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His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. He was born Lhamo Dhondrub on July 6, 1935, in a small village called Taktser in northeastern Tibet. Born to a peasant family, His Holiness was recognized at the age of 2, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama, and thus an incarnation of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.
A Bodhisattva is one who is on a path to enlightenment or Buddhahood, a path which can stretch out over millions of lifetimes. Buddhahood is a full awakening to the true nature of the self and reality, a state of perfection beyond suffering and death.
The Dalai Lamas are the manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, who chose to reincarnate in order to serve humanity. Lhamo Dhondrub was, as Dalai Lama, renamed Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso - Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Eloquent, Compassionate, Learned Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom. Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as "Yeshe Norbu", the Wishfulfilling Gem, or simply "Kundun", the Presence.
Education in Tibet
He began his education at the age of 6, completed the Geshe Lharampa Degree Doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy when he was 25. At the age 24, he took the preliminary examination at each of the three monastic universities: Drepung, Sera, and Ganden. The final examination was conducted in the Jokhang, Lhasa, during the annual Festival of Prayer, held in the first month of every year. In the morning 30 scholars examined him on logic. In the afternoon, he debated with 15 scholars on the subject of the Middle Path, and the evening 35 scholars tested his knowledge of the canon of monastic discipline and the study of metaphysics. The examination was conducted before 20,000 monk scholars and His Holiness passed with honours.
In addition to Buddhist subjects, His Holiness studied English, science geography and mathematics.
Leadership Responsibilities
In 1950, at age 15, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was called upon to assume full political power as the head of the State and Government when Tibet was threatened by the might of China. In 1954, he went to Peking for peace talks 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 attended a series of meetings with Prime Minister Nehru and Premier Chou about the deteriorating situation in Tibet.
His efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to Sino-Tibetan conflict were thwarted by Peking's ruthless policy in Eastern Tibet. The Chinese repression ignited a popular uprising and resistance, which spread to other parts of the country. On March 10, 1959, Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, exploded with the largest popular demonstration during which China was called upon to leave Tibet and reaffirm Tibet's independence.
Subsequently, escaping at night and in disguise, His Holiness the Dalai Lama crossed into India, where he was given political asylum. At the same time some 87,000 Tibetan refugees managed to follow him into exile. Today there are more than 100,000 Tibetan refugees in exile. Since 1960, he has resided in Dharmsala, India aptly known as "Little Lhasa," the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile.
With the newly constituted Tibetan Government-in-exile, His Holiness saw that his immediate and urgent task was to save the Tibetan exiles and their culture alike. He founded 53 large-scale agricultural settlements for the refugees to live on. As cultural development, he oversaw the creation of an autonomous Tibetan school system to raise refugee children with full knowledge of their language, history and religion. He inaugurated several cultural institutes to preserve 2,000 years of Tibet's higher arts and sciences and helped re-establish more than 200 monasteries to keep alive the vast body of Buddhist teachings, the essence of the Tibetan spirit.
In 1963, His Holiness the Dalai Lama promulgated a democratic constitution, based on Buddhist principles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as a model for a future free Tibet. Since then, His Holiness has been the most vigorous advocate for the refugees' own democratic experiment while consistently reaffirming his desire not to hold political office once Tibet's liberty is regained. In light of the holocaust suffered for more than 40 years of Chinese rule in Tibet - including the death of 1.2 million Tibetans and the destruction of 6,254 monasteries, the Dalai Lama's efforts to conserve and modernize Tibetan culture have placed him, in the view of all Tibetans, among the greatest and most beloved leaders in their nation's history.
His Holiness continues to present new initiatives to resolve the Tibetan issue. At the Congressional Human Rights Caucus in 1987, he proposed a Five-Point Plan as a first step toward resolving the future status of Tibet. This plan calls for the designation of Tibet as a zone of peace, an end to the massive transfer of ethnic Chinese into Tibet, restoration of fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms, and the abandonment of China's use of Tibet for nuclear weapon production and the dumping of nuclear waste, as well as urging "earnest negotiations" on the future of Tibet and relations between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples.
