In May 2023, some members of our Global Tree Initiative (GTI) team went to Dharamsala, India, as a group audience to the Dalai Lama. The audience also consisted of students of the Nalanda Master’s course, and the Nalanda Diploma course students from Tibet House.

The Dalai Lama is one of our environmental heroes.

Mrinalini Nigde, one of our dedicated coordinators in India, tells us about a wooden plaque that was offered to the Dalai Lama.

The wooden plaque offered to the Dalai Lama.

“When I came to know that you are allowed to make an offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, I started thinking about offering something as the GTI India Coordinator. The actual reason why I first joined the GTI as a regional coordinator, is because of a book by His Holiness the Dalai Lama; Ecology, Ethics and Interdependence.

This book made me take responsibility for climate change, by contributing my time and energy to the GTI platform and community. I did not have much time to think and create a special gift for His Holiness The Dalai Lama. But, I certainly owe a debt of gratitude to the whole GTI India community who believe in the potential of the GTI, and have been supporting GTI India in many ways!

So, I decided to ask for blessings for the (GTI India) projects and offer our collective efforts. I was able to do all of this, as Hans Timpner, the GTI Global Director, kept guiding me and gave his support and approval in time.

We thought: What can be a better offering, than making the word of these projects reach the office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama!” Mrinalini says.

Mrinalini (center) in the audience of the Dalai Lama.

Thank you very much, Mrinalini, for all the work you and our team in India are doing! Thank you for making this very kind offer to one of our environmental heroes!

We appreciate all that you and the GTI India community are doing to fulfill the vision and mission of our founder, Ösel Hita.

Follow our GTI India Facebook page, and stay up to date with all the wonderful activities happening in India!

“I always speak of the importance of developing a genuine sense of universal responsibility.” – The Dalai Lama

The images in this article were captured as screenshots from this YouTube video.