Dalai Lama wins Grammy at 90 for spoken-word album

At the age of 90, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has won his first-ever Grammy, earning the award for Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording at the 68th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles on Sunday. The honour marks a rare cultural milestone in his global journey, nearly four decades after he received the Nobel Peace Prize.

Reacting to the recognition, the Dalai Lama said he viewed the award not as a personal achievement but as an affirmation of shared human values. “I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility. I don’t see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility,” he said.

Emphasising the relevance of his message in today’s world, he added that peace, compassion, care for the environment and an understanding of the oneness of humanity were essential for the well-being of all eight billion people on the planet. He expressed hope that the Grammy would help these ideas reach a wider audience.

The award was conferred for “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, a spoken-word album that weaves together recorded teachings of the Dalai Lama with contemporary and classical music. Rather than following the structure of a conventional music album, Meditations offers an immersive audio experience centred on reflections about humanity, non-violence and shared global responsibility.

Several tracks address pressing contemporary concerns such as climate change, environmental degradation and conflict. In the track Water, the Dalai Lama reflects on environmental changes he has witnessed since his childhood in Tibet, while Peace underscores compassion not as a moral luxury but as a necessity for human survival.

The album features contributions from internationally acclaimed artistes, including Rufus Wainwright, Maggie Rogers and Andra Day. Indian classical music forms the backbone of the project, with sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his sons, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, playing a central role in shaping its soundscape.

Produced by Kabir Sehgal, the album was curated after an extensive review of the Dalai Lama’s speeches and conversations. Sehgal has said the intention was to present timeless spiritual teachings through a contemporary musical lens that could resonate with younger audiences across the world.

Released in August 2025 to mark the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, Meditations received widespread international appreciation. The spiritual leader did not attend the Grammy ceremony due to age-related travel limitations.

The Dalai Lama’s office in McLeodganj described the honour as recognition of his enduring message of compassion and peace rather than an individual win. Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Dolma Tsering called it “a historic moment, a matter of great joy not only for Tibetans but for the whole of humanity.”

Political leaders also joined in congratulating him. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang posted on X, “With deep reverence and joy, I offer heartiest congratulations to His Holiness on receiving the Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”

The Dalai Lama is currently in Mundgod, Karnataka, where he went on December 12, 2025, for a 45-day spiritual retreat. He is expected to return to McLeodganj in the third week of this month.

Album spotlight

A spiritual soundscape: Blends the Dalai Lama’s spoken teachings with Indian classical, contemporary and orchestral music to create an immersive listening experience

Messages for a troubled world: Tracks reflect on peace, compassion, climate change and shared human responsibility, drawing from his lifelong reflections

Global artistic collaboration: Features artists like Rufus Wainwright, Maggie Rogers and Andra Day, with sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his sons at the musical core

‘Political tool’ aimed at Beijing: China

China has criticised the Grammy award granted to the Dalai Lama, describing it as a “political tool” aimed at Beijing

“As is widely known, the 14th Dalai is not a purely religious person. Rather he is a political exile committed to anti-China separatist activities under the disguise of religion,” said Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing

“We firmly oppose relevant sides using the award as a tool for anti-China political manoeuvring,” Lin added, stating that China’s position on the issue remains “consistent and clear”