A Grammy for Compassion: Dalai Lama’s Voice of Peace Resonates Worldwide

At 90 years old, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has added an unexpected accolade to his lifelong journey of spreading wisdom—his first-ever Grammy Award. Honored in Los Angeles at the 68th Grammy Awards, he won in the Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording category for his spoken-word album Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Reacting with humility, he remarked, “I view the award not as a personal triumph, but as a recognition of shared universal responsibility.”

Unlike a conventional music album, Meditations is an immersive audio experience that blends his teachings with contemporary and classical music. It carries messages of peace, compassion, and environmental responsibility—timeless themes that feel urgent in today’s world.

The project features contributions from celebrated artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Maggie Rogers, Andra Day, and Indian sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan with his sons, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash. Produced by Kabir Sehgal, the album was carefully curated from the Dalai Lama’s speeches to resonate with younger audiences while staying true to his spiritual essence.

Released in August 2025 to mark his 90th birthday, the album has been praised globally. Tracks like Water reflect on environmental changes he has witnessed since childhood, while Peace emphasizes compassion as essential for human survival.

Though he could not attend the ceremony due to age-related travel limitations, his office in McLeodganj described the Grammy as recognition of the message rather than the individual. Nearly four decades after his Nobel Peace Prize, this cultural milestone adds another dimension to his legacy.

Currently, the Dalai Lama is in Mundgod, Karnataka, on a 45-day spiritual retreat, continuing his lifelong mission of guiding humanity toward compassion and responsibility.