His Holiness the Dalai Lama: a Tribute
Rigpa
To mark his 90th Birthday and the beginning of the ‘Year of Compassion’ declared to express a sense of universal gratitude.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is known worldwide as one of the great leaders of our time, someone who has devoted his entire life to the welfare of humanity. With his message of kindness, compassion and universal responsibility, he has reached millions of people, of any or no religion, and lit in their hearts a flame of hope, inspiration and courage. His uplifting vision of a more caring and saner future, his stand on non-violence, his concern over the environment and his promotion of human values have had a profound effect on the lives of people all over the world. Many are those who believe that if the average person on the street nowadays has a greater intuition about the vital importance of compassion and the undeniable reality of interconnectedness, His Holiness is very possibly the reason why.
As a spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama has attracted worldwide admiration and respect among members of all faith communities, and he has personally and actively encouraged a spirit of true harmony among the different religions. An esteemed Buddhist master, regarded as the head of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness has championed all of the major Tibetan practice lineages and upheld the rich legacy of the great Nalanda tradition that Tibetan Buddhism inherited and developed for over a thousand years in Tibet. Through his countless teachings in different countries and his extensive writings, he has presented the authentic Buddhist path with amazing clarity and impeccable scholarship, and yet in a way that is perfectly attuned to the minds of people in our world today.
Thinking deeply of our common future, His Holiness has brought the wisdom and contemplative methods of Buddhism into close contact with the sciences, medicine, psychology and other disciplines. This extraordinary initiative is already having a profound impact, presaging far-reaching effects on society and education, and for the generations to come. The Dalai Lama has also enthusiastically encouraged revolutionary projects whereby Tibetan monks and nuns are including training in science as part of their monastic studies.
On behalf of the Rigpa Sangha, it is with immense gratitude that we look back on His Holiness’s generosity and kindness to our community, granting important teachings and empowerments on five successive occasions and leading the inauguration of the temple at Lerab Ling.
With all this in mind, we wish to celebrate His Holiness’s monumental role in enabling the truth contained in Buddhism to be recognized more and more for what it really is, and for what it has to offer us all, no matter who we are—values that transcend religion: compassion, non-violence, peace, contentment, responsibility, tolerance, wisdom and justice.
As we face today's many challenges, His Holiness's influence and voice are more important than ever, and his leadership and legacy invaluable. For he embodies not only the highest hopes of the Tibetan people, but the deepest wishes of so many men and women throughout the world. With heartfelt devotion, we pray that he lives for many, many more years in the very best of health, and so witnesses more and more of his far-sighted and enlightened aspirations flourish and come to fruition.