I pledged that I would not engage in any word or deed that would create a rift with others. I did the same in the recent election and was re-elected. I would like to thank everyone who gave their help. During the time of the 16th Kashag, with regard to Tibetan politics, administration and achieving the welfare of our people, we have done our best. Whatever we could do was thanks to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

“People in Tibet are completely devoted to His Holiness, and they are our inspiration for whatever we are able to do in exile. I’d like to thank everyone who has given their help. The 17th Kashag will also follow His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s vision and instructions. We will work according to our principles of unity, truth and unbiased administration.

“With regard to the Chinese administration we may wonder how our approach will bear fruit, but we are determined to engage in dialogue with China. We will do our best, using whatever means we can to achieve our goal.

“Under Chinese rule the situation in Tibet has become quite critical. The Chinese communists are using all kinds of devious means to disrupt the Tibetan community. We will resist their efforts. To maintain the struggle for Tibet we will use e-governance, for which a firm foundation is required. We intend to use technology, digital tools and AI. We will create a communication strategy to provide information wherever it is needed to fulfil Tibetan aspirations.

“We will maintain harmonious relations to preserve our unity. We will also take care of the vulnerable in our community providing them with health care and insurance. The CTA and the Tibetan people in exile need to be self-sufficient. We will do our best to achieve our goal. I’d like to invite everyone here to join us in this venture.

“The 17th Kashag will follow His Holiness’s vision while carrying out our work. Those of us who are Tibetans in exile should not forget that we are exiles. We should do our best and have the determination to carry on our struggle. Although Chinese communists are trying hard to destroy our Tibetan identity we will not be discouraged from our efforts to preserve our culture, language and traditions.

“I would like to thank the Government and people of India, the USA and all other countries and peoples who have given us their support. We pray that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will live long and that observance of his four commitments may flourish throughout the world. May we Tibetans inside and outside Tibet come together soon. This is my deepest prayer.”

Young students of Yongling School performed a charming dance called E-ma-ho, followed by a spirited performance by children of Gangkyi Petön School. After watching with evident pleasure, His Holiness prepared to return to his residence. Driving at a pedestrian pace in an electric golf-cart, he smiled and waved at people on either side of the courtyard as he went.