Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Tenzin Gyatso
14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
Characteristic hands-raised anjali greeting
Reign	17 November 1950 – present
Coronation	17 November 1950
Full name	Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso
Tibetan	བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་
Wylie translit.	bstan ’dzin rgya mtsho
Pronunciation	tɛ̃tsĩ catsʰo (IPA)
Transcription (PRC)	Dainzin Gyaco
THDL	Tenzin Gyatso
Chinese	丹增嘉措
Pinyin Chinese	Dānzēng Jiācuò
Born	6 July 1935 (1935-07-06) (age 74)
Birthplace	Qinghai, China[1]
Predecessor	Thubten Gyatso
Royal House	Dalai Lama
Father	Choekyong Tsering
Mother	Diki Tsering

Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub (Tibetan: ལྷ་མོ་དོན་འགྲུབ་; Wylie: Lha-mo Don-'grub) 6 July 1935 in Qinghai),^[1] is the 14th Dalai Lama.^[2] He is the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamshala, India.^[3] Tibetans traditionally believe him to be the reincarnation of his predecessors.

The Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader revered among Tibetans. The most influential figure of the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, he has considerable influence over the other sects of Tibetan Buddhism. ^[4] The Chinese government, whose occupation of Tibet in 1959 forced him into exile, regards him as the symbol of an outmoded theocratic system.^[5]

Tenzin Gyatso was born fifth of 16 children to a farming family in the village of Taktser, Qinghai province, China.^[1] His first language was the regional Amdo dialect. ^[6][7]

He was proclaimed the tulku or rebirth of the thirteenth Dalai Lama at the age of two. At the age of fifteen, on 17 November 1950, one month after the Chinese army's invasion of Tibet, he was formally enthroned as Dalai Lama. He thus became the region's most important spiritual leader and political ruler.

In 1959 the Dalai Lama fled through the mountains to India following a failed uprising and the effective collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement. He had at first, in 1951, ratified under military pressure a Seventeen Point Agreement to coexist alongside China. In India he set up a Tibetan government-in-exile. Among the 80,000 or so exiles that followed him Tenzin Gyatso strives to preserve traditional Tibetan education and culture. ^[8]

A noted public speaker worldwide, Tenzin Gyatso is often described as charismatic. ^[6][9] He is the first Dalai Lama to travel to the West, where he seeks to spread Buddhist teachings and to promote ethics and interfaith harmony. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.^[6][10] He was given honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and was awarded the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.^[11]

Contents 1 Early life and background 2 Life as the Dalai Lama 2.1 Exile to India 2.2 Teaching activity 2.3 Foreign relations 2.4 Philanthropic efforts 3 Social and political stances 3.1 Tibetan independence movement 3.2 Social stances 3.2.1 Abortion 3.2.2 Economics 3.2.3 Environment 3.2.4 Firearms 3.2.5 Sexuality 4 Controversy 5 Western supporters 6 Possibility of retirement 7 Quotation 8 Bibliography 9 Awards and honors 9.1 Nobel Peace Prize 10 Filmography 11 Health and Appearance 12 See also 13 References 14 Further reading 15 External links

Early life and background

Tenzin Gyatso was born on July 6, 1935, to a farming family as Lhamo Döndrub or Lhamo Thondup in Taktser^[12] of the nine who survived childhood. The eldest child was his sister Tsering Dolma, who was eighteen years older than he. His eldest brother, Thupten Jigme Norbu, was recognised at the age of eight as the reincarnation of the high Lama, Taktser Rinpoche. His sister Jetsun Pema went on to depict their mother in the 1997 film Seven Years in Tibet.

When Tenzin Gyatso was about two years old a search party was sent out to find the new incarnation of the Dalai Lama.^[6] Among other omens, the head on the embalmed body of the thirteenth Dalai Lama (originally facing south-east) had mysteriously turned to face the northeast, indicating the direction in which the next Dalai Lama would be found. Shortly afterwards, the Regent Reting Rinpoche had a vision at the sacred lake of Lhamo La-tso indicating Amdo (as the place to search) and a one-story house with distinctive guttering and tiling. After extensive searching, they found that Thondup's house resembled that in Reting's vision. They presented Thondup with various relics and toys—some had belonged to the previous Dalai Lama while others had not. It was reported that Thondup correctly identified all items owned by the previous Dalai Lama, exclaiming "That's mine! That's mine!".^[13][14]

Thondup was recognised as the reincarnated Dalai Lama and renamed Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso ("Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom"). Tibetan Buddhists normally refer to him as Yishin Norbu ("Wish-Fulfilling Gem"), Kyabgon ("Savior"), or just Kundun ("Presence"). His followers often call him "His Holiness the Dalai Lama," which is the style that he uses himself on his website.

