On Sunday, July 6, the Center for Interfaith Relations had the honor of participating in a Community Celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday — one of many such celebrations held worldwide to acknowledge the milestone. Louisville’s Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion hosted the local event, which featured a fire puja (a traditional Buddhist ceremony that symbolizes purification and healing), a community potluck, as well as remarks and interfaith prayers from several organizations — including CIR. Below are our remarks, shared by CIR communications director Sarah Kelley.
On behalf of the Center for Interfaith Relations, it is an honor to be here today with all of you in celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday.
The Dalai Lama has long inspired people across the world to be better, kinder, gentler versions of themselves — people of vastly different cultures, backgrounds, and faith traditions. He has spread a message of peace, unity, and compassion, and reiterated time and again that despite our differences, we all are part of one human family.
It is a message that’s at the heart of the Center for Interfaith Relations work. So it’s no surprise that over the years, we have repeatedly tapped into the Dalai Lama’s wisdom in our efforts to foster interfaith dialogue, to create meaningful connection through deeper understanding, and to strengthen the muscle of compassion — compassion for our community, for ourselves, and for the earth we share.
In 2013, we had the immense honor of being a part of the Dalai Lama’s visit to Louisville. Then again in 2016, His Holiness shared with us an enlightening and uplifting message that we read aloud on the stage at our annual Festival of Faiths. In that message, he said:
“Some people think that compassion is just a passive emotional response, rather than a rational stimulus to action. But to experience genuine compassion is to develop a feeling of closeness to others … combined with a sense of responsibility for their welfare.”
May we all strive to live in a way that embodies this definition of compassion — propelling us toward empathy, and ultimately to love in action.
Throughout his 90 years, the Dalai Lama has illuminated hearts, nurtured those who are suffering, and brought healing and hope in troubled times. The world has been blessed with his inspired guidance.
May the energy and goodness that come from the prayers offered today inspire compassion in a world in need of light, love, justice and peace.