Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th and current Dalai Lama, is a renowned spiritual and political leader of Tibet. As the head monk of the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, he is believed to be a reincarnated soul in the line of tulkus, dedicated to promoting humanity and compassion. From a young age, he has been committed to advocating for the Tibetan people and striving for an independent and democratic state. His tireless efforts for peace and non-violence have earned him the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Lhamo Thondup, Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, Tenzin Gyatso
- Age: 88 Years, 88 Year Old Males
- Family: father: Choekyong Tsering, mother: Diki Tsering, siblings: Jetsun Pema, Thubten Jigme Norbu, Tsering Dolma
- Quotes By Dalai Lama
- Political Leaders
- Height: 5’7″ (170 cm), 5’7″ Males
- Ancestry: Tibetan Indian
- Awards: Ramon Magsaysay Award, Christmas Humphreys Award, Nobel Peace Prize, Congressional Gold Medal, Templeton Prize
Childhood & Early Life
Lhamo Donrub, later known as the 14th Dalai Lama, was born into a farming family in a small hamlet in Takster, Amdo, northeastern Tibet. He was the fifth of sixteen children and one of seven to survive childhood. Legends suggest that there were numerous omens and spiritual signs that indicated Lhamo as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The preserved body of the 13th Dalai Lama mysteriously turned in a different direction, indicating where his successor would be found. The Regent, Reting Rinpoche, also had a vision that pointed to Amdo as the region where the successor would be found. At the age of two, Lhamo was proclaimed as the 14th Dalai Lama and renamed Tenzin Gyatso.
Education and Early Political Involvement
Gyatso began his monastic education at the age of six, with Yongdzin Trijang Rinpoche as his junior teacher and Yongdzin Ling Rinpoche as his senior teacher. At the age of 23, he took his final examination and was awarded the highest-level degree in Buddhist philosophy, the Geshe Lharampa degree. Meanwhile, relations between China and Tibet had worsened, and Gyatso became involved in political matters. He sent a delegation to Beijing in 1950 to endorse the Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet. He also met with Chinese leaders, including Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, to initiate peace talks. In 1959, following the Tibetan uprising and Chinese suppression, Gyatso was forced to escape into exile in India.
Exile and Preservation of Tibetan Culture
In exile, Gyatso established a Government of Tibet in Exile in Dharamsala, India. He settled almost 80,000 Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala and focused on preserving Tibetan culture and education. He established a Tibetan educational system, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies. He also initiated the re-founding of monasteries and nunneries to uphold Tibetan Buddhist teachings. Gyatso made appeals in the United Nations for the rights of Tibetans and established a democratic constitution based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He also opened the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, which houses important resources on Tibetan history and culture.
International Relations and Social Causes
Gyatso has been actively involved in international relations and social causes. He has met with various world leaders, including Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, and has held extensive interfaith dialogues. He has advocated for peace, non-violence, and religious harmony. He has also expressed his views on abortion, economic equality, environmental conservation, women’s rights, and health. Gyatso has received numerous awards and honors for his efforts, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
Trivia
One of the Dalai Lamas is quoted as saying, “A dirty foot is a pure foot,” and Gyatso is said to wash his feet every six months in accordance with this belief.