Celebrating Ninety Years of the Dalai Lama: A Year of Compassion Begins
Tibet House in New Delhi launches a year-long tribute to mark the 90th birth anniversary of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
By SOH Edit Team
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama turns ninety this July 6—a momentous milestone that transcends the passage of time. It marks nine decades of unwavering commitment to compassion, interfaith dialogue, and the pursuit of inner peace in a world often marked by division and uncertainty.
Tibet House is known to open its doors to scholars, seekers, and spiritual practitioners with a singular intention: to celebrate not just a person, but a path.
To honour this extraordinary legacy, Tibet House—India’s cultural bridge between ancient Tibetan wisdom and contemporary thought—is inaugurating ‘The Year of Compassion’, a year-long celebration of the life, teachings, and enduring relevance of the Dalai Lama.
Ven Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director, Tibet House, mentions, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama has not only guided us spiritually, but has become a moral compass for the modern world. At ninety, he continues to remind us that compassion is not a luxury, it is a necessity for human survival. This is not a commemoration of the past, but a call to action for the future. The Year of Compassion asks: how can each of us live more consciously, more kindly, in a world that needs healing?”
Not Just a Celebration—A Return to Values
This isn’t merely a festivity; it’s a soulful recollection of the values that have guided generations of Tibetans in exile and inspired global seekers. Through film, scholarship, art, dialogue, and digital engagement, The Year of Compassion seeks to echo His Holiness’s timeless message in ways both stirring and contemplative.
Tenzin Kunkyap, General Secretary, Tibet House, states, “His Holiness has lived a life of simplicity, yet his influence stretches across continents and cultures. Through the gentle power of compassion, he has awakened something timeless within us all—the longing for peace, for meaning, for truth. This 90th birth anniversary is not just a Tibetan celebration—it is a global honouring of a life that transcends language, race, religion, and ideology. His Holiness is not merely a Tibetan icon; he is a world treasure.”
Tibet House, New Delhi.
Highlights of the Year of Compassion
Wisdom of Happiness – A Cinematic Pilgrimage: At the heart of the celebration is the premiere of Wisdom of Happiness, a contemplative film on the Dalai Lama’s life and legacy. Directed by Barbara Miller, Philip Delaquis, and Manuel Bauer, and supported by Richard Gere and Oren Moverman, the documentary journeys through His Holiness’s teachings on joy born through suffering—a visual meditation on resilience and inner harmony.
New Publications on Universal Ethics: Tibet House will release a series of new publications, including scholarly essays and books exploring Universal Ethics, a cause central to His Holiness’s mission. Featured works include a special volume on ecology and inner climate, and The Four Commitments—a profound distillation of the Dalai Lama’s lifelong vows:
- Commitment to humanity
- Commitment to inter-religious harmony
- Preservation of Tibetan culture
- Revival of Indian wisdom traditions
Exhibitions and Rare Archives: From maps retracing his dramatic 1959 escape to showcases of the many global honours he has received, Tibet House will host exhibitions that chronicle His Holiness’s journey. Most touching, however, may be the intimate photo displays—capturing the soft silences and spirited moments of a monk who became a global moral compass.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
Dialogue Across Time and Thought
Universal Ethics in the 21st Century. This flagship panel explores the timeless relevance of His Holiness’s teachings. Rooted in the Nalanda tradition and grounded in rational inquiry, his message speaks beyond religious boundaries—to the shared human quest for happiness, emotional wellbeing, and compassionate action. Quantum Physics, Neuroscience & Nagarjuna is a standout event that will bridge Buddhist philosophy and modern science. Delving into the Dalai Lama’s work with the Mind & Life Dialogues, this panel explores his intellectual honesty—his willingness to discard outdated ideas in favour of scientific evidence, a rare virtue in spiritual traditions.
Culture, Youth, and Living Legacy
The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts will offer traditional music and dance performances—living echoes of a culture preserved in exile, each note a testament to resilience and remembrance. The book Voice for the Voiceless will be at the centre of a dynamic discussion featuring Tibetologists and young scholars, highlighting His Holiness’s advocacy for the marginalized and unheard. Students from Nalanda will craft a photo collage—dozens of faces forming a single portrait of His Holiness. From across the world, youth will send messages, video notes, and reflections—testaments to how one man’s compassion transcended geography and belief.
Through film, scholarship, art, dialogue, and digital engagement, The Year of Compassion seeks to echo His Holiness’s timeless message in ways both stirring and contemplative.
Tradition Meets Technology
A recreated Tibetan shop in the corridors of Tibet House will offer prayer flags, incense, thangkas, and malas—not for commerce, but continuity. Each object carries the quiet pulse of ritual, a tactile link to spiritual heritage. Additionally, 90 Pearls of Wisdom will be shared across social media—daily quotes from the Dalai Lama, each a moment of digital stillness in an age of distraction.
Looking Ahead, Rooted in Wisdom
The year will conclude with a video summation, a visual essay capturing the events, reflections, and celebrations of The Year of Compassion. It’s not simply a look back at a life well-lived—it’s a gesture forward, an invitation to embody the principles that His Holiness has tirelessly championed.
In an era overwhelmed by speed and noise, the Dalai Lama remains a voice of quiet strength and enduring wisdom—a reminder that compassion is not a concept, but a daily practice.