Dalai Lama turns 90: 10 inspiring quotes and important facts about the Tibetan spiritual leader
Dalai Lama 10 Inspiring Quotes and Important Facts: In a video message on his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama reaffirmed his commitment to compassion, inner peace, and universal values.
McLeodganj: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama during the long life prayer ceremony ahead of his 90th birth anniversary, at Tsuglagkhang, the main Dalai Lama temple, McLeodganj, in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (PTI Photo)
On July 6, 2025, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, marked a historic milestone: his 90th birthday. The celebrations in Dharamshala, India—where he has lived in exile since 1959—have drawn thousands of devotees, dignitaries, monks, and celebrities under unrelenting monsoon rains.
He used the occasion to redefine what it means to age with purpose, announcing his hope to live another 30–40 years, potentially reaching 130. In a video message, he reaffirmed his commitment to compassion, inner peace, and universal values:
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“As long as space endures,
As long as sentient beings remain,
Until then, may I too remain
To dispel the miseries of the world.”
Critically, the Dalai Lamaaddressed the sensitive topic of succession. Declaring that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, his institution in exile, will retain the authority to identify his future reincarnation, he directly challenged Beijing’s insistence on state control over the process.
China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist, has reiterated that only Beijing has the authority to approve his successor.
10 inspiring quotes from the Dalai Lama
Drawing from his life and teachings, here are ten pearls of wisdom:
“Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.”
“If you think you’re too small to make a difference… try sleeping with a mosquito in the room.”
“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”
“There are always problems to face, but it makes a difference if our minds are calm.”
“Silence is sometimes the best answer.”
“Compassion and peace of mind matter more than material development.”
“Through violence you may solve one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.”
“As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all beings.”
“The time of greatest gain in wisdom and inner strength is often the time of greatest difficulty.”
