At the age of 90, the Dalai Lama has received his very first Grammy Award, adding one more honour to his list of international accolades. The Dalai Lama won for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording at the 68th Annual Gammy Award held in Los Angeles, US, on February 1.
Musician Rufus Wainwright accepted the award on his behalf during the ceremony which was streamed on YouTube.
Other nominees
The Nobel Peace Prize recipient was among a diverse group of nominees, including Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli, US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson; Trevor Noah, comedian and TV host and actress Kathy Garver.
The work he received the award for is called 'Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama', which is a mix of his spoken reflections and a unique musical component that is influenced by Hindustani classical music.
The album features recordings of the Dalai Lama's thoughts on mindfulness, compassion, harmony and mental and physical health over multiple years. The Dalai Lama worked with sarod master Amjad Ali Khan and his sons, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, on the album. They combined spoken word and music to celebrate universal values such as peace, compassion, kindness, and hope.
'This recognition can help...'
Reacting to the award, the Dalai Lama said, "I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility. I don't see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility. I truly believe that peace, compassion, care for our environment, and an understanding of the oneness of humanity are essential for the collective well-being of all eight billion human beings. I'm grateful that this Grammy recognition can help spread these messages more widely."
According to a report by news agency Hindustan Times, Amjad Ali Khan had posted on social media at the time of nomination announcement, "Our album, Meditation: Reflection of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is a project close to our hearts. It brings together the spoken wisdom of His Holiness with original music that invites reflection, stillness and compassion. Throughout our lives we have been inspired by his teachings and this collaboration allowed us to create something that carries his message of peace and hope in a new way."
"Working with His Holiness was a profound privilege. We are grateful to every artist who contributed their voice, creativity, and spirit to this vision," he added.
