We all know of the Dalai Lama, but do we really know what he stands for, what he does in any given day, or what his is doing currently? Many people believe that he is similar to the Pope, but acts as a symbol for all of Buddhism. Buddhism is very different from Catholicism, not one person is a living symbol of the religion. There are several schools of Buddhism and Tibet has one of the many. Japan, Thailand, and other Asian countries have other schools of Buddhism that have their own chief or leader and each school is different from the other. They name their leaders differently in accordance with their language and their school. Within Tibetan Buddhism there are four major schools as well and the Dalai Lama is head of only one of them.

So you might ask why is the Dalai Lama so famous and why has he become the symbol of Buddhism worldwide?  The Dalai Lama is also Tibet’s political leader.  Tibet has been in the media for the last 40 years due to China’s occupation of Tibet and the Dalai Lama’s exile.  Since the occupation, the Dalai Lama has traveled around the world meeting with leaders of over sixty nations on his mission of peace, nonviolence, and human rights.  For this, he is well-known around the world and has become the worldwide symbol of Buddhism. 

The name Dalai Lama was given to the third Lama in the 16th Century by a Mongol king.  Since then, this title has been used worldwide to refer to the grand Lama.  Dalai is a Mongolian word for ocean or, by extension, oceanic or infinitely vast.  The title Dalai Lama means teacher whose wisdom is as vast as the ocean.  The current Lama is the 14th Dalai Lama, also known as Jetsuu Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso – Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom.  Tibetans refer to his as Yeshe Norbu, the Wishfulfilling Gem or simply Kundun – the Presence. 

Born as Lhamo Dhondup on July 6, 1935, he was recognized as the reincarnated 13th Dalai Lama at age two and was renamed Tenzin Gyatso.  Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet.  Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.  Tibetans believe that the timeless Buddha’s emanation in this world alleviates the suffering and confusion of all beings and takes the form of the incarnations of the Lamas. 

Tenzin Gyatso began his education at the age of six and completed his Doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy when he was 25 in 1959.  In that time, he was enthroned and was called upon to assume full political power after China’s invasion of Tibet in 1949.  In 1954 he went to Beijing for peace talks with Mao Tse-Tung and other Chinese leaders to try to find a peaceful resolution to the occupation but to his disdain, nothing was offered.  On March 10, 1959 in the capital of Tibet, Lhasa, the largest demonstration in Tibetan history exploded and was brutally crushed by the Chinese army.  The 14th Dalai Lama soon later escaped to India where he was given political asylum along with some 80,000 Tibetan refugees.  Today, there are more than 120,000 Tibetans in exile.  Since 1960, he has resided in Dharamsala, India, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile where he has continued his fight to free Tibet by talking and meeting with leaders and groups from all parts of the globe. 

In 1959, 1961, and 1965 the Dalai Lama appealed to the United Nations on the question of Tibet, resulting in three resolutions adopted by the General Assembly calling to China to respect the human rights of Tibetans and their desire for self-determination.  He believes his most immediate task is to help Tibetan exiles in saving their culture.  He has helped create a Tibetan educational system in India for Tibetan refugee children to raise their awareness and knowledge of their language, history, religion and culture.  The Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies was created as a university for Tibetans in India and over 200 monasteries have been re-established to preserve Tibetan Buddhist teachings and the essence of the Tibetan way of life.

In 1963, the Dalai Lama created a democratic constitution based on Buddhist principles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a model for a future free Tibet.  Today it is used for Tibetans in exile.  He has created a democratic administration in exile for the Tibetan community.  Tibetans can now elect political leadership due to his determination of creating a democratized “country” outside of Tibet so that when Tibet does become free, the country will be stabilized with an already established government, consisting of a parliament and a cabinet, and a constitution.  His first visit to the west was in 1973.  Since then he has visited many universities and institutions to inform the world about the question of Tibet and in return has received many Peace Awards for his leadership in the solution of international conflicts, human right issues, and global environmental problems as well as honorary Doctorate Degree in recognition of his writings in Buddhist Philosophy. 

In 1987, the Dalai Lama proposed a five Point Peace Plan for Tibet to China to again try to free Tibet from China’s dominance, but China has so far failed to respond positively to any of his peace proposals.  China is not just physically occupying Tibet, they are teaching Tibetan children Chinese and Chinese culture in hopes that Tibet will no longer exist.  They are treating Tibetans as second-class citizens and disrespecting their human rights and democratic freedoms as well as using Tibet to produce their nuclear weapons and as a waste site for dumping nuclear waste. 

In 1989, the Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize for his struggle for the liberation of Tibet, his consistent opposition to the use of violence, and his fight to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of Tibet.  Today, he continues to live the life of a Buddhist monk.  He lives in a small cottage in Dharamsala, India, rises at 4 A.M to meditate, pursues an ongoing schedule of administrative meetings, private audiences and religious teachings and ceremonies.  He concludes each day with more prayer before going to sleep.  This year, he has visited and spoke in Japan, the U.S and the Czech Republic extensively on peace, Buddhism, and his efforts for a free Tibet.  Also, his focus has been on the improvement of education for Tibet-in-exile and keeping up with modern technology and modern knowledge.  He has repeatedly stated that if and when Tibetans regain their country’s autonomy, he would return to Tibet, help install the democratic system, hold a general democratic election for the political leadership of his country and retire to pursue his spiritual practice.