Dalai Lama to Celebrate 85th Birthday, New Album With Livestream

The Dalai Lama will mark his 85th birthday Monday, July 6th, with not only the release of his debut album, Inner World, but a special livestream event starting at 1 p.m. ET.

Per a press release, the livestream program will feature an appearance from Richard Gere, a long-time student and friend of the Dalai Lama’s, as well as “other special guests, birthday messages and musical performances.” Acclaimed sitar player Anoushka Shankar (daughter of Ravi Shankar) will deliver the live debut of the Inner World track on which she appears, “Ama Le.”

The Dalai Lama’s livestream will be available to watch on His Holiness’ Facebook and YouTube pages.

The Dalai Lama announced Inner World last month. The 11-track album mixes some of the Tibetan spiritual leader’s favorite mantras and chants with new music. The music was composed and recorded by Junelle and Abraham Kunin, two married musicians from New Zealand.

Recalling her recording session with the Dalai Lama, Junelle Kunin said: “I’d never heard him speak like this. He really was so excited … he actually proceeded to explain to me how important music is. He leaned forward and his eyes were sparkling, and his fingers were rubbing together and 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.”