Dalai Lama turns 90, gets global support in challenge for China

The spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama, was 90 years old Sunday after a week of celebrations by followers in which he once again annoyed China and spoke of his hope of living beyond 130 and to reincarnate after death.

The winner of the Nobel Prize is considered one of the most influential religious leaders in the world, with follow-up that extends far beyond Buddhism, but not by Beijing, which describes it as a separatist and sought to carry the faith under his control.

Fleeing his native Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese domination, the 14th Dalai Lama, as well as hundreds of thousands of Tibetans, have been sheltered in India and have since pleaded for a peaceful “median way” to seek autonomy and freedom of religion for the Tibetan people.

Dressed in his traditional yellow and burgundy dress, the Dalai Lama arrived in a temple to smile and applaud thousands of monks and disciples who had gathered a rainy morning in the small Indian town of Dharamshala, where he lives. He praised and greeted them while walking slowly on stage with the support of the monks.

“As far as I am concerned, I have a human life and as human beings, it is quite natural for us to love ourselves and to help us each other,” said the Dalai Lama, speaking after a Tibetan cultural performance which included songs for his long life.

“I live my life in the service of other sensitive beings,” he said, flanked on stage with longtime supporters, including Western diplomats, Indian federal ministers, Hollywood star Richard Gere and a monk who should lead the search for his successor.

In a sign of solidarity, the president of Taiwan, Lai Ching-Te, the leaders of the Indian states bordering Tibet, and three former American presidents sent greetings to the Dalai Lama, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, whose video messages were played during the event.

During the previous week of the celebrations, the Dalai Lama declared that he would reincarnate as head of the faith at his death and that his non -profit institution, the Gaden Phodrang Trust, had the only authority of recognition of his successor.

China has said that the succession will have to be approved by its leaders, and the United States called Beijing to cease what it describes as an interference in the succession of Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist lamas.

After about two hours, the Dalai Lama left the place suddenly after eating a piece of his birthday cake. A source earlier said he didn’t feel too well.

The guests gathered during the ceremony in turn, in particular the Indian Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, an exercise Buddhist, who had previously made a rare declaration contradicting China by supporting the position of the Dalai Lama on his successor.

He then specified that the declaration was made in his personal quality when China warned New Delhi against interfere in his internal affairs at the expense of bilateral relations.

On Sunday, Rijiju said that the Dalai Lama was “the most honored guest in India … We feel blessed for his presence here in our country”.

He said he had always considered that it was necessary to contribute significantly to the cause of the Tibetan people, and added that, as a devotee, “we will follow the instructions and the directives to be published by the Dalai Lama institution.”

Cultural performances have taken place throughout the morning, notably Bollywood reading singers, while messages from world leaders have been read.

“I join 1.4 billion Indians to extend our warmest wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to its 90th anniversary. It was a lasting symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline,” wrote Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also sent a message that Dalai Lama continued to inspire people by playing a message of “unity, peace and compassion”.

“The United States is firmly determined to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms from Tibetans. We support efforts to preserve the linguistic, cultural and religious heritage of Tibetans, including their ability to freely choose and freely venerate religious leaders,” he said, according to a reading of the State Department.