NEW DELHI. The Dalai Lama, celebrating his 89th birthday, addressed recent health rumors by announcing he is recovering well from knee surgery and feels “physically fit.”
“Recently I had surgery on my knee, which has given me some problems. However, I am recovering and have no problem at all now,” the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism stated in a video message from the United States, where he is recuperating.
The Dalai Lama reassured his followers, saying, “There may be people trying to confuse you about my health, saying that the Dalai Lama has gone to a hospital and is undergoing treatments, and so on, making my condition sound grave. You don’t need to trust such misinformation.”
A global icon who popularized Buddhism, the Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his non-violent struggle for Tibetan autonomy. He fled to India in 1959, nine years after China sent troops into the Himalayan region in 1950, claiming it was liberating Tibetan “serfs.”
As he ages, concerns about the appointment of his successor have grown among Tibetans seeking greater autonomy or independence from China. Tibetan Buddhists believe their spiritual leaders are reincarnated after death. The Dalai Lama has indicated he will address questions about his succession and potential reincarnation around his 90th birthday.
“I am nearly 90 now but I don’t feel unhealthy, except for the slight discomfort in my legs. I would like to thank all my fellow Tibetans in and outside Tibet for your prayers on my birthday,” he said, acknowledging that some health issues are a natural part of aging.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of Buddhists and well-wishers around the world are expected to gather to celebrate and pray for the long life of a leader who remains a symbol of hope for an eventual return to Tibet.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
