Ekklesia, July 7, www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/12577
The Dalai Lama says he had mixed emotions when he turned 75 on Tuesday 6 July 2010, because of the continuing plight of people in his homeland, Tibet. The Buddhist leader, also known as a civil rights advocate across the world, celebrated in his hometown-in-exile in India while his followers in Tibet were unable to honour the occasion.
Along with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and others, he is one of the global ‘elders’ intervening on issues of peace, justice and human rights throughout the world – though he has also faced criticism over some of his traditional attitudes in Tibet.
During his speech, he expressed great sadness that Tibetan Buddhists would not be able to join the celebrations because of fear of reprisals from Chinese government officials, who forced the spiritual leader out of his birthplace.