Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, April 1: The foremost exiled spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama was honored with the prestigious Gold Mercury Award for peace and visionary governance at his residence in Dharamshala on March 31, 2025.
The Gold Mercury International Award, established in 1961, is a prestigious recognition in global governance and diplomacy. It honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to humanitarian efforts, international relations, economic development, culture, and sustainability. Past recipients include former U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford for their roles in nuclear disarmament, former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat for advancing peace in the Middle East, as well as humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF and the Red Cross.
A delegation led by Nicolas De Santis Cuadra, the President of the organisation presented the award in recognition of his lifelong dedication to promoting world peace, non-violence, compassion, and environmental stewardship.
Speaking to the exile media, Nicolas De Santis Cuadra, commended the Dalai Lama’s remarkable efforts in promoting secular ethics globally and his ongoing exceptional work fostering mutual understanding, solidarity, justice, and compassion to advance peace in the world. He also expressed that the organization felt immense pride in being able to present this award to such a great figure as His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Moreover, he emphasized that in this critical time when the world is facing conflicts, divisions, and environmental challenges due to zero-sum thinking, His Holiness’s boundless vision is extremely important. He noted that His Holiness repeatedly teaches that all eight billion people in this world should live happy and peaceful lives with a sense of oneness. This teaching practically helps resolve international conflicts, promote human rights responsibilities, and protect the natural environment.
In his acceptance speech, the Dalai Lama mentioned that we all grew up equally under a mother’s love and affection. He graciously advised the delegation that it is crucial to bring about genuine peace in this world by developing the innate capacity for love and compassion that naturally exists within oneself.