Contact with West and East
Beginning in 1967, His Holiness the Dalai Lama initiated a series of journeys which, to date, have taken him to some 41 nations. In meetings with political, religious, cultural and business leaders, as well as before large audiences in universities, churches, and town halls, he has spoken of his belief in the oneness of the human family and the need for each individual to develop a sense of universal responsibility - love, compassion, and kindness. His Holiness has said:
"We are living today in a very interdependent world. One nation's problems can no longer be solved by itself. Without a sense of universal responsibility, our very survival is in danger. Basically, universal responsibility is feeling for other people's suffering just as we feel for our own. I have, therefore, always believed in the need for better understanding, closer cooperation and greater respect among the various nations of the world. Besides, I feel that love and compassion are the moral fabric of world peace."
His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with the late Pope Paul VI at the Vatican in 1 973, and with His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1 980, 1 982, 1 986, and 1 988. In 1 981 and again in May 1 993, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and with other leaders of the Anglican Church in London. He also met with leaders of the Roman Catholic and Jewish communities and spoke at an interfaith service held in his honour by the World Congress of Faiths. His talk focused on the commonality of faith and the need for unity among different religions.
"I always believe that it is much better to have a variety of religions, a variety of philosophies, rather than one single religion or philosophy. This is necessary because of the different mental disposition of each human being. Each religion has certain unique ideas or techniques, and learning about them can only enrich one's own faith."
His Holiness has met with several world leaders including U.S. Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, and British Prime Minister John Major.
Recognition and Awards
Since his first visit to the west in the early 1970's, His Holiness' reputation as a scholar and man of peace has grown steadily. In recent years, a number of western universities and institutions have conferred peace awards and honorary doctorate degrees upon His Holiness in recognition of his distinguished writings in Buddhist philosophy and of his distinguished leadership in the service of freedom and peace.
In recognition for the Dalai Lama's work for individual and world peace, he has received numerous awards, such as the Ramon Magsyasay, Manila, the Philippines; Peace Medal, Asian Buddhist Council for Peace, Ulan Bator, Mongolia; the Lincoln Award, Research Institute of America; the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award, the Human Behavioral Foundation, New York; the Bi-Annual Award of the Foundation for Freedom and Human Rights, Bern, Switzerland; the Dr. Leopold Lucas Prize, the University of Tubingen, Germany, Raoul Wallenberg Congressional Human Rights Award, New York; Humanitarian Award, World Management Congress, New York, and Human Rights Award, Paris, France.
In presenting the Raoul Wallenberg Congressional Human Rights Award, Congressman Tom Lantos, (D-CA), said:
"His Holiness the Dalai Lama's courageous struggle has distinguished him as a leading proponent of human rights and world peace. His ongoing efforts to end the suffering of the Tibetan people through peaceful negotiations and reconciliation have required enormous courage and sacrifice."
The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize
The Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision to award the 1989 Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama won worldwide praise and applause. In its citation:
"…..the Committee wants to emphasize the fact that the Dalai Lama in his struggle for the liberation of Tibet consistently has opposed the use of violence. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people. The Dalai Lama has developed his philosophy of peace from a great reverence for all things living and upon the concept of universal responsibility embracing all mankind as well as nature. In the opinion of the Committee the Dalai Lama has come forward with constructive and forward-looking proposals for the solution of international conflicts, human rights issues and global environmental problems."
Accepting the prize on behalf of the oppressed everywhere, all those who struggle for freedom and work for world peace, and the people of Tibet, His Holiness said on December 19, 1989 in Oslo, Norway, "The prize reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage, and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be liberated. Our struggle must remain nonviolent and free of hatred."
He also had a message of encouragement for the student-led democracy movement in China.
"In China the popular movement for democracy was crushed by brutal force in June this year. But I do not believe the demonstrations were in vain, because the spirit of freedom was rekindled among the Chinese people and China cannot escape the impact of this spirit of freedom sweeping in many parts of the world. The brave students and their supporters showed the Chinese leadership and the world the human face of that great nation."
Conclusion
His Holiness often says, "I am just a simple Buddhist monk - no more, nor less." He follows the life a Buddhist monk. Living in a small cottage in Dharmsala, he rises at 4 am to meditate, and he pursues an ongoing schedule of administrative meetings, private audiences, and religious teachings and ceremonies. He concludes each day with further prayer before retiring. In explaining his greatest sources of inspiration, he often cites a favorite verse, found in the writing of the renowned eighth century Buddhist saint Shantideva:
For as long as space endures
And for a long as living beings remain,
Until then may I too abide
To dispel the misery of the world.
His Holiness The xiv Dalai Lama. |
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