Calling himself a “simple Buddhist monk” who usually didn’t celebrate birthdays, the Dalai Lama marked his 90th on Sunday by praying for peace

“I still hope to live for over 130 years,” the Dalai Lama told followers around the world and those gathered in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala, where he has lived since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

The Dalai Lama has turned 90, with thousands of devotees attending prayers in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh for his long life. The spiritual leader expressed hope to live for another 30 to 40 years, serving people until he is 130.