Washington DC: Last month, an event titled “The Power of Compassion – In Gratitude for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Mission” was held at the Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion, based in Louisville, the largest city in the southeastern state of Kentucky.
The event was organised by the Drepung Gomang Center, which had also hosted His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His visit to Louisville in 2013. It was held in accordance with the Central Tibetan Administration’s announcement of July 2025 to July 2026 as the Year of Compassion, marking the global celebration of His Holiness’ 90th birthday. Alongside commemorating the 12th anniversary of His visit to Louisville, the gathering served as a heartfelt tribute to His Holiness’ unwavering dedication to spreading love and compassion around the world, while also aiming to share and preserve his enduring legacy with a wider international community.
During the gathering, the then Mayor Greg Fischer and Anne Walter, executive director of the Drepung Gomang Center, delivered remarks reflecting on the impact of His Holiness’ teachings on the development of compassion in Louisville and across America, especially following His 2013 visit. Geshe Thubten Jinpa, His Holiness’ senior interpreter, joined the event virtually and gave a compelling presentation on the significance of His Holiness’ four noble commitments, engaging participants with deep insight and clarity.
“Our center was established in 1999 with the core mission of sharing Tibetan Buddhist culture rooted in love, compassion, and non-violence,” said Geshe Kalsang Rabgyas, the director of the centre. “When His Holiness visited us in 2013, He emphasised the importance of secular ethics education. Since then, we’ve remained committed to that mission. As this year marks the beginning of the Year of Compassion, we are honoured to host events and participate in this year-long celebration.”
Representative Namgyal Choedup also expressed his appreciation, stating, “When we learned that members of our community and organisations here in the U.S. are organising celebration events with local foreign communities, I extended my sincere appreciations to all the organisers.”
-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Washington DC
