Richard Gere’s Yoga Session with PM Modi Raises China’s Attention

Photographs depicting Hollywood star Richard Gere engaged in yoga alongside India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 21 at the United Nations headquarters in New York have become an internet sensation, suggesting a subtle message regarding Tibet to China, as reported by news9live.com on June 22. The momentous Yoga Day event broke a Guinness World Record for the highest participation of nationalities in a yoga session.

While the distinguished program, led by Modi to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga, was graced by several eminent personalities, Gere’s proximity to PM Modi assumes profound significance as a discreet communication to Beijing, as emphasized in the report.

Gere is widely recognized for his unwavering support for the Tibetan cause and has frequently denounced China’s human rights violations, including during his memorable Oscar speech in 1993. He holds the position of Chairperson for the International Campaign for Tibet, co-founded the Tibet House culture center in New York City, and enjoys a longstanding friendship with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet.

His endeavors have earned him a ban in China, which obstructs any involvement in films or other projects, thereby severely impeding his Hollywood career.

“Richard Gere’s steadfast endorsement of the Dalai Lama and his stance against China conveys a powerful message to the Chinese authorities. Prime Minister Modi’s support for the Dalai Lama, who has been an esteemed guest in India since 1959, even if it fails to please China,” remarked Tibetologist, author, and historian Claude Arpi.

The timing of this visual spectacle, featuring Gere and Modi together, disseminated across the globe, carries added significance as it coincides with US President Joe Biden’s recent description of Chinese President Xi Jinping as a dictator, as stated in the report.

It is worth highlighting that Modi also held a meeting with Professor Robert Thurman, an American Buddhist scholar and recipient of India’s prestigious Padma Shri award, on June 21. Thurman, the first Westerner to embrace Tibetan Buddhism as a monk, received ordination from the Dalai Lama in 1965 and is a co-founder of Tibet House in New York.

In an official statement, Modi and Thurman “shared perspectives on how Buddhist values can serve as guiding principles in finding solutions to global challenges,” while also discussing India’s profound connection with Buddhism and its ongoing efforts to preserve Buddhist heritage, as indicated in the report.

Arpi expresses hope that “this will ultimately lead to the Indian government endorsing the Dalai Lama’s succession as his personal choice and extending a warm welcome for the 15th Dalai Lama to return to India, where he will receive the same support and amenities as the present Dalai Lama.”

This expectation stems from the fact that although China is an atheistic communist nation, it has proclaimed its intention to assume control over the recognition and enthronement of the next Dalai Lama, despite the process inherently involving religious rituals such as prayers, divination, and seeking counsel from deities.

***