Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or nonbelieving, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is the current spiritual leader of the Guleg (“Yellow Hat”) school of Tibetan Buddhism and is considered the religious and political leader of Tibet. He has lived in exile in India since the Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1959, and in 1989, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to peacefully liberate Tibet from China. Since retiring from his political role in 2011, his principal commitments have included helping others understand and experience happiness, encouraging harmony among the world’s religions, and preserving Tibetan language and culture. He is the author of more than one hundred books.