The Dalai Lama
The XIVth Dalai Lama is not only the spiritual and secular leader of Tibetans, but also
a charismatic ambassador of peace. Due to his passionate commitment to human values such
as compassion, non-violence, and tolerance, he enjoys great empathy across all religions,
political parties, and social groups.
In 1937, at the age of two, Tenzin Gyatso was recognized and acknowledged as a reincarnation of the XIIIth Dalai Lama. He wass taken from his parents' home to the Potala, the traditional seat of the Dalai Lamas, where he was educated as a monk and given comprehensive instructions on Buddhist philosophy and meditation by the best teachers of Tibet.
At the age of fifteen, he was appointed as the spiritual and secular leader of Tibet. Shortly thereafter, Chinese troops invade Tibet. In 1959, the Dalai Lama fled to India, and about one hundred thousand Tibetans followed him there. In Dharamsala, H.P. India, he creates a government in exile and tried in many ways to improve the freedom of people in his home country of Tibet.
According to his own statements, H.H. the Dalai Lama pursues three aims in life: He wishes to foster human values such as compassion and tolerance, in particular among people who do not profess any religion. He is committed to a harmonious relationship among world religions. As Tibetan leader he contends for a non-violent solution of the problem of Tibet.
Among his efforts is the democratization of Tibetan society in exile. At the initiative of H.H. the Dalai Lama democratic institutions were created gradually, for instance the Parliament in exile and a cabinet among other things. In July 2001, H.H. the Dalai Lama saw to it that his own powers were reduced: at his own prompting, Tibetan exiles elected their first prime minister in the person of Professor Samdhong Rinpoche.
In the West, H.H. the Dalai Lama became famous in 1989 when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve a non-violent solution of the Tibetan problem. Since 1967, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been travelling in the Western world where he is being received by heads of state. He is invited regularly to the West to explain Buddhist theory to thousands of people.
In 1937, at the age of two, Tenzin Gyatso was recognized and acknowledged as a reincarnation of the XIIIth Dalai Lama. He wass taken from his parents' home to the Potala, the traditional seat of the Dalai Lamas, where he was educated as a monk and given comprehensive instructions on Buddhist philosophy and meditation by the best teachers of Tibet.
At the age of fifteen, he was appointed as the spiritual and secular leader of Tibet. Shortly thereafter, Chinese troops invade Tibet. In 1959, the Dalai Lama fled to India, and about one hundred thousand Tibetans followed him there. In Dharamsala, H.P. India, he creates a government in exile and tried in many ways to improve the freedom of people in his home country of Tibet.
According to his own statements, H.H. the Dalai Lama pursues three aims in life: He wishes to foster human values such as compassion and tolerance, in particular among people who do not profess any religion. He is committed to a harmonious relationship among world religions. As Tibetan leader he contends for a non-violent solution of the problem of Tibet.
Among his efforts is the democratization of Tibetan society in exile. At the initiative of H.H. the Dalai Lama democratic institutions were created gradually, for instance the Parliament in exile and a cabinet among other things. In July 2001, H.H. the Dalai Lama saw to it that his own powers were reduced: at his own prompting, Tibetan exiles elected their first prime minister in the person of Professor Samdhong Rinpoche.
In the West, H.H. the Dalai Lama became famous in 1989 when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve a non-violent solution of the Tibetan problem. Since 1967, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been travelling in the Western world where he is being received by heads of state. He is invited regularly to the West to explain Buddhist theory to thousands of people.
-
Biography
The Dalai Lama, also called "Ocean of Wisdom" by Tibetans, is seen as an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of compassion, who is also the protective patron of Tibet.
The XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born on July 6th, 1935, in the Tibetan village of Takster, as the son of a peasant family. His name was Lhamo Dhondrub. As a two-year-old, he was recognized as the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama based on prophecies and taken to Lhasa.
On February 22th, 1940, the XIVth Dalai Lama was solemnly enthroned at the age of four-and-a-half* and was given the name of Tenzin Gyatso. His education as Dalai Lama began when he was six years old; it included dialectics, Tibetan art and culture, grammar and linguistics, medicine as well as Buddhist philosophy - the most important subject.
In 1950, Chinese troops invaded Tibet. One year later, when the Dalai Lama was 16 years old and the situation in Tibet was becoming more and more threatening, the Dalai Lama had to assume full political responsibility for the country. In 1954 he travelled to Beijing to negotiate a peace agreement with Mao Tse-dong and other Chinese leaders, among them Chou En-lai and Deng Xiaoping.
