Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama today expressed (via video message) his sincere gratitude to all those who have expressed greetings on his 86th birthday which included world leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, among many others.
In the video message, His Holiness the Dalai Lama also expressed that the heartfelt greetings and messages of love from the people gave him the determination to live as long as possible. In that vein, His Holiness reaffirmed his decision to live till 110 years of age, as prophesied in his dreams and divinations.
The following is the text of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s video message.
Namaste. Tashi Delek. Good Morning.
Yesterday was my birthday. So many of my friends have expressed their happy birthday greetings to me. So, I want to take this opportunity to express to those people (my thanks) including some leaders. Nancy Pelosi, for instance, she doesn’t do lip service. She herself visited Tibet and talked to some of the local Chinese leaders and then came here to Dharamshala. So, I want to thank my longtime supporters and friends.
Many other people including Prime Minister Modi and many ministers and also chief ministers and a number of my Indian friends also sincerely expressed their congratulations on my birthday. I very much appreciate these friendly expressions. I do not consider them just some diplomatic things but greetings expressed sincerely and wholeheartedly. So, I want to thank all those people who really think about my life as something useful. So, I very much appreciate it. As more people sincerely express in that way, that gives me determination and inner strength that I must live as long a life as possible. According to some of my dreams and predictions, I will live till 110 years and some say 113.
As more people are genuinely expressing their friendship, respect, and expectation. So, I am determined that I must live at least 110 years.