At the ceremony where the Dalai Lama was introduced as the award recipient, he expressed his gratitude and humility, noting that he views this award not as a personal achievement, but as recognition of the importance of shared responsibility. "I sincerely believe that peace, compassion, care for the environment, and understanding of the unity of humanity are essential for the well-being of all people on the planet," he added. The Dalai Lama also thanked the "Grammys" for the opportunity to share his ideas with a wider audience.
The award was presented on behalf of the Dalai Lama by the famous singer and composer Rufus Wainwright, who also collaborated on the album with Maggie Rogers and Andra Day.
In response to this event, a representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed dissatisfaction, calling the Grammy award a tool for political manipulation. Lin Jian, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, characterized the Dalai Lama as a "political exile" engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion. He stated, "We firmly oppose this party using this award for anti-China political manipulation."
