On the eve of his 90th birthday in Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama surprised followers by expressing his desire to live until 130, hoping for another four decades of service to humanity and the Dharma - Buddhist spiritual teachings. During a long-life prayer ceremony led by devoted followers, he reflected on his exile from Tibet in 1959 and reiterated his commitment to continue benefiting beings through teaching and compassion.

He also addressed longstanding concerns over his succession, affirming that upon his death he will reincarnate and that the Gaden Phodrang Trust - his non-profit foundation - will have sole authority to recognize the new Dalai Lama, not the Chinese government. Beijing claims it must appoint the successor under its own doctrine, but the Dalai Lama has repeatedly challenged that, choosing instead to uphold traditional Tibetan Buddhist processes based on consultation with senior monastics and spiritual evidence.

As celebrations honoring his nine decades unfold, his words resonate beyond Dharamshala - reinforcing hopes for his longevity and deepening the succession debate internationally.