“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”

སྐྱེས་སྐར་ལ་བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས།

The Dalai Lama’s 87th birthday is on July 6.

“His Holiness is considered to be the present incarnation of the previous thirteen Dalai Lamas of Tibet (the first having been born in 1391 CE), who are in turn considered to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara, or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, holder of the White Lotus. “I am often asked whether I truly believe this. The answer is not simple to give. But … I consider my experience during this present life, and given my Buddhist beliefs, I have no difficulty accepting that I am spiritually connected both to the thirteen previous Dalai Lamas, to Chenrezig and to the Buddha himself”. [1]

As he is the highest spiritual leader and former head of state of Tibet, people around the world (except in China, alas) honour him by flying the National Flag of Tibet. Over the past 60 years the Tibetan people, under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, have been carrying out a non-violent movement to preserve their culture and to regain their lost freedom and dignity under the banner of the flag. The elements have a symbolic significance: [2]

💚 The glorious snow mountain in the center symbolizes the land of the great nation of Tibet.  💙 Across the dark blue sky the six red rays of light symbolize the six original tribes of ancient Tibet.  🤍 At the tip of the snow mountain, the sun’s brilliant rays shine in all directions, representing the impartial enjoyment of freedom, prosperity and happiness by all beings in the land of Tibet. 💛  On the slopes of the mountain a pair of snow lions with turquoise manes represent fearless victory and the accomplishment of a unified spiritual and secular life. 💙 The snow lions hold above them the flaming triple gem, representing the Tibetan people’s reverence toward the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. 💗 The surrounding yellow border represents the purified gold- like teachings of the Buddha which spread and flourish in all directions and in all times.

[1] www.dalailama.com. [2] PrayerFlags.com. [coloured photo] “His Holiness the Dalai Lama comforting a young survivor during his visit to the Tsunami devastated region of Sendai, Japan on November 5, 2011” (c) Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL