Please join us in celebrating this auspicious day, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 87th birthday with prayers for his continued good health and very long life. Reflecting on His Holiness’ efforts spanning several decades, we at the Trust are moved beyond words. His Holiness has worked tirelessly in many different areas ranging from education to politics, secular ethics to religious harmony, from philanthropy to the preservation of Tibetan culture. Of all these efforts, we would like to highlight His Holiness’ Principle Commitments today. 

Secular Ethics

Firstly, as a human being, His Holiness is concerned with encouraging people to be happy—helping them understand that if their minds are upset mere physical comfort will not bring them peace, but if their minds are at peace even physical pain will not disturb their calm. He advocates the cultivation of warm-heartedness and human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. He says that as human beings we are all the same. We all want happiness and do not want suffering. Even people who have no religious belief can benefit if they incorporate these human values into their lives. His Holiness refers to such human values as secular ethics or universal values. He is committed to talking about the importance of such values and sharing them with everyone he meets.

Interfaith Harmony

Secondly, as a Buddhist monk, His Holiness is committed to encouraging harmony among the world’s religious traditions. Despite philosophical differences between them, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings. It is therefore important for all religious traditions to respect one another and recognize the value of their respective traditions. The idea that there is one truth and one religion is relevant to the individual practitioner. However, with regard to the wider community, he says, there is a need to recognise that human beings observe several religions and several aspects of the truth.

The Preservation of Tibetan Culture

Thirdly, His Holiness is a Tibetan and as the ‘Dalai Lama’ is the focus of the Tibetan people’s hope and trust. Therefore, he is committed to preserving Tibetan language and culture, the heritage Tibetans received from the masters of India’s Nalanda University, while also speaking up for the protection of Tibet’s natural environment.

Revival of Ancient Indian Knowledge

In addition, His Holiness has lately spoken of his commitment to reviving awareness of the value of ancient Indian knowledge among young Indians today. His Holiness is convinced that the rich ancient Indian understanding of the workings of the mind and emotions, as well as the techniques of mental training, such as meditation, developed by Indian traditions, are of great relevance today. Since India has a long history of logic and reasoning, he is confident that its ancient knowledge, viewed from a secular, academic perspective, can be combined with modern education. He considers that India is, in fact, specially placed to achieve this combination of ancient and modern modes of knowing in a fruitful way so that a more integrated and ethically grounded way of being in the world can be promoted within contemporary society.

The text on His Holiness’ principal commitments is excerpted from His Holiness’ Official Website, which you can find here https://www.dalailama.com/the-dalai-lama/biography-and-daily-life/three-main-commitments. 

As His Holiness discusses the various layers of himself, connecting them to their appropriate realms, we are reminded of the intensity of His Holiness’ compassion and wisdom. The ability to sustain this unwavering commitment to serve humanity day after day, year after year and decade after decade with ever-growing enthusiasm is a true marvel and singular inspiration to us all at the Trust. 

We are humbled to be working in service of His Holiness’ wishes and would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness for his unparalleled compassion, precious wisdom and tireless work. Please join us once more in wishing His Holiness a very happy birthday, wonderful health and an exceptionally long life.