The Dalai Lama says he hopes to live until he is over 130 years old, a remark he made during a ceremony organized by his followers to offer prayers for his long life as he prepares to celebrate his 90

His followers see him as the face of Tibet’s aspirations for greater autonomy, but have for years wrestled with the idea that he might be the last person to hold the role. He put that speculation to rest Wednesday,

Days after declaring that he intends to reincarnate after his death, the Dalai Lama said he hopes to live beyond the age of 130, as thousands of followers gathered in India’s Dharamshala to offer prayers ahead of his 90th birthday.