--- title: Why the Dalai Lama’s Message Still Resonates Today description: Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal explains why TIME put the Dalai Lama on the cover for the third time in the magazine's 96-year history. canonical: https://time.com/5546862/time-dalai-lama-2019-cover/ author: Edward Felsenthal article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2019-03-07T12:34:27.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:42:14.123Z article:section: Ideas og:title: Why the Dalai Lama’s Message Still Resonates Today og:description: Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal explains why TIME put the Dalai Lama on the cover for the third time in the magazine's 96-year history og:url: https://time.com/5546862/time-dalai-lama-2019-cover/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4c59558729a82c90/698946587cdbacf480d5f2bd/dalai-lama-60-years-in-exile-6.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3040 og:image:height: 1710 og:image:alt: dalai-lama-60-years-in-exile-6 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Why the Dalai Lama’s Message Still Resonates Today twitter:description: Editor-in-Chief Edward Felsenthal explains why TIME put the Dalai Lama on the cover for the third time in the magazine's 96-year history twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4c59558729a82c90/698946587cdbacf480d5f2bd/dalai-lama-60-years-in-exile-6.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Why the Dalai Lama’s Message Still Resonates Today > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=6b3eb387-d79b-4b82-87ad-1fcb71e2a3a4&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: TIME Interviews Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama [Watch (HLS stream): TIME Interviews Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/7ZzLqP0g.m3u8) (4:55)  _Published 2019-03-06. TIME Interviews Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama_  by [Edward Felsenthal](https://time.com/author/edward-felsenthal/)  ## Edward Felsenthal Felsenthal is the Executive Chairman and former Editor in Chief of TIME. Mar 7, 2019 12:34 PM UTC  Ruven Afanador for TIME  by [Edward Felsenthal](https://time.com/author/edward-felsenthal/)  ## Edward Felsenthal Felsenthal is the Executive Chairman and former Editor in Chief of TIME. Mar 7, 2019 12:34 PM UTC In addition to co-founding TIME–96 years ago this week–Henry Luce is most famous for articulating his vision of the American Century. And while that vision takes its name from the U.S., its real focus–closely informed by his formative years abroad in China as the son of missionaries–was the shape of the world. Today, TIME continues to take measure of the world by providing our readers unparalleled access to its most influential figures. Since November 2017, led by International Editor Dan Stewart, TIME has published 15 interviews with leaders and leaders-to-be guiding their nations through this extraordinary period of global transformation. These include conversations with the leaders of [France](http://time.com/emmanuel-macron-president-france-interview/), [Saudi Arabia](http://time.com/5228006/mohammed-bin-salman-interview-transcript-full/), [New Zealand](http://time.com/5028891/jacinda-ardern-worlds-youngest-female-leader-new-zealand/), [Colombia](http://time.com/5342766/ivan-duque-colombia/), [Argentina](http://time.com/5466476/mauricio-macri-g20/), [Thailand](http://time.com/5318224/exclusive-prime-minister-prayuth-chan-ocha-thailand-interview/), [Italy](http://time.com/5394448/matteo-salvini/), [Brazil](http://time.com/5375731/jair-bolsonaro/) (“I am not a troglodyte!” Jair Bolsonaro volunteered during his time with us), [Armenia](http://time.com/5336769/democracy-alive-crusaders/), [Pakistan](http://time.com/5324713/imran-khan-pakistan-prime-minister/), [Iraq](http://time.com/5187599/iraqi-prime-minister-peace/), [Austria](http://time.com/collection-post/5466680/sebastian-kurz-interview-chancellor-austria/) (the world’s youngest head of government), [Malaysia](http://time.com/5268773/malaysia-elections-2018-mahathir-mohamad-interview/) (the world’s oldest) and of course the [U.S.](http://time.com/donald-trump-after-hours/) For this week’s issue, Shanghai-based correspondent Charlie Campbell traveled to Dharamsala, in the Indian Himalayas, for a conversation with the spiritual leader of one of the world’s most secluded peoples, the Tibetans. Even as China continues to isolate him and attempts to co-opt Buddhism for its own purposes, Charlie says, “The Dalai Lama didn’t show an iota of bitterness, not to the Chinese government, nor the British or Americans who abandoned Tibet, nor anyone else.” Charlie’s story is accompanied by Ruven Afanador’s intimate photographs taken in and around the Dalai Lama’s private residence, and you can watch video of the interview [here](http://time.com/dalai-lama).  The Apr. 20, 1959, cover of TIME Cover Credit: BORIS CHALIAPIN This is in fact the third time the Dalai Lama has been on the cover of TIME. The [first was in 1959](http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,864579,00.html), the year the Dalai Lama, then 23, fled Tibet disguised as a soldier. In 2008, the great travel writer and TIME contributor [Pico Iyer profiled him again](http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1724446,00.html) as China cracked down on Tibetan freedom demonstrations ahead of the Beijing Olympics.  The March 31, 2008 cover of TIME Cover credit: James Nachtwey The Buddhist message of interdependence is a powerful one for today, when so many of our challenges are global and yet so much of our globe is deeply fragmented. “The Dalai Lama came across as a kind, genuine, fun-loving person,” says Charlie, who has interviewed the leaders of the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand, among others. “He’s one of a kind.” ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] Around six million Tibetan people trust me. Only Dalai Lama can represent six million Tibetan people, no other. [ MUSIC ] [ FOREIGN ] Comparatively, the Chinese attitude. Comparatively, the Chinese attitude towards Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan in some areas more lenient. Now Chinese is showing I think deeper understanding about Dalai Lama. Within next two years, three years, I think some change. Some change I retired from political responsibility and I sincerely socially interest to serve Chinese Buddhist and through that way Revival of moral principle in China. [ MUSIC ] If I die, I think two years to three years, I think Chinese, they may choose even one Dalai Lama. But the Tibetan not Accept that. The Panchen Lama which the choose, some Chinese officials also they describe fake Panchen Lama. [ MUSIC ] As early as 69, I made clear. the very institution of Dalai Lama should continue or not up to Tibetan people. One occasion the Dalai Lama institution started, then there must be one occasion Dalai Lama institution no longer relevant, then stop, no problem. [ MUSIC ] We all, seven billion human beings emotionally, mentally. physically same. Everyone wants joyful life. Western civilization because of the education, they are very much oriented about material value. In spite material value, Mentally too much stress, anxiety, and jealousy, all these things. [ MUSIC ] We have this human brain. We have the ability at the physical level, no matter what difficulties we can keep peace of mind. Mind. Other animal can not, only human beings. Whether believe religion or not, among the believer, this religion or that religion, it is personal matter. As a human being, we should learn more about our system of our emotion. So that we can tackle it, our destructive emotion in order to become more calm, more peaceful, inner peace. Strong borders. We're gonna have the wall. We're building the wall. We're building the wall, folks. We're building the wall. When Trump express America first, I feel a little uncomfortable. America, as a leading nation of free world should take more serious concern about global issue. I think wall, border wall. Nobody loves that. And Mexican I don't think truly enemy of American, I don't think. [ MUSIC ] Global warming, not making any [ INAUDIBLE ] this continent or that continent on this Nation, that nation. The effect of global warming Tibetan plateau is as much as South Pole and North Pole. Environmental protection there is very essential. On top of that, I think a lot of problem which we are facing. Is our own creation. My nation, their nation, my religion, their religion. Due to that differences create a lot of problem. So now only remedy to reduce that, oneness of human being. We have to live on this planet. Side by side. That's the only way. 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