In 1956, on the occasion of the 2500-year celebrations of Buddha's Parinirvana, he made a trip to India. Many of the Dalai Lama's advisors recommended that he remain in India and not return to Tibet. But the Dalai Lama decided to return to Lhasa and to continue with his effort to achieve peaceful coexistence with the Chinese occupational power.
China's merciless policy in East Tibet thwarted his efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Tibet and China. The occupying forces bloodily quashed the Tibetan popular uprising on March 10, 1959. By 1960, about 90,000 Tibetans had lost their lives in this last revolt. Due to these developments, the Dalai Lama and tens of thousands of Tibetans were forced to flee to India across the Himalayas. Since then, Tibetans remember the victims on March 10th.
The Dalai Lama has been residing in Dharamsala, Northern India, since 1960, where the Tibetan Government in Exile has its current seat. During the first years in exile, he appealed to the UN to find a solution to the Tibetan issue. The UN adopted resolutions in the years 1959, 1961, and 1965, in which China was asked to respect the Human Rights of Tibetans and their right of self-determination.
In the internal political realm, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile are committed to saving the Tibetan People and its culture. They take care of refugees, the economic development is promoted, and a Tibetan school and university system has been created. More than 200 monasteries have been able to re-establish themselves in exile.
In 1963, H.H. proclaimed a draft constitution for a future, free Tibet. Since then, the Dalai Lama has been the most fervent champion of the democratization of Tibetan society. In addition to his efforts on behalf of Tibetans in exile, he is untiring in his endeavour to reach a non-violent solution for the Tibetan problem.
In 1987, the Dalai Lama unveiled a Five-Point Peace Plan as a first step towards clarifying the future status of Tibet, and in June of the following year, he further explained this plan in Strasbourg. With this initiative, he called for genuine autonomy of Tibet within the People's Republic of China. Furthermore, he called on China to declare Tibet to be a zone of peace; to stop the massive resettlement of Chinese persons to Tibet; to restore human rights; and to prohibit the storage of nuclear weapons or nuclear waste in Tibet. The plan also calls for serious negotiations on the future of Tibet.
In 1989, the Tibetan leader was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to reach a non-violent solution for the problem of Tibet. The statement of the Nobel Committee says: "The Dalai Lama has developed his Peace philosophy on the basis of great awe before all sentient beings and the idea of universal responsibility which encompasses humanity as a whole as well as nature."
On his travels to a total of 52 countries and in the course of his meetings with other religious leaders and politicians, the Dalai Lama campaigns for a peaceful solution to the issue of Tibet and other worldwide conflicts, human rights, and ecological problems.
On his trips, the Dalai Lama is received officially by many heads of state. Leading personalities of politics, religion, science, and the economy seek him for a conversation. Time and again, he is invited to many countries to speak of his ideas on harmonious coexistence and a peaceful world in public talks before thousands of persons.
-
The Dalai Lama's three commitments
H.H. the XIVth Dalai Lama introduces himself as a "simple Buddhist monk". In his talks and visits, all around the globe, he teaches fundamental values such as compassion, tolerance, and forgiveness. H.H. the Dalai Lama mentions three essential purposes of life to which he feels committed:
1. Fostering of human values
His first aim as a human being is to serve humanity and the world. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate is convinced that basic human values such as compassion and patience are the genuine source of happiness. These attributes do not necessarily arise from religious faith. Each and every human being carries within himself the potential of compassion and non-violence. It is one of the Dalai Lama's core objectives to promote these inner values of compassion, tolerance, loving-kindness, and peace.
2. Promoting religious harmony
As a Buddhist monk and religious practitioner, the Dalai Lama has the aim of promoting the harmony between different religious traditions. All world religions have the same ethic values such as compassion, loving-kindness, tolerance as their basis. Since human beings are of various dispositions, it is important and necessary to have different religions in our world. The prerequisites for a harmonious relationship between the different traditions are mutual understanding, respect, and esteem (deference).
3. Well-being of the Tibetan people
As the leader of the Tibetan people, H.H. the Dalai Lama cares very much indeed for the fate of Tibet. He therefore works untiringly towards a non-violent solution of the issue of Tibet. On his travels, in discussions with politicians and media representatives, the Dalai Lama insists on the need for Tibetans to be granted the right of genuine self-determination.
For additional information visit: www.dalailama.com