From the Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, we received this very welcome letter of thanks for the good wishes we sent to His Holiness for his 85th birthday!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to thank you all for your greetings on the occasion of my 85th birthday, as well as those who took part in celebrating the day in many parts of the world. I am touched by your affection.

I am in good health and look forward to live long to continue being of some service to humanity.

In the world in which we live today, nations are no longer isolated and self-sufficient as they once were. We have all become much more interdependent; therefore, there is a need to be even more aware of the oneness of humanity. The interests of others are our own. Climate change and the current pandemic, which threaten us all, are challenges that teach us that we must work together, making a concerted effort to reach our common goal of a more caring and more peaceful world.

With my prayers and good wishes,

Dalai Lama

July 7, 2020