New York/New Delhi: The Dalai Lama addressed his followers on Saturday, reassuring them about his health and dispelling rumors as he celebrated his 89th birthday. The exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism shared that he is recovering well from knee surgery and feels “physically fit”.
“Recently I had surgery on my knee, which has given me some problem. However, I am recovering and have no problem at all now,” the Dalai Lama said in a video message from the United States, where he is recuperating.
He added, “There may be people trying to confuse you about my health, saying that the Dalai Lama has gone to a hospital and is undergoing treatments, and so on, making my condition sound grave. You don’t need to trust such misinformation.”
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Known for his charisma and efforts to popularize Buddhism internationally, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his non-violent struggle for the rights of Tibetans. He fled to India in 1959, following the Chinese military intervention in the Himalayan region in 1950, which China described as a liberation of Tibetan “serfs”.
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As the Dalai Lama ages and faces health challenges, the issue of his succession looms large for Tibetans who continue to seek greater autonomy within China or outright independence. Tibetan Buddhists believe that learned monastics are reincarnated after death as newborns.
The Dalai Lama has stated he will provide clarity on matters of succession, including his potential reincarnation and its location, around his 90th birthday.
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“I am nearly 90 now but I don’t feel unhealthy, except for the slight discomfort in my legs. I would like to thank all my fellow Tibetans in and outside Tibet for your prayers on my birthday,” he said, acknowledging that some issues are part of the aging process.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of Buddhists and well-wishers worldwide gathered to celebrate and pray for the long life of a leader who embodies their hopes for an eventual return to Tibet.
