The Dalai Lama turns 81

Last updated on: July 6, 2016 at 7:42 am by Daniel Scharpenburg

The Dalai Lama turns 81 2016-07-06T07:42:56-05:00 Daniel Scharpenburg

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

dalai lama

His holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is celebrating his 81st birthday in Dharamsala today.

Formerly both the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people, he fled to India in 1959 to escape the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

He is the leader of one specific school of Tibetan Buddhism, but since the exile he has done his best to represent all of the Tibetan people. He is an advocate for nonsectarian approaches to Buddhist practice.

Since his exile he has lived in India and regularly traveled around the world.

He’s dedicated not only to spreading Buddhist teachings, but also to expressing and spreading the values of peace, interfaith dialogue, and activism.

He’s always touring, going on a traveling schedule that I think very few of us could handle. He was here in the United States less than a month ago.

He has written dozens of books with a wide appeal, being able to give teachings to both beginners on the path and seasoned practitioners.

According to a 2013 poll he’s the most popular spiritual leader in the world.

I traveled to Arkansas to see him give a talk in 2011 and it was a profound experience. He is a wonderful spiritual teacher and I hope he lives on to celebrate many more birthdays.

Previous Post

June 14, 2016

Loss and the Spiritual Path

Next Post

July 18, 2016 Lotus

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 37 Practices blog bodhisattva book review boundless heart buddha buddhism buddhism for beginners compass of zen compassion dhammapada dharma emptiness Faith in Mind fearless heart han shan impermanence inspiration interfaith koans life Lojong mahayana meditation mind training mirror of zen movie review nagarjuna news questions recording song of mind steps to the great perfection suffering sutras suttas Uncategorized vajrayana video videos zen

Select a Month July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 September 2021 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 August 2019 March 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who wrote the Book of Acts?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Luke Peter Mark Paul

Support this
Column