The Dalai Lama began his monastic education at the age of six, his main Teachers being Yongdzin Ling Rinpoche (Senior Tutor) and Yongdzin Trijang Rinpoche (Junior Tutor). At age eleven he met Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer, after spying him in Lhasa through his telescope. Harrer effectively became one of the young Dalai Lama's tutors, teaching him about the outside world. The two remained friends until Harrer's death in 2006. In 1959, at age 23 he sat for his final examination in Lhasa's Jokhang Temple during the annual Monlam (prayer) Festival. He passed with honors and was awarded the Lharampa degree, the highest-level geshe degree (roughly equivalent to a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy).^[6][15]

Life as the Dalai Lama

As well as being one of the most influential spiritual leaders of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama by tradition is also Tibet's absolute political ruler. In 1939 at the age of four he was taken by lamas in a procession to Lhasa.

"On 25 November 1939 a nine-member delegation, consisting of staff from the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, arrived in Lhasa, and were later joined by Wu Zhongxin, the Commission's director of Tibetan Affairs. The arrival in Lhasa was carefully planned to coincide with the enthronement ceremony for the fourteenth Dalai Lama. On 22 February 1940, Wa Zhongxin and other foreign representatives attended the ceremony in the Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas. Later the Kuomintang and the Communists claimed that Wu had 'presided' over the ceremony and that his involvement was essential to the recognition of the new Dalai Lama.

There is no evidence to suggest that Wu Zhongxin 'presided' over the installation of the Dalai Lama. However, the delegation managed to establish a permanent office in Lhasa, and installed a direct radio communication with Nanjing."^[16]

Tenzin Gyatso's childhood was spent between the Potala and Norbulingka, his summer residence.

"On 8 July 1949, the Kashag [Tibetan Parliament] called Chen Xizhang, the acting director of the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission office in Lhasa. He was informed that the Tibetan Government had decided to expel all Chinese connected with the Guomingdang Government. Fearing that the Chinese might organise protests in the streets of Lhasa, the Kashag imposed a curfew until all the Chinese had left. This they did on 14, 17 and 20 July 1949. At the same time the Tibetan Government sent a telegram to General Chiang Kai-shek and to President Liu Zongren informing them of the decision."^[17]

On 17 November 1950, at the age of fifteen, with the country facing possible conflict with the People's Republic of China, Tenzin Gyatso was enthroned as the temporal leader of Tibet. His governorship, however, was short. In October of that year the army of the People's Republic of China entered the territory controlled by the Tibetan administration, easily breaking through the Tibetan defenders.

The Dalai Lama sent a delegation to Beijing and, although under PLA military pressure, ratified^[18][19] the subsequent Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet and tried to work with Beijing. In September 1954, the Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Lama went to Beijing to attend the first session of the first National People's Congress, meeting Mao Zedong.^[20] The Dalai Lama was even elected to be the Vice Chairman of the Congress.^[21] However, during 1959, there was a major uprising among the Tibetan population. In the tense political environment that ensued, the Dalai Lama and his entourage began to suspect that China was planning to kill him. Consequently, he fled to Tawang, India, on 17 March of that year, entering India on 31 March during the Tibetan uprising.

Exile to India

The Dalai Lama met with the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, to urge India to pressure China into giving Tibet an autonomous government, as relations with China were not proving successful. Nehru did not want to increase tensions between China and India, so he encouraged the Dalai Lama to work on the Seventeen Point Agreement Tibet had with China. Eventually, after the failed uprising in 1959, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet and set up the Government of Tibet in Exile in Dharamsala, India, which is often referred to as "Little Lhasa".

After the founding of the exiled government he reestablished the approximately 80,000 Tibetan refugees who followed him into exile in agricultural settlements.^[6] He created a Tibetan educational system in order to teach the Tibetan children the traditional language, history, religion, and culture. The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts was established^[6] in 1959 and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies^[6] became the primary university for Tibetans in India. He supported the refounding of 200 monasteries and nunneries in an attempt to preserve Tibetan Buddhist teachings and the Tibetan way of life.

The Dalai Lama appealed to the United Nations on the question of Tibet. This appeal resulted in three resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in 1959, 1961, and 1965.^[6] These resolutions required China to respect the human rights of Tibetans and their desire for self-determination. In 1963, he promulgated a democratic constitution which is based upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A Tibetan parliament-in-exile is elected by the Tibetan refugees scattered all over the world, and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile is likewise elected by the Tibetan parliament. In 1970, he opened the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala which houses over 80,000 manuscripts and important knowledge resources related to Tibetan history, politics and culture. It is considered one of the most important institutions for Tibetology in the world. ^[22]

At the Congressional Human Rights Caucus in 1987 in Washington, D.C., he proposed a Five-Point Peace Plan regarding the future status of Tibet. The plan called for Tibet to become a "zone of peace" and for the end of movement by ethnic Han Chinese into Tibet. It also called for "respect for fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms" and "the end of China's use of Tibet for nuclear weapons production, testing, and disposal." Finally, it urged "earnest negotiations" on the future of Tibet.

