Sydney: The Office of Tibet, Canberra, in collaboration with The Rev. Bill Crews Foundation, organised a special celebration yesterday at the Rev. Bill Crews Foundation in Sydney to mark the 91st birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The event brought together a large gathering of long-time friends and supporters of Tibet to honour His Holiness’s remarkable life and legacy, compassionate leadership, and unwavering commitment to peace, non-violence, and the wellbeing of humanity.

A key highlight of the occasion was the launch of the commemorative pictorial book, Ocean of Wisdom Over Southern Skies, published by the Office of Tibet, Canberra. Featuring photographs from His Holiness’s visits to Australia and New Zealand between 1982 and 2025, the book captures his interactions with religious leaders, politicians, scholars, students, sportspersons, media personnel, and the general public, reflecting his core message of kindness and compassion, religious harmony, environmental awareness, and secular ethics.

The celebration commenced with a welcome address by Representative Karma Singey. He highlighted the significance of the occasion and reminded attendees that the best way to honour His Holiness is by putting his teachings on compassion, warm-heartedness, and secular ethics into practice in daily life. He also expressed his gratitude to all friends and supporters of Tibet for their support for the Tibetan cause and their continued efforts in preserving Tibet’s unique cultural, linguistic, and religious heritage.

Kalsang Tsering, Member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile representing Australasia, spoke about the extraordinary life and legacy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his unwavering commitment to non-violence and dialogue, and his dedication to promoting universal human values. He thanked all supporters of Tibet and encouraged them to continue their support, while also highlighting the China’s recently introduced so-called “Ethnic Unity and Progress” law and its impact on Tibet.

The event also featured reflections from many long-time friends and supporters of Tibet, including Ian Green, Chairman of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, who shared his personal experiences of meeting His Holiness and the profound inspiration His Holiness has brought to Australia. Hon. Lisa Singh, former Australian Senator and Chief Executive Officer of the Australia India Institute, spoke about her visits to Dharamshala, meetings with the Tibetan leadership, and the resilience of the Tibetan community in exile. Dr Anna Alomes, former Director of the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Tasmania, spoke about the importance of His Holiness’s Social, Emotional and Ethical (SEE) Learning initiative and its relevance in promoting compassion, ethical leadership, and human values. Lynn Bain, former General Manager of Dalai Lama in Australia (DLIA), recalled His Holiness’s visits to Australia from 1982 to 2015, reflecting on his teachings of compassion, mutual respect, and non-violence, as well as his warm interactions with people from all walks of life.

Chief Guest Kyabje Kundeling Tatsak Rinpoche delivered the keynote address, highlighting the significance of this auspicious birthday and His Holiness’s lifelong dedication to promoting compassion, peace, and human values across the world. The Rinpoche expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Australian Government, the people of Australia, and all friends and supporters of Tibet for their continued solidarity with the Tibetan people.

The programme concluded with a musical performance by Grammy-nominated Tibetan Australian musician Tenzin Choegyal and traditional Tibetan cultural performances by students of the Sydney Tibetan Community Weekend Tibetan Language School, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Jigmey Tsering, Secretary of the Tibet Information Office.

– Report filed by Office of Tibet, Canberra