First president of Kalmykia, sixth president of FIDE, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, received an invitation from Telo Tulku Rinpoche to record a video birthday greeting for the 14tDalai Lama, which His Holiness will watch during the celebration of his birthday on 6 July.According to the Independent newspapper, musician Junelle Kunin set the wheels in motion a few years ago . Kunin, a practising Buddhist, proposed the idea of making such an album to The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, but was politely turned down.
Nevertheless, on a trip to India – where Kunin says she typically gets a chance to meet the Dalai Lama – she asked again and this time he agreed.
“I’d never heard him speak like this. He really was so excited ... he actually proceeded to explain to me how important music is,” Kunin said.
“He talked about how music can help people in a way that he can’t; it can transcend differences and return us to our true nature and our good heartedness.”
Net proceeds from the sales of the album will benefit Mind & Life Institute as well as Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning (SEE Learning), an international education program developed by Emory University and the Dalai Lama.