He proposed a similar plan at Strasbourg on 15 June 1988. He expanded on the Five-Point Peace Plan and proposed the creation of a self-governing democratic Tibet, "in association with the People's Republic of China." This plan was rejected by the Tibetan Government-in-Exile in 1991. In October 1991, he expressed his wish to return to Tibet to try to make a mutual assessment on the situation with the Chinese local government. At this time he feared that a violent uprising would take place and wished to avoid it. The Dalai Lama has indicated that he wishes to return to Tibet only if the People's Republic of China sets no preconditions for his return, which they have so far refused to do.^[23][24]

Tenzin Gyatso celebrated his seventieth birthday on 6 July 2005. About 10,000 Tibetan refugees, monks and foreign tourists gathered outside his home. Patriarch Alexius II of the Russian Orthodox Church said, "I confess that the Russian Orthodox Church highly appreciates the good relations it has with the followers of Buddhism and hopes for their further development." Taiwan's President, Chen Shui-bian, attended an evening celebrating the Dalai Lama's birthday that was entitled "Traveling with Love and Wisdom for 70 Years" at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei. The President invited him to return to Taiwan for a third trip in 2005. His previous trips were in 2001, and 1997.^[25] In Tibet there is a popular song calling for his return to Tibet called Aku Pema.

Teaching activity

The Dalai Lama is a Dzogchen practitioner and he gives teachings on this issue, and has expounded many teachings in his numerous publications. He has also given many public initiations in the Kalachakra.

His teaching activities in the US include:

• In July 2008, the Dalai Lama had held a public lecture and conducted a series of teachings at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. ^[26]
• His visited the U.S. in April 2008, when he gave lectures on engaging wisdom and compassion, and sustainability, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y.^[27]
• In February 2007, the Dalai Lama was named Presidential Distinguished Professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, United States,^[28] the first time that the leader of the Tibetan exile community has accepted a university appointment. The appointment is in part an expansion of a program begun in 1998 called the Emory–Tibet Partnership. As Presidential Distinguished Professor, he will:^[28]
  • provide opportunities for university community members to attend his annual teachings,
  • make periodic visits to Emory to participate in programs, and
  • continue the Emory–Tibet Partnership practice of providing private teaching sessions with students and faculty during Emory's study-abroad program in Dharamsala.
• The Dalai Lama has strong ties with University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, and is a frequent visitor there. He visited the university in 1981 and again in 1989, the year in which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. In May 1998, he addressed a large audience at the Kohl Center and received an honorary degree from the university.
• In May 2001, he met with a group of neuroscientists who conduct research on the effects of meditation on brain function, emotions and physical health.

Foreign relations

Since 1967, the Dalai Lama has initiated a series of tours in 46 nations. He has frequently engaged on religious dialogue. He met with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican in 1973. He met with Pope John Paul II in 1980 and also later in 1982, 1986, 1988, 1990, and 2003.

In 1990, he met in Dharamsala with a delegation of Jewish teachers for an extensive interfaith dialogue.^[29] He has since visited Israel three times and met in 2006 with the Chief Rabbi of Israel. In 2006, he met privately with Pope Benedict XVI. He has also met the late Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Robert Runcie, and other leaders of the Anglican Church in London, Gordon B. Hinckley, late President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), as well as senior Eastern Orthodox Church, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, and Sikh officials.

During the runup to the Beijing Olympics of 2008, the Dalai Lama visited Japan on April 10, 2008 on his way to the United States, amid protests around the world over China's handling of the 2008 Tibetan unrest. The Dalai Lama, whom Beijing claimed fomented the unrest, called for calm, but the protests showed little sign of abating. The Dalai Lama said he did not support a boycott of the 2008 Summer Games outright.^[30] Japan's government had been relatively quiet about the violence in Tibet and, out of deference to Beijing, does not deal officially with the Dalai Lama. Tokyo does, however, grant visas to the spiritual leader, who has visited Japan fairly frequently.^[31]

Philanthropic efforts

The 14th Dalai Lama has been a longstanding supporter of SOS Children's Villages.^[32] He often visits the villages, and has maintained a friendship with the founder, Hermann Gmeiner, that has continued to Gmeiner's successor, Helmut Kutin. The Dalai Lama has said of SOS:

"The splendid work done by SOS Children's Villages is charity where deeds speak louder than words. The revolutionary idea and the general concept developed by Hermann Gmeiner for providing orphaned and abandoned children with a new family and a permanent home has had a great influence on child welfare world-wide, and SOS Children's Villages have become a model on every continent. Above all, SOS Children's Villages shows that it is possible to create a community of brothers and sisters comprising children of all races, creeds and nationalities. The ties that develop and hold these communities together and form the basis of their upbringing is love."

Social and political stances

Tibetan independence movement

The Dalai Lama accepted the 1951 Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet with the People's Republic of China. However, he moved to Kalimpong in India and, with the help of the Indian and American governments, organized pro-independence literature and the smuggling of weapons into Tibet. Armed struggles broke out in Amdo and Kham in 1956 and later spread to Central Tibet. The movement was a failure and was forced to retreat to Nepal or go underground. Following normalisation of relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China, American support was cut off in the early 1970s. The Dalai Lama then began to formulate his policy towards a peaceful solution in which a democratic autonomous Tibet would be established.

