His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama celebrated his actual 80th Birthday (as it appears on the western calendar) on July 6, 2015 at the University of California - Irvine's Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
There have been many other Birthday celebrations this year, including a big one at his temple in India on June 21, 2015 and another at the Glastonbury Music Festival on June 28, 2015. I like the teaching he gave at Glastonbury:
This post you are reading as well as the following collection of video highlights from the Honda Center were inspired by a write up about the celebration shared on His Holiness' official website, and was made possible thanks to a collection of media clips curated by UC Irvine's communications team.
I went through most of those clips - including watching 9+ hours of archived video footage - to assemble this post for all to enjoy. So please enjoy:)
Honda Center - July 5, 2015
Later, talking about whether or not there will be a 15th Dalai Lama, His Holiness told her that, recognised or not, he would still be there.
“I’m determined about that. The biography of the 1st Dalai Lama tells that when he was about my age he remarked about growing old and his students and disciples commented that he needn’t worry because he’d be sure to go to a Pure Land. He retorted that he had no wish to go to some such heaven, he wanted to be reborn where there was suffering in order that he could be of some help to others. I share that prayer.”
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| Birthday cake at UC Irvine's Honda Center on July 6, 2015. Photo by UC Irvine. |
As a precursor to the celebration at the University of California - Irvine's Honda Center, the event's host Ann Curry asked His Holiness what he would like for his Birthday.
His answer is an incredible teaching. If you have a minute then please watch and share this very short video to help spread His Holiness the Dalai Lama's message to a wider audience:
His answer is an incredible teaching. If you have a minute then please watch and share this very short video to help spread His Holiness the Dalai Lama's message to a wider audience:
This post you are reading as well as the following collection of video highlights from the Honda Center were inspired by a write up about the celebration shared on His Holiness' official website, and was made possible thanks to a collection of media clips curated by UC Irvine's communications team.
I went through most of those clips - including watching 9+ hours of archived video footage - to assemble this post for all to enjoy. So please enjoy:)
Honda Center - July 5, 2015
- Well wishes for His Holiness from Tom Tait, Mayor of Anaheim, California.
- Well wishes for His Holiness from Lama Tenzin Dhonden, Founder of Friends of the Dalai Lama.
- A song written and performed for His Holiness' 80th Birthday by Runaground.
- His Holiness teaching about compassion. The remainder of that video contains additional shorter teachings from His Holiness in a Q&A format with the panelists.
- Remarks from actress and activist Julia Ormond. She mentions the Atlantic Monthly story All Your Clothes are Made with Exploited Labor focused on company Patagonia's efforts to address this problem in its supply chain.
- Well wishes for His Holiness from Juan Ruiz Naupari, coordinator of the Buddha Maitreya Project:
- His Holiness welcoming ninety seven year old oceanographer Walter Munk followed by a teaching on environmental issues. This is my favorite clip from the Honda Center festivities. Continue watching the video after His Holiness concludes his teaching on environmental issues for more meaningful interactions between His Holiness and Walter Munk.
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| His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Walter Munk at the Honda Center July 6 2015. Photo by Tenzin Choejor. |
- His Holiness teaching "the concept of war is out of date".
- His Holiness' message for world leaders - how we can create a peaceful world.
- His Holiness teaching on the similarities between Buddhism and quantum physics:
- Remarks from youth panelist Armaan Rowther followed by a teaching from His Holiness and remarks from actress Regina King.
- Performance by Michael Franti for His Holiness at a luncheon that closed the celebrations:
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| Michael Franti with His Holiness. Photo from Friends of the Dalai Lama Facebook page. |
Michael Franti had also performed for His Holiness at the Honda Center on July 5, including leading everyone in singing Happy Birthday to His Holiness as he cut his Birthday cake.
I hope you enjoyed this collection of clips from the Honda Center celebrations.
I will leave you with an excerpt from a July 5, 2015 conversation between Ann Curry and His Holiness:
Later, talking about whether or not there will be a 15th Dalai Lama, His Holiness told her that, recognised or not, he would still be there.
“I’m determined about that. The biography of the 1st Dalai Lama tells that when he was about my age he remarked about growing old and his students and disciples commented that he needn’t worry because he’d be sure to go to a Pure Land. He retorted that he had no wish to go to some such heaven, he wanted to be reborn where there was suffering in order that he could be of some help to others. I share that prayer.”
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| His Holiness at the Honda Center. Photo from Friends of the Dalai Lama Facebook page. |
Los Angeles based Tibetan filmmaker Pema Dhondup is working on a series of films entitled Search that will cover the entire history of the Dalai Lama institution beginning from 1391 when Pema Dorje was born to a nomad family and later became the first Dalai Lama, Gedun Drubpa.
Watch the short, powerful prelude to this series - his film The Letter - which was released on His Holiness' Birthday. I can't wait to watch the series.
Watch the short, powerful prelude to this series - his film The Letter - which was released on His Holiness' Birthday. I can't wait to watch the series.
Happy 80th Birthday to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
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