Dalai Lama gifts his sacred throne to an Estonian

TALLINN - The Dalai Lama has gifted his sacred throne to an Estonian, and it will be briefly on display at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu starting Wednesday.

The throne of the Tibetan spiritual leader, from which the Nobel Peace Prize laureate delivered Buddhist teachings, was gifted to Estonian writer and public figure Roy Strider. In honor of the spiritual leader's 90th birthday, the Estonian National Museum is about to open a display of the throne, along with a book of birthday greetings from the Estonian people.

"Such a gift is, of course, baffling and initially left me speechless. It is a great honor not only for me but for all of Estonia," Strider said in a press release published by the Estonian National Museum on Tuesday.

The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, will turn 90 on July 6. He is an honorary doctor of the University of Tartu and has visited Estonia three times: in 1991, 2001, and 2011.

"His Holiness is already of advanced age and therefore no longer actively travels the world. Perhaps one day I will be able to pass on his throne to the next reincarnation of the Tibetan spiritual leader -- to the future young 15th Dalai Lama -- if he should come to Europe again to share Buddhist teachings," said Strider.

The Dalai Lama's throne was gifted to Strider in June 2025 as a symbol of friendship and in gratitude for his longtime activity in support of the Tibetan people. The extraordinary gift was presented by the Dalai Lama's special representative and the spiritual leader of the Kalmyk people, Telo Tulku Rinpoche, who has been declared a foreign agent by the Russian government due to his opposition to the war in Ukraine.

The throne will be on display at the Estonian National Museum for nearly two weeks starting from July 2, in celebration of the Tibetan spiritual leader's 90th birthday. Next to the throne, a book of congratulations will be available for the Estonian people to write birthday wishes to the Dalai Lama.

Strider, together with a delegation from the Estonian parliament, will later deliver the book to the Tibetan spiritual leader in Dharamsala.

"Estonia and Tibet are, in many ways, fellow travelers in fate. The power ambitions of large neighboring states have meant pain and loss for our peoples," said Laura Kipper, director of the Estonian National Museum. "Because of our shared past, we understand each other well, which is expressed by the Dalai Lama's strong connection with Estonia and also this very gift."

Kipper described the display of the throne as a joyful event that celebrates spiritual freedom and solidarity with a people whose story resonates with us deeply and personally.

In the Tibetan tradition, a throne is used to emphasize the importance and value of the Buddha's teachings, or dharma. This is why spiritual teachers sit on a throne during teachings, discussions, sermons, and consecrations.