In October 1998, the Dalai Lama's administration acknowledged that it received US$1.7 million a year in the 1960s from the U.S. Government through the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and had also trained an army in Colorado (USA).^[33]

The Dalai Lama has on occasion been denounced by the Chinese government as a supporter of Tibetan independence. Over time, he has developed a public position stating that he is not in favour of Tibetan independence^[34] and would not object to a status in which Tibet has internal autonomy while the PRC manages some aspects of Tibet's defense and foreign affairs.^[35] In his 'Middle Way Approach', he laid down that the Chinese government can take care of foreign affairs and defense, and that Tibet should be managed by an elected body.^[36]

The Dalai Lama on March 16, 2008 called for an international probe of China's treatment of Tibet, which he said is causing "cultural genocide" of his people.^[37] He has stated that he will step down as leader of Tibet's government-in-exile if violence by protesters in the region worsens, the exiled spiritual leader said March 18, 2008 after China's premier Wen Jiabao blamed his supporters for the growing unrest.^[38] On March 20, 2008, he claimed he was powerless to stop anti-Chinese violence.^[39] The Dalai Lama March 28, 2008 rejected a series of allegations from the Chinese government, saying he does not seek the separation of Tibet and has no desire to "sabotage" the 2008 Summer Olympics.^[40]

Critics of the news and entertainment media coverage of the controversy charge that feudal Tibet was not as benevolent as popularly portrayed. The penal code before 1913 included forms of corporal punishment and capital punishment.^[41] In response, the Dalai Lama agreed many of old Tibet's practices needed reform. His predecessor had banned extreme punishments and the death penalty.^[42] And he had instituted key reforms like removal of debt inheritance before the Chinese invaded in 1951.^[35]

On June 4, 2008, Dalai Lama said that Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, a territory that is called Southern Tibet in mainland China and still claimed by the People's Republic of China, is part of India, acknowledging the validity of the McMahon Line as per the 1914 Simla Agreement signed by Tibetan and British representatives.^[43]

On October 25, 2008, the Dalai Lama announced he had given up negotiating for increased autonomy for Tibet within the People's Republic of China. He stated that from now on Tibetans themselves should decide how to continue a dialogue with the Chinese government. ^[44][45]

Social stances

The Dalai Lama endorsed the founding of the Dalai Lama Foundation in order to promote peace and ethics worldwide. The Dalai Lama is not operationally involved with this foundation, though he suggests some overall direction and his office is routinely briefed on its activities.^[46] He has also stated his belief that modern scientific findings take precedence over ancient religions.^[47][48]

Abortion

The Dalai Lama is generally opposed to abortion,^[49] although he has taken a nuanced position, as he explained to the New York Times:

Of course, abortion, from a Buddhist viewpoint, is an act of killing and is negative, generally speaking. But it depends on the circumstances. If the birth will create serious problems for the parent, these are cases where there can be an exception. I think abortion should be approved or disapproved according to each circumstance.^[50]

Economics

"Of all the modern economic theories, the economic system of Marxism is founded on moral principles, while capitalism is concerned only with gain and profitability. Marxism is concerned with the distribution of wealth on an equal basis and the equitable utilization of the means of production. It is also concerned with the fate of the working classes—that is, the majority—as well as with the fate of those who are underprivileged and in need, and Marxism cares about the victims of minority-imposed exploitation. For those reasons the system appeals to me, and it seems fair. I just recently read an article in a paper where His Holiness the Pope also pointed out some positive aspects of Marxism.

As for the failure of the Marxist regimes, first of all I do not consider the former USSR, or China, or even Vietnam, to have been true Marxist regimes, for they were far more concerned with their narrow national interests than with the Workers' International; this is why there were conflicts, for example, between China and the USSR, or between China and Vietnam. If those three regimes had truly been based upon Marxist principles, those conflicts would never have occurred.

I think the major flaw of the Marxist regimes is that they have placed too much emphasis on the need to destroy the ruling class, on class struggle, and this causes them to encourage hatred and to neglect compassion. Although their initial aim might have been to serve the cause of the majority, when they try to implement it all their energy is deflected into destructive activities. Once the revolution is over and the ruling class is destroyed, there is not much left to offer the people; at this point the entire country is impoverished and unfortunately it is almost as if the initial aim were to become poor. I think that this is due to the lack of human solidarity and compassion. The principal disadvantage of such a regime is the insistence placed on hatred to the detriment of compassion.

The failure of the regime in the former Soviet Union was, for me, not the failure of Marxism but the failure of totalitarianism. For this reason I still think of myself as half-Marxist, half-Buddhist."^[51]

Environment

He has also expressed his concern for environmental problems:

On the global level, I think the ecology problem is very serious. I hear about some states taking it very seriously. That's wonderful! So this blue planet is our only home, if something goes wrong at the present generation, then the future generations really face a lot of problems, and those problems will be beyond human control; so that's very serious. Ecology should be part of our daily life.

