Dalai Lama celebrates 70th bday
 

Tibetan exiles celebrate Dalai Lama's 70th birthday

DHARAMSALA, India (Reuters) - About 10,000 people including monks, Tibetan refugees and foreign tourists, prayed outside the Dalai Lama's home in northern India on Wednesday to celebrate the spiritual leader's 70th birthday.

Bagpipers in multicoloured brocade robes and brown fur hats played sprightly tunes and women in traditional Tibetan silk robes danced to the sound of cymbals to welcome the smiling Dalai Lama who entered a vast pavilion with his hands folded.

"For me, each day is a birthday. Each day, you realise something is important," said the Nobel Peace Prize winning monk, after receiving ceremonial scarves from Buddhist leaders who came to the hill town of Dharamsala from other parts of India.

"Each day I begin with a pledge that the rest of the day should be utilised in a positive way. I am grateful to all the people praying for my long life. As long as I live, I will live for others."

Undeterred by a heavy downpour, thousands of people stood silently under multi-coloured umbrellas in a temple courtyard festooned with traditional Tibetan cloth hangings, flags and banners to hear the Dalai Lama speak.

Thousands of Tibetans have been living in India since the Dalai Lama, accompanied by several followers, fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Beijing's communist rule, imposed after Chinese troops entered the Himalayan region in 1950.

When asked what message he had for Tibetans in exile who wanted to return home, the Dalai Lama said: "Patience".

It is more than 45 years since Tibet's god-king fled his homeland on horseback as Chinese shells rained down on his capital but many Tibetans do not expect to see him again, at least not in his current incarnation.

Since that famous journey, the 14th Dalai Lama, or Ocean of Wisdom, has lived as the head of a government-in-exile in Dharamsala and has himself hinted that he may not choose to be reborn after his death.

But many Tibetans still regard him as their spiritual and temporal leader and, although his photographs are banned in China, they privately say they yearn for his return.

"If we Tibetans exist today, it is because of him. If the world knows us today, it is because of this one being," said Tsering Phunsu, a 45-year-old Tibetan refugee, his voice choked with emotion.

Tibetan refugees at the ceremony said they prayed for the Dalai Lama to have a long life.

"We pray that His Holiness leads us for long and he has promised that he will be with us until at least 90 years," said Jigme Tenzin, a 36-year-old refugee.



? Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/new...a-208389-1.xml

another blatantly gay post by a foreign punk

Many foreigners are gifted with the ability to think and take responsibility for their medical expenses. The better half even reads their insurance agreement to check what is covered and what is not, so that, when something happens, they needn't cry and blame their company when it turns out they have to pay for something.

Virtually all of them though are smart enough to stay covered when in good health.

"For me, each day is a birthday. Each day, you realise something is important," said the Nobel Peace Prize winning monk,"

okkkaayy.......


hey bluff,havent seen you here for quite a while:)

Thank you all my fellow believers. It's a great day here

http://www.freetibet.org/events/dalailama1.jpg

more power to Dalai Lama.

mad props to the dali

I am honored yet humbled by your presence here on GFY, your holiness. :winkwink: :winkwink:

more power to you Dalai lama!