On December 29, playwright and human rights activist Vaclev Havel became President of Czechoslovakia. In his first New Year’s speech on 1 January 1990, Havel said, ‘I would be happy if Pope John Paul II and the Tibetan Dalai Lama visited our country even if for a single day.’ President Havel invited His Holiness to Czechoslovakia in 1990. Pictured here, His Holiness pours tea for President Havel as a long standing tradition every time the two leaders met. (Courtesy of Manuel Bauer)

In August 1999, His Holiness gave his second talk in Central Park, New York City. No one knew how many people would come – it had been an open invitation from the city’s Tibet Center and the Gere Foundation. Over 200,000 attended, filling the park’s huge East. (Courtesy of Manuel Bauer)

His Holiness is known as the first Nobel Peace Laureate to mention the need to protect the natural environment in his Nobel Peace Prize Lecture. In it he outlined strict proposals for environmental protection in Tibet and took courage from young people’s repeatedly calling for an end to the dangerous destruction of the environment in the name of economic development. Pictured here, HH is addressing a global climate conference in Oxford, England in 1988. (Photo by Brian Beresford, courtesy of Dolma Beresford)

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, delivering his Nobel Peace Prize lecture in Oslo, 1989. He began his speech with the message of unity of all people despite their differences, ‘We are all basically the same human beings. We seek happiness. We have the same basic needs and concerns.’ This is the essence of his concept of human values, secular ethics. (Courtesy of Tenzing Sonam and Ritu Sarin)

The Dalai Lama’s new residence, named Thekchen Choling, provided more space and was more peaceful. The Tsuglakhang temple was built within Thekchen Choeling complex in 1969. (Norbulingka Institute, courtesy of Kim Yeshi)

The Dalai Lama regularly met with schoolchildren, inviting them to his home, Swarg Ashram. He took a personal and abiding interest in their welfare, education and nourishment, recognizing the younger generation as ‘our future hope for Tibet’. (Courtesy of Tibet Documentation)

The 1956 trip to India was the first time that the family had ever all met together and gave them the opportunity to have their photograph taken as a family. From left to right: The Great Mother, Tsering Dolma, Thubten Jigme Norbu (Taktser Rinpoche), Gyalo Thondup, Lobsang Samten, His Holiness/the Dalai Lama, Jetsun Pema, and Tendzin Choegyal (Ngari Rinpoche). (Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama / From Jane Moore’s collection)

His Holiness strives to build bridges between the various religions of the world through the message of love, compassion, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. The Dalai Lama is pictured here during an interfaith meeting with religious leaders. (Courtesy of the Tibet Museum)

At the age of fifteen, as Chinese forces entered Tibet, His Holiness was given full temporal power. From now on he would be consulted in all matters related to the state. Pictured at the Norbulingka, early November 1950. (Courtesy of Tibet Museum)

The Dalai Lama is a keen gardener. He took part in planting his new garden and regularly discussed gardening with others.

On 24 November, His Holiness was formally renamed as Jetsun Jampel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshi Tenzin Gyatso – ‘The Holy One, The Tender Glory, Mighty in Speech, of Excellent Intellect, of Absolute Wisdom, Holding the Doctrine, the Ocean-wide.’ (Courtesy of Tibet House, New Delhi)