Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted

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Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends a prayer meeting held for his long life at the Dalai Lama temple in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India on July 5, 2025.

PHOTO: REUTERS

DHARAMSHALA, India - The Dalai Lama said on July 5 said hopes to live until he is over 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6, and as China insists it will choose his successor.

The Dalai Lama previously told Reuters in December he might live to 110.

“I have been able to serve the Buddhadharma (the teachings of Buddhism) and the beings of Tibet so far quite well,” he said between prayers, clearing his throat now and then.

“And still, I hope to live over 130 years,” he said, sparking applause and cheers among his followers.

The 14th Dalai Lama, already longest-lived head of Tibetan Buddhism, spent about 90 minutes at the prayers in his temple.

The ceremony was attended by thousands of followers from around the world who gathered in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala, where he has lived since fleeing Tibet in 1959 in the wake of a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

“We