Dalai Lama celebrates 85th birthday by releasing his debut album
The Dalai Lama has released his debut album Inner World to coincide with his 85th birthday.
Inner World sees the Dalai Lama recite mantras and short teachings over a bed of music, and features a collaboration with Bengali sitar player Anoushka Shankar.
When asked why he accepted the offer to make an album, he replied, "The very purpose of my life is to serve as much as I can." He added, "Music can help people in a way that I can't."
As well as releasing his debut album on his 85th birthday, His Holiness will be hosting a livestream at 5pm BST via his YouTube and Facebook, featuring birthday messages and performances from Annie Lennox, Russell Brand, Michael Palin, Karen O, Diplo, Anoushka Shankar, Deepak Chopra, Richard Gere and Madame Gandhi.
Sign up to Best Fit's Substack for regular dispatches from the world of pop culture