His
Holiness the Dalai Lama says,
"I am just a simple Buddhist monk - no more, nor less."
His Holiness the 14th the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of the
state of Tibet and the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. He was born
Lhamo Dhondrub on 6 July 1935, in a small village called Taktser in
northeastern Tibet. Born to a peasant family, His Holiness was recognized at
the age of two, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation
of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama, and thus an incarnation
Avalokitesvara, the Buddha of Compassion.
The Dalai Lamas are the manifestations of the Bodhisattva (Buddha) of
Compassion, who chose to reincarnate to serve the people. Lhamo Dhondrub
was, as 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 simply Kundun - The Presence.
The enthronement ceremony of the Dalai Lama took place on February 22, 1940
in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
Education of the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama began his education at the age of six and completed the Geshe
Lharampa Degree (Doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy) when he was 25 in 1959.
At 24, he took the preliminary examinations at each of the three monastic
universities: Drepung, Sera and Ganden. The final examination was conducted
in the Jokhang, Lhasa during the annual Monlam Festival of Prayer, held in
the first month of every year Tibetan calendar.
Leadership Responsibilities
On November 17, 1950, His Holiness was called upon to assume full political
power (head of the State and Government) after some 80,000 Peoples
Liberation Army soldiers invaded Tibet.
His
Holiness Resides in Exile
In 1954, he went to Beijing to talk peace with Mao Tse-tung and other
Chinese leaders, including Chou En-lai and Deng Xiaoping. In 1956, while
visiting India to attend the 2500th Buddha Jayanti Anniversary, he had a
series of meetings with Prime Minister Nehru and Premier Chou about
deteriorating conditions in Tibet.
His efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to Sino-Tibetan conflict
were thwarted by Bejing's ruthless policy in Eastern Tibet, which ignited a
popular uprising and resistance. This resistance movement spread to other
parts of the country. On 10 March 1959 the capital of Tibet, Lhasa, exploded
with the largest demonstration in Tibetan history, calling on China to leave
Tibet and reaffirming Tibet's independence. The Tibetan National Uprising
was brutally crushed by the Chinese army. His Holiness escaped to India
where he was given political asylum. Some 80,000 Tibetan refugees followed
His Holiness into exile. Today, there are more than 120,000 Tibetan in
exile. Since 1960, he has resided in Dharamsala, India, known as "Little
Lhasa," the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile.
A Abode of this Simple Buddhist Monk
His Holiness follows the life of Buddhist monk. Living in a small cottage
in Dharamsala, he rises at 4 A.M. to meditate, pursues an ongoing schedule
of administrative meetings, private audiences and religious teachings and
ceremonies.