—The Dalai Lama, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, September 19, 2006^[52]

In recent years, he has been campaigning for wildlife conservation, including a religious ruling against wearing tiger and leopard skins as garments.^[53][54]

Firearms

In 2001, he discussed firearms and self-defense:

One girl wanted to know how to react to a shooter who takes aim at a classmate. The Dalai Lama said acts of violence should be remembered, and then forgiveness should be extended to the perpetrators. But if someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, he said, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun. Not at the head, where a fatal wound might result. But at some other body part, such as a leg.

—Seattle Times,  Portland, Oregon May 15, 2001^[55]

Sexuality

In his view, oral, manual and anal sex (both homosexual and heterosexual) is not acceptable in Buddhism or for Buddhists, but society otherwise should tolerate gays and lesbians.^[56] He explains in his book Beyond Dogma: "homosexuality, whether it is between men or between women, is not improper in itself. What is improper is the use of organs already defined as inappropriate for sexual contact". In 1997 he explained that the basis of that teaching was unknown to him and that he at least had some "willingness to consider the possibility that some of the teachings may be specific to a particular cultural and historic context".^[57] In a 1994 interview with OUT Magazine, the Dalai Lama explained "If someone comes to me and asks whether homosexuality is okay or not, I will ask 'What is your companion's opinion?'. If you both agree, then I think I would say 'if two males or two females voluntarily agree to have mutual satisfaction without further implication of harming others, then it is okay'".^[58] He has said that sex spelt fleeting satisfaction and trouble later, while chastity offered a better life and "more, independence, more freedom" ^[59] He says that problems arising from conjugal life could even lead to suicide or murder. ^[60]

Controversy

The Dalai Lama has a number of critics. For example, during his recent teaching tour of the UK, there were demonstrations by the Western Shugden Society,^[61][62] and by Chinese students. The Western Shugden Society say they are protesting the ban of a prayer to Dorje Shugden,^[61] which they argue constitutes religious persecution.^[62] Similar protests occurred in Sydney when the Dalai Lama arrived in Australia in June 2008.^[63] The Dalai Lama says he had not banned the practice,^[61] but strongly discourages it as he feels it promotes the spirit as being more important than Buddha, and that it may encourage cult-like practices and sectarianism within Tibetan Buddhism.^[64] The Shugden worshipers in India say they are denied admission to hospitals, stores, and other social services provided by the local Tibetan community.^[65]

The Dalai Lama's talks in the UK have also been attended by Chinese protestors who oppose Tibetan independence.^[66]

Despite protest from China, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the Dalai Lama in the Berlin Chancellery on 25 September 2007. The meeting was characterized as "private and informal talks" in order to avert potential retaliation by China such as the severance of trade ties. In response to the meeting, China cancelled meetings with German officials including Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries.^[67]

In October 1998, The Dalai Lama's administration acknowledged that it received $1.7 million a year in the 1960s from the U.S. Government through the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and also trained a resistance movement in Colorado (USA).^[33] When asked by CIA officer John Kenneth Knaus in 1995 whether the organization did a good or bad thing in providing its support, the Dalai Lama replied that though it helped the morale of those resisting the Chinese, "thousands of lives were lost in the resistance" and further, that "the U.S. Government had involved itself in his country's affairs not to help Tibet but only as a Cold War tactic to challenge the Chinese."^[68]

Several Tulkus or "reincarnate Lamas" have criticized Tenzin Gyatso. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, news carried by Xinhua, the Chinese official government news agency, said that the twelfth Samding Dorje Phagmo (considered to be Tibet's "only female living Buddha,") who is also the vice-chairwoman of the standing committee of the Tibetan Autonomous Regional People's Congress, was quoted saying that "The sins of the Dalai Lama and his followers seriously violate the basic teachings and precepts of Buddhism and seriously damage traditional Tibetan Buddhism's normal order and good reputation." She told Xinhua that "Old Tibet was dark and cruel, the serfs lived worse than horses and cattle."^[69]

Another controversy associated with the Dalai Lama is the recognition of the seventeenth Karmapa. To briefly sum up this controversy, two sides of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism have chosen two different Karmapas, leading to a deep division within the Kagyu school. The Dalai Lama has given his support to Urgyen Trinley Dorje, while supporters of Trinley Thaye Dorje claim that the Dalai Lama has no authority in the matter, nor is there a historical precedent for a Dalai Lama involving himself in an internal Kagyu dispute.^[70] In his 2001 address at the International Karma Kagyu Conference, Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche - a high-ranking Kagyu Lama - accused the Dalai Lama of adopting a "divide and conquer" policy to eliminate any potential political rivalry arising from within the Kagyu school.^[71] For his side, the Dalai Lama accepted the prediction letter presented by Tai Situ Rinpoche (another high-ranking Kagyu Lama) as authentic, and therefore Tai Situ Rinpoche's recognition of Urgyen Trinley Dorje, also as correct.^[72] Tibet observer Julian Gearing suggests that there might be political motives to the Dalai Lama's decision: "The Dalai Lama gave his blessing to the recognition of [Urgyen] Trinley, eager to win over the formerly troublesome sect [the Kagyu school], and with the hope that the new Karmapa could play a role in a political solution of the 'Tibet Question.' ...If the allegations are to be believed, a simple nomad boy was turned into a political and religious pawn."^[73]

