Contact is taking a holiday!

Photo: OHHDL

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama turned 84 on July 6. His birthday was celebrated in various places across the world including India, United States, Japan, Brazil, Europe and numerous other countries. Unfortunately, in Tibet and Nepal any celebration was strictly prohibited by the government.

On the day before his birthday, July 5, His Holiness attended along life offering ceremony at the Namgyal Monastery in Dharamshala. This ceremony included offerings presented by the Tibetan government-in-exile, known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), along with chanting, prayer and performances of traditional song and dance. The monastery was packed full of people from across the world. In order to accommodate the large amount of people attending the ceremony and the limited space, there were TV screens set up throughout the monastery so that everyone who attended could have a clear view of the ceremony and His Holiness. The ceremony was organised by former CTA staff.

This year, the ceremony wishing His Holiness a long life was of great importance as this year is meant to be an obstacle year for His Holiness. His Holiness living a long life is important to many people because he has been a symbol of hope and strength throughout the Tibetan resistance.

Official celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 84th birthday at Dharamshala
Photo: Lobsang Dhamchoe / Lha

Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the CTA, presented a statement by the Kashag (Cabinet), saying, “This year during the Tenshug (Long Life Prayer) offering to His Holiness led by the Central Tibetan Administration, His Holiness reaffirmed that he would live beyond 110 years. It is important to remember that this year is also the obstacle-year of His Holiness and, therefore, it is of prime importance that we all indulge in meritorious deed and enrich our collective karma for the pacification of obstacles if there is any. In addition, we should always remember and follow the counsels of His Holiness.”

Throughout Europe, Tibetans and Europeans gathered together to perform ceremonies for His Holiness birthday. France hosted a celebration at the French Senate and Belgium hosted an event with Tashi Phuntsok, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the EU,West Europe and the Maghrebas the keynote speaker. Tashi Phuntsok spoke about how His Holiness has impacted the world with his teachings about kindness and compassion. They also included a moment of silence for those who have sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause.

While His Holiness’s birthday was celebrated throughout the weekend in India along with many other places across the world, those observing his birthday in Nepal had to do so behind closed doors. This was due to the government strictly restricting any observation of His Holiness’s birthday. Phayul reports, “The police, citing specific instruction from Nepal’s home ministry have made it known that anyone found celebrating the day will be arrested and beaten if required.” This was a harsh impact on the day not only for the Tibetan population in Nepal but also for the community of Nepalese Buddhists. The ban on celebration was due to China being Nepal’s biggest investor and any celebration would be in direct violation of the “One China” policy. Due to this policy, Nepal issued a ban for any celebration on July 5, despite having already funded much of the preparations for the day’s celebrations.

Although in some places of the world celebrations were strictly prohibited, in Dharamshala, along with communities throughout India and various other parts of the world, there were elaborate celebrations to wish His Holiness a long life.

World Compassion in Action

One of the Dharamshala non government organisations, Tibet World, took the opportunity to launch their World Compassion in Action Organisation with the inaugural World Compassion in Action Day taking place on His Holiness’s birthday.

World Compassion in Action aims to create a more compassionate environment for the world by following the example of HH the Dalai Lama and increasing one’s natural compassion to the point that it fills our thoughts, speech and action every minute of every day. World Compassion in Action Day is set up to encourage one another to live this and to reduce actions that are harmful to others.

The event was hosted by Tibet World director Yeshi Lhundup with chief guest Geshe Lakhor, Director of the Tibetan Library of Works and Archives and former translator for HH the Dalai Lama. Special guests from 22 countries joined the celebration including Tibet, Australia, Bhutan, England, Belgium, Cambodia, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, South Africa, Thailand, Taiwan and the USA, together with an audience of over 100.

Tibet World’s vision is to be a role model of a compassionate organisation, committed to developing inner peace, self-reliance and building a more harmonious world. Its mission is to provide a platform for promoting education, raising cultural awareness and imparting Tibetan values to the world.