Dalai Lama turns 86 amid muted celebrations

dpa New Delhi Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama turned 86 on Tuesday amid low-key celebrations as exiles and monks held prayers for his long life. T...

dpa New DelhiTibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama turned 86 on Tuesday amid low-key celebrations as exiles and monks held prayers for his long life.The Dalai Lama and thousands of followers fled to India in 1959 after China cracked down on an uprising in March of that year.The Buddhist monk was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his non-violent campaign for democracy and freedom in his homeland.In a video message from his abode in the northern hill town of Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama thanked his followers and expressed his appreciation of India.“I can assure you that for the rest of my life I am committed to serving humanity and working to protect the climate condition,” he said, urging his supporters to follow his teachings of non-violence and compassion.“Since I became a refugee and now settled in India, I have taken full advantage of India’s freedom and religious harmony ... I really appreciate the Indian concept of secular values, not dependent on religion, such as honesty, karuna (compassion) and ahimsa (non-violence),” he added.The Tibetan government-in-exile held a small celebration at its headquarters, while monasteries and Tibetan settlements were directed to avoid congregations and instead mark the day by offering prayers and white scarves to the monk’s portrait.Penpa Tsering, president of the exiled government, called on China to recognize the Dalai Lama as the key to resolving the Sino-Tibetan conflict and invite him to Tibet and China on a pilgrimage.