British journalist Christopher Hitchens criticised the Dalai Lama in 1998, questioned his alleged support for India's nuclear weapons testing, his statements about sexual misconduct, his suppression of Shugden worship, as well as his meeting Shoko Asahara, whose cult Aum Shinrikyo released sarin nerve gas in the Tokyo subway system.^[74][75] Hitchens proclaims that he "makes absurd pronouncements about sex and diet and, when on his trips to Hollywood fund-raisers, anoints major donors like Steven Segal and Richard Gere as holy".^[76]

Western supporters

The Dalai Lama has been successful in gaining Western sympathy for Tibetan self-determination, including vocal support from numerous Hollywood celebrities, most notably the actors Richard Gere and Steven Seagal, as well as lawmakers from several major countries.^[77]

In 2005^[78] and 2008^[79] Time Magazine placed the Dalai Lama on its list of the world's 100 most influential people.

On 22 June 2006, the Parliament of Canada voted unanimously to make The Dalai Lama an honorary citizen of Canada.^[80][81] This marks the third of four times in history that the Government of Canada has bestowed this honour, the others being Raoul Wallenberg posthumously in 1985, Nelson Mandela in 2001 and Aung San Suu Kyi in 2007.

In September 2006, the United States Congress voted to award the Dalai Lama the Congressional Gold Medal,^[82] the highest award which may be bestowed by the Legislative Branch of the United States government. The actual ceremony and awarding of the medal took place on 17 October 2007. The Chinese Government has reacted angrily to the award, which it merely refers to as "the extremely wrong arrangements". Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said: "It seriously violates the norm of international relations and seriously wounded the feelings of the Chinese people and interfered with China's internal affairs".^[83]

In June 2007, during an Australian tour, the Dalai Lama made public appearances in Perth, Bendigo, Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane.

On December 6, 2008, Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France and current Chairman of the European Union met the Dalai Lama in Poland and appeased the situation after China postponed a China-EU summit.^[84]

Possibility of retirement

In May 2007, Chhime Rigzing, a senior spokesman for the Tibetan spiritual leader's office, stated that the Dalai Lama wants to reduce his political burden as he moves into "retirement".^[85] However, in 2008 the Dalai Lama himself ruled out such a move, saying "There is no point, or question of retirement."^[86]

Rigzing stated "The political leadership will be transferred over a period of time but he will inevitably continue to be the spiritual leader because as the Dalai Lama, the issue of relinquishing the post does not arise".

The Dalai Lama announced he would like the elected Tibetan Parliament in Exile to have more responsibility over administration.

On 1 September 2007, China issued new rules controlling the selection of the next Dalai Lama, declaring that any reincarnation must bear the seal of approval by China's cabinet. These regulations could potentially result in one Dalai Lama approved by the Chinese government, and another chosen outside of Tibet.^[87] This would be similar to the present situation with the Panchen Lamas and Karmapas. In November 2007, Tashi Wangdi said the new rules mean nothing. "It will have no effect" said Wangdi. "You can't impose a Pope. You can't impose an imam, an archbishop, saints, any religion... you can't politically impose these things on people. It has to be a decision of the followers of that tradition. The Chinese can use their political power: force. Again, it's meaningless".^[88]

During the 2008 unrest in Tibet, the Dalai Lama called for calm^[89] and concurrently condemned Chinese violence.^[90] His call was met with Tibetan frustration at his methodology^[91] and goals^[92][93] and Chinese allegations that he himself incited the violence^[94] in order to ruin the 2008 Summer Olympics.^[95] In response to the continued violence perpetrated by Chinese as well as Tibetans,^[96] on March 18, 2008, the Dalai Lama threatened to step down,^[97] a move unprecedented^[98] in the history of the office of the Dalai Lama.^[99] Aides later clarified that this threat was predicated on a further escalation of violence, and that he did not presently have the intention of leaving his political or spiritual offices.^[100] Many Tibetan exiles expressed their support for the Dalai Lama, and the People's Republic of China intensified their campaign of attacks against him.^[101][102]

In the ensuing months, he held meetings aimed at discussing the future institution of the Dalai Lama, including:

[A] conclave, like in the Catholic Church, a woman as my successor, no Dalai Lama anymore, or perhaps even two, since the Communist Party has, astonishingly enough, given itself the right to be responsible for reincarnations.^[103]

He has clarified that his goal is to relinquish all temporal power and to no longer play a "pronounced spiritual role" and have a simpler monastic life.

