Celebrating HH the Dalai Lama's Birthday:
Kundun Screening & Discussion
with Venerable Robina Courtin

Sun Jul 5, 2–5pm EDT 

IN-PERSON 

Registration will be available soon

The wish-granting Wish-Fulfilling Jewel,His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Source of every single benefit and happiness in this world,
To the incomparably kind Tenzin Gyatso, I beseech:
May all your holy wishes be spontaneously fulfilled.

– Prayer of the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is having a birthday, and we invite you all to come celebrate with us! As the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness has devoted his life to bringing happiness to all living beings everywhere

On the event of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso’s 91st birthday, Venerable Robina Courtin and Shantideva Center invite you to a screening of the film, Kundun. In this 1997 Oscar-nominated film directed by Martin Scorsese, Kundun chronicles His Holiness’s early childhood, his enthronement, the Chinese invasion and his eventual journey into exile. Afterwards we will have a lively discussion and recite long life prayers. Refreshments will be served. Please gather at 2pm and the film will begin shortly after.

The very best gift we can give to our kind teachers is the offering of our own sincere spiritual practice. Please bring Your Own Bodhicitta!

Important Note

This is an in-person event.

Registration

Open donation: free, $5, $10, $21, $35, $50, $108

Your generosity makes it possible for us to share the Dharma and continue working together for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Shantideva Center may publish recorded sessions in the public domain (e.g., on YouTube). By registering for this event, you are agreeing to give your consent to this process. Please be conscious of any personal information you share. Recordings are typically made to spotlight only on the teacher or facilitator so participants are usually not visible.

Time zone: US Eastern Daylight Time (GMT/UTC-4)

For questions regarding registration, please email registration@shantidevanyc.org for assistance.

Additional Materials

  1. The Heart Sutra (via FPMT store)
  2. HH Dalai Lama Birthday Celebration Prayers
  3. Shantideva Center Dedication Prayers Desktop Friendly Version (PDF) , Mobile Friendly Version (PDF)
    • Dedication Prayers
    • Long Life Prayer for H.H. Dalai Lama
    • Swift Return Prayer for Lama Zopa Rinpoche (FPMT v.3), by H.H. Dalai Lama

Recordings

NOTE: For the 2026 celebration, there will be no recordings.

The video selection icon has been removed by YouTube. For ongoing events, the most recent recording available is usually shown. Alternatively, you can access the full playlist of recordings featuring Ven. Robina Courtin (2025) and Ven. Amy Miller (2023 and 2022) via this link.

Dana for the Teacher

Shantideva Center makes offerings to our teachers and facilitators using the funds collected through registration. You can give additional support to the teacher or facilitator and create a stronger karmic connection by offering dana. Please make sure to select the teacher’s or facilitator’s name in the dropdown menu. Dana offered is passed entirely to them, but please note that it is not tax-deductible.

About the Teacher

Venerable Robina Courtin has worked full-time for Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s organization, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, since her ordination in the late 1970s. Over the years she has served as editorial director of Wisdom Publications, editor of Mandala Magazine, executive director of Liberation Prison Project, and as a touring teacher of Buddhism. Her life and work with prisoners have been featured in the documentary films Chasing Buddha and Key to Freedom. Venerable Robina is known for her straightforward and energetic teaching style, helping people discover the potential of their own minds with clear explanations about Tibetan Buddhism and how to apply it to their lives.

Visit her website at https://www.robinacourtin.com.