Dear brothers and sisters,
Thank you so much for your warm greetings on the occasion of my 88th birthday.
With a firm belief in the oneness of humanity, I have been devoting myself to contribute whatever I can to the welfare of all human beings and the creation of a more peaceful world. Accordingly, I recite the following prayer on a daily basis:
As long as space endures,
And as long as sentient beings remain,
Until then, may I too remain
To help dispel the misery of the world.
Although I have faced some difficulties over the years, I have continued to do whatever I could without losing hope or allowing my determination to flag. I’m angry with no one, not even those Communist Chinese leaders who have adopted a harsh attitude towards Tibet and the Tibetans.
Various predictions, including signs in my own dreams, indicate that I will live until I am more than 100 years old. In the meantime, I am committed to continuing to do whatever I can in the service of others.
I thank you again for your greetings and for your prayers for my long life.
With my prayers and good wishes,
Dalai Lama
Shewatsel, Leh, Ladakh, UT, India
July 18, 2023