Quotation

“

World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not the absence of violence. Peace is the manifestation of human compassion.

”

— His Holiness the Dalai Lama ^[104]

Bibliography

• The Art of Happiness, coauthored with Howard C. Cutler, M.D. ISBN 0-9656682-9-0
• The Art of Happiness at Work, coauthored with Howard C. Cutler, M.D. ISBN 1-59448-054-0
• Mind in Comfort and Ease, Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-493-8
• The World of Tibetan Buddhism, translated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa, foreword by Richard Gere, Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-097-5
• The Compassionate Life,Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-378-8
• Ethics for the New Millennium, Riverhead Books, 1999, ISBN 1-57322-883-4
• A Simple Path, ISBN 0-00-713887-3
• Essence of the Heart Sutra, edited by Geshe Thupten Jinpa, Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-284-6
• The Meaning of Life: Buddhist Perspectives on Cause and Effect, Translated by Jeffrey Hopkins, Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-173-4
• How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life, Transl. and ed. by Jeffrey Hopkins, ISBN 0-7434-5336-0
• Kalachakra Tantra: Rite of Initiation, Edited by [Jeffrey Hopkins, Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-151-3
• A Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus, Translated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa, Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-138-6
• Opening the Eye of New Awareness, Translated by Donald S. Lopez, Jr., Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-155-6
• Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama, London: Little, Brown and Co, 1990 ISBN 0-349-10462-X
• Imagine All the People: A Conversation with the Dalai Lama on Money, Politics, and Life as it Could Be, Coauthored with Fabien Ouaki, Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-150-5
• An Open Heart, edited by Nicholas Vreeland. ISBN 0-316-98979-7
• The Gelug/Kagyü Tradition of Mahamud, coauthored with Alexander Berzin. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications, 1997, ISBN 1-55939-072-7
• Practicing Wisdom: The Perfection of Shantideva's Bodhisattva Way, translated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa, Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-182-3
• The Wisdom of Forgiveness: Intimate Conversations and Journeys, coauthored with Victor Chan, Riverbed Books, 2004, ISBN 1-57322-277-1
• Tibetan Portrait: The Power of Compassion, photographs by Phil Borges with sayings by Tenzin Gyatso. ISBN 0-8478-1957-4
• The Heart of Compassion: A Practical Approach to a Meaningful Life, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press, ISBN 0-940985-36-5
• Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the new millennium, Abacus Press, 2000, ISBN 0-349-11443-9
• My Tibet, coauthoured with Galen Rowell, ISBN 0-520-08948-0
• Sleeping, Dreaming, and Dying, edited by Francisco Varela, Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-123-8
• The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality, Morgan Road Books, 2005, ISBN 0-7679-2066-X
• How to Expand Love: Widening the Circle of Loving Relationships, translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, Ph.D., Atria Books, 2005, ISBN 0-7432-6968-3
• Der Weg des Herzens. Gewaltlosigkeit und Dialog zwischen den Religionen (The Path of the Heart: Non-violence and the Dialogue among Religions), coauthored with Eugen Drewermann, Ph.D., Patmos Verlag, 2003, ISBN 3-4916-9078-1
• How to See Yourself As You Really Are, Translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, Ph.D. ISBN 0-7432-9045-3
• MindScience: An East-West Dialogue, with contributions by Herbert Benson, Daniel Goleman, Robert Thurman, and Howard Gardner, Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-066-5
• The New Physics and Cosmology: Dialogues with the Dalai Lama, edited by Arthur Zajonc, with contributions by David Finkelstein, George Greenstein, Piet Hut, Tu Wei-ming, Anton Zeilinger, B. Alan Wallace and Thupten Jinpa, Oxford University Press, 2004, ISBN 0-195-15994-2
• The Power of Buddhism, coauthored with Jean-Claude Carriere ISBN 0717128032
• Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection, translated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa and Richard Barron, Snow Lion Publications, 2000, ISBN 1559392193
• Orphans of the Cold War, America and the Tibetan Struggle for Survival, John Kenneth Knaus, Public Affairs, New York. ISBN 1-891620-18-5 1999
• Violence and Compassion: Dialogues on Life Today (With Jean-Claude Carriere), Doubleday, 2001. ISBN 978-0385-50144-6

Awards and honors

The Dalai Lama has received numerous awards over his spiritual and political career.^[105] On 22 June 2006, he became one of only four people ever to be recognized with Honorary Citizenship by the Governor General of Canada. On 28 May 2005, he received the Christmas Humphreys Award from the Buddhist Society in the United Kingdom. Perhaps his most notable award was the Nobel Peace Prize, presented to him in Oslo on 10 December 1989 (see below). Some other notable awards and honors he has received:

