The Recording Academy of the United States presents the renowned Grammy Awards, also known as GRAMMYs, to celebrate exceptional accomplishments in the music business. Originally known as the Gramophone Awards because the trophy features a golden gramophone, the Grammys are often considered the most important music award in the world.
The Dalai Lama, a Tibetan spiritual leader, made history at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles by winning a Grammy for his audiobook Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“I am humbled and grateful for this award. In accepting the award, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama said on X, “I do not see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility.”
In the Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording category, the 90-year-old Dalai Lama took home his first Grammy. The category celebrates excellence in audiobooks and narration, where storytelling and vocal depth are crucial criteria.
His audiobook is a spoken-word record in which he discusses life lessons, meditation, serenity, and compassion in his own voice. Indian songs and melodies are also included in the album. “I firmly think that the welfare of all eight billion people depends on peace, compassion, and caring. The office continued, “I am appreciative that this Grammy recognition can help spread these messages more widely.”
One of the most revered and influential spiritual leaders in the world, the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. For decades, he has lived in exile in India, calling for peace, nonviolence, human rights, and understanding across religious and cultural boundaries. And was also awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1989 for his efforts toward global peace.
Message through music
The album provides the Dalai Lama’s ten meditation insights mixed with music, combining spoken word and sound into a sonorous message. It honors the common ideals of humanity, including harmony, kindness, compassion, peace, human togetherness, and hope.
Other nominees in the category included actor Kathy Garver for the 2025 memoir Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story, comedian Trevor Noah for his children’s book Into the Uncut Grass, lawyer Ketanji Brown Jackson for her memoir Lovely One, and French singer Fab Morvan for You Know It’s True: The Real Story of Milli Vanilli.
To create this album, the Dalai Lama collaborated with Indian sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his sons, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash.
“Our album, Meditation: Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is a project close to our hearts. It brings together the spoken wisdom of His Holiness with original music that invites reflection, stillness, and compassion. Throughout our lives, we have been inspired by his teachings, and this collaboration allowed us to create something that carries his message of peace and hope in a new way,” Amjad Ali Khan posted on social media at the time of the nomination announcement.
Ten tracks from the album are available on popular music services like Apple Music, Spotify, and iHeart. Track titles include Heart, Oneness, Harmony, Kindness, Water, Mind, Health, Peace, Essence, and Journey. Dalai Lama songs with titles like “Meditation with the Dalai Lama” are also available on other sites.
The first song, “Heart,” captures the spirit of love and compassion since the heart is the source of human warmth, empathy, and connection. The second song, “Oneness,” emphasizes how individuals and life are united despite cultural, religious, and background disparities. Water is a symbol for clarity, flow, and vital sustenance, while harmony encourages peaceful cohabitation and respect for one another.
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The album ends with Journey, which connects all the themes as a spiritual journey of life, following Health, Peace, and Essence. “Working with His Holiness was a profound privilege. We are grateful to every artist who offered their voice, creativity, and energy to our vision,” Khan added.
