Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 30: The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Metropolitan Chrysostomos Award on October 28, 2026, during the 15th annual OXI Courage Awards ceremony at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Organised by the OXI Day Foundation, the award recognises the Nobel Laureate’s lifelong commitment to compassion, human unity, nonviolence and peaceful conflict resolution.
Named after Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Zakynthos, the Greek Orthodox leader who resisted Nazi persecution and helped save the island’s Jewish population during the Holocaust, the award honours individuals who demonstrate courage in defending human dignity and standing against hatred and intolerance.
Namgyal Choedup, Representative of the Dalai Lama’s Office in Washington, attended the ceremony on His Holiness’s behalf and delivered remarks accompanying an acceptance letter from the Tibetan spiritual leader.
In his acceptance letter, the Dalai Lama expressed honour at receiving the recognition, particularly because Metropolitan Chrysostomos, after whom the award is named, understood that recognising the need for peace and harmony was not enough and that concrete steps were necessary to bring them about.
Reflecting on his lifelong efforts to promote compassion and tolerance, the Dalai Lama emphasised that these values were essential to achieving peace and human happiness. Citing a Tibetan saying that many kinds of problems can be resolved through the single medicine of love and compassion, he described compassion as a fundamental human responsibility rather than the exclusive concern of caregivers, religious figures or social workers.
“The more we as nations, communities or individuals depend upon others, the more we need to ensure their well-being,” he stated.
He further called for addressing global challenges through the perspective of the oneness of humanity, recognising that all people share the desire for happiness and the wish to be free from suffering. He concluded by appealing to people across the world to join in this collective effort.
