14th Dalai Lama: Difference between revisions
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== Early years == |
== Early years == |
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HH the Dalai Lama was born to a farming family as '''Lhamo Dhondrub''' on [[ |
HH the Dalai Lama was born to a farming family as '''Lhamo Dhondrub''' on [[July 6]], [[1935]], in the village of Taktser in the northeastern region of [[Tibet]]. |
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At the age of two the child was recognized as the incarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. Lhamo Dhondrub was, contemporaneously with being elevated to the status of Dalai Lama, renamed '''Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso''' ("Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom"). Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as ''Yeshe Norbu'', the "Wishfulfilling Gem" or just ''Kundun'' - "The Presence." |
At the age of two the child was recognized as the incarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. Lhamo Dhondrub was, contemporaneously with being elevated to the status of Dalai Lama, renamed '''Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso''' ("Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom"). Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as ''Yeshe Norbu'', the "Wishfulfilling Gem" or just ''Kundun'' - "The Presence." |
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Revision as of 23:10, 16 May 2004
His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso is the current Dalai Lama, and the fourteenth to serve in such a role.
Early years
HH the Dalai Lama was born to a farming family as Lhamo Dhondrub on July 6, 1935, in the village of Taktser in the northeastern region of Tibet. At the age of two the child was recognized as the incarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. Lhamo Dhondrub was, contemporaneously with being elevated to the status of Dalai Lama, renamed Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso ("Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom"). Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as Yeshe Norbu, the "Wishfulfilling Gem" or just Kundun - "The Presence."
His Holiness began his monastic education at the age of six. At 23 he sat for his final examination in the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, during the annual Monlam (prayer) Festival in 1959. He passed with honours and was awarded the Lharampa degree, the highest level geshe degree (a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy).
Political career
The Dalai Lama was only able to govern Tibet for a brief time. As well as being the spiritual leader of the Tibet Buddhists, the Dalai Lama is also Tibet's Head of State and sole political ruler. However, the spiritual nature of the Tibetan regime caused friction with the emerging Communist-atheist movement in the Chinese mainland.
His political leadership amongst the Tibetans became important especially after the People's Republic of China invaded Tibet in 1950. In 1954 he travelled to Beijing to negotiate with Chinese leaders Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Deng Xiaoping; the talk was not fruitful. After a failed American-assisted uprising of the Tibetans against People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, in India on March 17 of that year (he entered India on March 31).
In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; the chairman of the committee said that this was "in part a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi."
On May 14, 1995 the Dalai Lama proclaimed 6-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the eleventh reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, but the PRC named another child, Gyancain Norbu.
International influence
The Dalai Lama has been important in gaining Western sympathy for Tibetan self-determination. At various times, he has been denounced by the Chinese government as a supporter of Tibetan independence. However, he has stated that he is not necessarily for independence and would not object to a status in which Tibet has internal autonomy while the PRC manages defense and foreign affairs. There have been intermittent and quiet negotiations between the Dalai Lama and the government of the People's Republic of China, but these have generally proven fruitless.
The Dalai Lama has generally wished to discuss the issue of the status of Tibet, while the Chinese government has insisted that negotiations be limited on the conditions of the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet.
Among supporters of the Dalai Lama are a number of Hollywood actors, most notably Richard Gere, Steven Seagal, and the Beastie Boys.
George W. Bush in the White House.
larger size
He speaks English as a second language, which is of great use in gaining international support.
In September, 2003, an interviewer from the New York Times asked about his views on the U.S. led war on Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, and on terrorism. The Dalai Lama responded "I feel only history will tell. Terrorism is the worst kind of violence, so we have to check it, we have to take countermeasures." [1]
In a recent interview with Reader's Digest, he said he owns an air rifle, which he uses to scare away hawks when they bother his birds.
Writings of the Dalai Lama
- The Art of Happiness, coauthored with Howard C. Cutler, M.D.
- Ethics for the New Millennium
- A Simple Path
- How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life. Translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, Ph.D.
- Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama
- An Open Heart, edited by Nicholas Vreeland.
Other writings need to be added
Films about the Dalai Lama
Among the films that have been recently made about the 14th Dalai Lama are Kundun and Seven Years in Tibet.
| Preceded by: Thubten Gyatso |
Dalai Lama | Current Incumbent |
References
- Anti-Defamation League Commends Dalai Lama for Condemning Terrorism