90 Years of Compassion

Happy Birthday!

„There are only two days in the year when nothing can be done.
One is yesterday, the other is tomorrow.
This means that today is the right day to love, to believe, and above all, to live.“


Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

(born on July 6, 1935, in Taktser, a village in the Tibetan province of Amdo in northeastern Tibet)

Dear Virya meditators, today I have a nugget for you that is very close to my heart.
On the upcoming Sunday, July 6, 2025, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will celebrate his 90th birthday.

I always remember the life and work of the Dalai Lama with deep respect and heartfelt gratitude — a life that stands like few others for compassion, wisdom, and peaceful dialogue.


For nine decades, he has been a living example of how love, patience, and understanding can continue to shine even amidst pain and loss. As the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a global ambassador of peace, the Dalai Lama has tirelessly worked to tear down walls between cultures and religions and to build bridges between hearts.


In a time when the world often seems torn apart — by conflicts, divisions, and uncertainty — his voice reminds us of what connects us as human beings: the longing for happiness, the power of kindness, and the healing effect of compassion. Time and again, he has emphasized that true change in the world begins with a peaceful mind — with inner freedom, compassionate action, and an open heart.



His teachings do not call for blind faith but invite us to explore for ourselves, to embrace silence, and to consciously turn toward others. It is precisely for this reason that they touch people worldwide — regardless of origin, religion, or worldview.

Among all the images portraying the life and work of the Dalai Lama, those with his longtime friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu touch me the most deeply. In these moments captured, something shines through that goes far beyond words: genuine friendship, pure joy of life, and an almost childlike happiness that is contagious—childlike, seen through the eyes of two wise men. Desmond Tutu passed away on December 26, 2021, in Cape Town at the age of 90.

When I see the two of them laughing together in photos or even more vividly in the film "Mission: Joy – Finding Hope and Joy in Troubled Times" - heartfelt, carefree, on equal footing - I feel just how precious human connection is. Despite all their spiritual depth, despite the serious issues they stand for, they show that true compassion also knows lightness. That an open heart does not have to be heavy, but can be radiant.



These images remind me that peace is not only born in solemn speeches, but also in shared laughter. That happiness is not always something to be sought, but sometimes simply shared together. And that true friendship holds a power that can overcome walls—between religions, cultures, and worldviews.

Especially in our times, often marked by seriousness, haste, and division, these images are like a quiet promise: It can be different. With warmth. With joy. With heart.

If you feel a similarly deep connection to the Dalai Lama and his work, then I would like to warmly recommend two things to you:

Currently, the film The Wisdom of Happiness, featuring the Dalai Lama and released late last year, is being shown in many cinemas around the globe.

It is also available on various streaming platforms.



This documentary, filmed during one of his last major public appearances, presents an inspiring encounter with the Dalai Lama and shares his perspectives on a fulfilled and peaceful life.

If you haven’t seen this film yet, I can only warmly recommend it to you.

And if you would like to give the Dalai Lama a personal gift now, then please recite the mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” as often as feels good to you. Many monasteries and Buddhist organizations are currently collecting as many Mani mantras as possible.

If you like, you can enter the number of mantras you have recited and also see how many millions have already been spoken at the following link:

https://mantren.tibet.de/avalokiteshvara/

(External link in German from "Tibethaus Deutschland")

For all of us, I wish that the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday may not only be a reason to celebrate, but also an invitation: an invitation to follow his example and to live our own humanity in everyday life — in small acts of kindness, in mindfulness toward life, and in the hope that love is always greater than fear.



Happy birthday, Your Holiness. And from the bottom of my heart: thank you.


Yours Heiko