Inner World

{{use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

{{Distinguish|Innerworld|Inner Worlds}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Inner World

| type = studio

| artist = Dalai Lama

| cover = Dalai Lama - Inner World.png

| alt = The Dalai Lama seated in the lotus position with his eyes closed

| released = 6 July 2020

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre =

• Spoken word
• new-age
• easy listening

| length = 42:02

| label = Khandro Music

| producer = Junelle Kunin, Charles Goldstuck, Abraham Kunin

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Inner World

| type = studio

| single1 = Compassion

| single1date = 8 June 2020

| single2 = One of My Favorite Prayers

| single2date = 29 June 2020

}}

}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = Clash

| rev1score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Roseblade|first=Nick|date=6 July 2020|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/dalai-lama-inner-world|title=Dalai Lama - Inner World|work=Clash|accessdate=6 July 2020}}

| rev2 = The Independent

| rev2score = 2/5{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/dalai-lama-album-inner-world-review-prayer-verse-a9603766.html |title=Dalai Lama review – Inner World: Music you'd find in a luxury spa |last=Bray |first=Elisa |date=6 July 2020 |website=The Independent |access-date=14 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121025634/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/dalai-lama-album-inner-world-review-prayer-verse-a9603766.html |archive-date=21 January 2024}}

| noprose = yes

}}

Inner World is the debut studio album by the 14th Dalai Lama, released under the name Dalai Lama. It was released on the Dalai Lama's 85th birthday, 6 July 2020.{{cite web|last=Sperry|first=Rod Meade|date=10 June 2020|url=https://www.lionsroar.com/listen-to-compassion-from-the-dalai-lamas-new-album-inner-world/|title=Listen to "Compassion," from the Dalai Lama's new album, Inner World|work=Lion's Roar|accessdate=5 July 2020}} It is the first time The Dalai Lama has released an album.{{efn|The box set Living Wisdom, published in 2006, included background music and traditional chanting by the 14th Dalai Lama among companion media to a hardcover book.{{Cite AV media |people=Dalai Lama (author), Don Farber (photographer) |date=September 2006 |title=Living Wisdom With His Holiness the Dalai Lama |type=multimedia |language=en |publisher=Sounds True |isbn=978-1-59179-457-8 |OL=8857253M}}}}

The album was inspired by New Zealand musician and Buddhist Junelle Kunin, who in 2015 proposed an album fusing music with mantras and chants.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/06/entertainment/dalai-lama-birthday-album-intl-scli/index.html |title=Dalai Lama marks his 85th birthday with his first ever album release |last=Owoseje |first=Toyin |date=8 July 2020 |website=CNN International |access-date=14 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926071026/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/06/entertainment/dalai-lama-birthday-album-intl-scli/index.html |archive-date=26 September 2023}}{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-ap-top-news-dalai-lama-religion-5007f166c176b0017bfa42b0a398c830 |title=AP Exclusive: The Dalai Lama to release 1st album in July |last=Fekadu |first=Mesfin |date=9 June 2020 |location=New York |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=14 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124225454/https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-ap-top-news-dalai-lama-religion-5007f166c176b0017bfa42b0a398c830 |archive-date=24 January 2024}} Kunin was turned down when she wrote to The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama about her idea, but on a trip to India she handed a letter to an assistant of the Dalai Lama. Her idea was met more positively in person, as Kunin described the Dalai Lama agreeing that "music can help people in a way that he can't". She and her husband, Abraham Kunin, both contributed to the album over the next five years. She later said "The entire purpose of this project is to try to help people. It's not a Buddhist project, it's to help everyday people like myself, even though I am Buddhist. The messages couldn't be more poignant for our current social climate and needs as humanity.".

The album debuted on multiple Billboard Album Charts: #1 Billboard New Age Chart,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/dalai-lama-makes-billboard-chart-debut-with-inner-world-album/ |title=Dalai Lama Makes Billboard Chart Debut With 'Inner World' Album |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=13 July 2020 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=14 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604044802/https://www.billboard.com/pro/dalai-lama-makes-billboard-chart-debut-with-inner-world-album/ |archive-date=4 June 2023}} #4 Top New Artist Album, #8 Billboard World Music, #13 Record Label Independent Album, #14 Current Digital Album, #17 Digital Album, #43 Top New Artist - Consumption, #55 Top Current Album, #98 Billboard Top Album, #125 Top Albums w/TEA