Dalai Lama Turns 90: 10 Inspiring Quotes And Key Facts About The Spiritual Icon | Lifestyle News

Last Updated:July 06, 2025, 07:25 IST

Dalai Lama was recognised as the reincarnation of his predecessor at age two after correctly identifying several of the previous Dalai Lama’s personal belongings.

Dalai Lama Birthday: The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, is celebrating his 90th birthday today, July 6. He remains a powerful figure for Tibetans, especially for those who have lived in exile since 1959, following the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule. For many, he embodies spiritual strength, cultural identity and the enduring hope of one day returning to their homeland.

On this special occasion, let us take a look at some interesting facts about the spiritual leader along with some of his most famous and inspiring quotes.

Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday: 10 Key Facts

1. The Dalai Lama was born on July 6, 1935, as Lhamo Thondup in a small farming village in northeastern Tibet.
2. He was recognised as the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama at the age of two after he is said to have identified several items that had belonged to his predecessor.
3. After travelling for three months from his home village, he was enthroned on February 22, 1940, in Lhasa and given the name Tenzin Gyatso. He became the 14th Dalai Lama.
4. In 1950, when China invaded Tibet, the teenage Dalai Lama took on a political role and visited Beijing to meet Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders.
5. In 1959, after a failed uprising, he escaped Tibet dressed as a soldier and found refuge in Dharamshala, India, where he continues to live.
6. He wakes up at 3 AM to meditate. He has porridge and tsampa for breakfast, reads Buddhist texts in the morning, meets visitors in the afternoon and ends his day by 7 PM.
7. He once told Reuters that he has a deep interest in subjects like cosmology, neurobiology, quantum physics and psychology.
8. Over the years, he has received many honours, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 in recognition of his nonviolent campaign to end China’s domination in Tibet.
9. The Dalai Lama often says he is different from the ones who came before him. While many previous Dalai Lamas spoke of seeing deities and spiritual visions, he says he hasn’t had such experiences. He once said, “Me, 14th Dalai Lama, nothing. But at the same time, I usually express I am the most popular Dalai Lama!” He laughed, adding, “So it doesn’t matter!”
10. Despite being admired by Tibetans and disliked by China, he says he spends most of his time on spiritual work, not politics. “I always consider myself a simple Buddhist monk. I feel that is the real me,” he said on his official website.

Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday: Top Quotes

• “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”
• “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
• “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.”
• “Because of lack of moral principle, human life becomes worthless. Moral principle, truthfulness, is a key factor. If we lose that, then there is no future.”
• “More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other’s well-being, is the source of happiness.”

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