Templeton Prize to Dalai Lama

“Personally, when Nobel Peace Prize announced my name, at that time (1989) I expressed that I am no more, no less, just a simple Buddhist monk. So still, I am a simple Buddhist monk, no less, no more, after receiving this award. Of course, more people may pay some attention about my talks, my thoughts, so in that sense, I think (it is) very, very helpful.”

With these words Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama, thanked for the Templeton award, which he has received on May 14^th 2012 in the St. Paul Cathedral in London. This is the largest monetary prize awarded to an individual; a nominee can be everyone - regardless of gender, religion or nationality - who has made outstanding contribution to the affirmation of the life’s spiritual dimension. Prize valued at $ 1.8 million Dalai Lama has received for his work on the connection between science and Buddhism and for spreading the idea of harmony, nonviolence and universal morality. The core of his philosophy is self-sacrifice as a way to get people around the world to better understand each other as well as to address crucial global issues. 

And as we could've expected, Dalai Lama promptly announced that he would be donating all of the $1.8 million prize money to charity. The bulk of the money went to Save the Children in India. The remainder has been split between the Mind and Life Institute – a body which promotes collaboration between science and spirituality - and a fund to educate Tibetan monks in science. “My pocket is now empty,” the Dalai Lama joked, “but no problem.”

After Mother Teresa, he is the only Nobel Laureate who won the Templeton award as well.

Down below you can watch Dalai Lama humbly accepting the recognition of his “little service to humanity." From his little speech one can fully understand why this “simple Buddhist monk” is such an inspiration to so many people on this planet.