• Honorary Degree from Lehigh University on 13 July 2008
• Honorary citizenship of Wrocław,^[106] voted 24 June 2008,
• Honorary Doctoral Degree of Philosophy from London's Metropolitan University on 21 May 2008.^[107][108]
• Honorary citizenship of Paris,^[109] voted April 21, 2008, the same day as Hu Jia.^[110]
• Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letter from the University of Washington in April 2008
• Inaugural Hofstra University Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize on 24 March 2008^[111]
• Honorary Doctorate in chemistry and pharmacy from University of Münster on 20 September 2007
• Honorary Doctorate from Southern Cross University on 8 June 2007
• Presidential Distinguished Professorship from Emory University in February 2007
• Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters conferred by the State University of New York at Buffalo in September 2006
• Honorary citizenship of Canada in 2006
• Honorary citizenship of Ukraine, during the anniversary of the Nobel Prize on 9 December 2006 in Mc Leod Ganj.
• United States Congressional Gold Medal on 27 September 2006^[112]
• Key to New York City from Mayor Bloomberg on 25 September 2005
• Honorary Fellowship of Liverpool John Moores University 27 May 2004
• Jaime Brunet Prize for Human Rights on 9 October 2003
• International League for Human Rights Award on 19 September 2003
• Honorary Doctoral Degree from University of San Francisco on 5 September 2003^[113]
• Life Achievement Award from Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization on 24 November 1999
• Four Freedoms Award from the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute on 4 June 1994
• World Security Annual Peace Award from the Lawyers Alliance for New York on 27 April 1994
• Berkeley Medal from University of California, Berkeley, on 20 April 1994
• Peace and Unity Awards from the National Peace conference on 23 August 1991
• Earth Prize from the United Earth and U.N. Environmental Program on 5 June 1991
• Advancing Human Liberty from the Freedom House on 17 April 1991
• Le Prix de la Memoire from the Fondation Danielle Mitterrand on 4 December 1989
• Raoul Wallenberg Human Rights Award (or Raoul Wallenberg Congressional Human Rights Award) from the Congressional Human Rights Caucus on 21 July 1989
• Key to Los Angeles from Mayor Bradley in September 1979
• Key to San Francisco from Mayor Feinstein on 27 September 1979

Nobel Peace Prize

On 10 December 1989 the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize,^[114] the chairman of the Nobel committee said that the award was "in part a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi." The committee recognized his efforts in "the struggle of the liberation of Tibet and the efforts for a peaceful resolution instead of using violence."^[115] In his acceptance speech he criticized China for using force against student protesters during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. He stated however that their effort was not in vain. His speech focused on the importance of the continued use of non-violence and his desire to maintain a dialogue with China to try to resolve the situation.^[116]

Filmography

Examples of films recently made about Tenzin Gyatso:

• The Unwinking Gaze: The Inside Story of the Dalai Lama's Struggle for Tibet (2008) – documentary
• Dalai Lama Renaissance[5] (2008) – documentary narrated by Harrison Ford
• 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama[6] (2006) – documentary
• What Remains of Us[7] (2004) – documentary
• Seven Years in Tibet (1997), directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud
• Kundun (1997), directed by Martin Scorsese
• Compassion in Exile: The Life of the 14th Dalai Lama[8] (1993) – documentary

Health and Appearance

The four marks on his right arm, which is left exposed per Buddhist tradition, do not have any sacred meaning. They are from a smallpox vaccination when he was a boy.^[117]

After suffering abdominal pain in the fall of 2008, the Dalai Lama was hospitalized in New Delhi. He had routine surgery on October 10, 2008 to remove a gallstone.^{[118][119][120]}

See also

• Central Tibetan Administration
• Tibetan Buddhism
• Tashi Wangdi, the Dalai Lama's Representative to the Americas.
• Tibetan sovereignty debate

References

Further reading

• Mullin, Glenn H. (2001). The Fourteen Dalai Lamas: A Sacred Legacy of Reincarnation, pp. 452-515. Clear Light Publishers. Santa Fe, New Mexico. ISBN 1-57416-092-3.

External links

• The Website of The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Official site)
• Audio teachings of the Dalai Lama on many different topics
• Collection of teachings, speeches, and letters
• Prayers written by the Dalai Lama
• Dalai Lama Teachings
• Information and Guide to Exile Home of the 14th Dalai Lama in India,Dharamsala McleodGanj -Mcllo.com
• Home of the 14th Dalai Lama in India
• Works by or about Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• The Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy(TCHRD)
• Tenzin Gyatso Charlie Rose interview, 16 November 2005
• Shambhala Sun Spotlight Page
• Biographer Pico Iyer on the Dalai Lama, New York Public Library, April 2008

Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama Dalai Lama Born: 6 July 1935
Buddhist titles
Preceded by Thubten Gyatso	Dalai Lama since 1937	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Zhang Jingwu	Chief of the Tibet Region, PRC 1956 – 1959	Succeeded by Choekyi Gyaltsen

Dalai Lamas Gendun Drup | Gendun Gyatso | Sonam Gyatso | Yonten Gyatso | Lozang Gyatso | Tsangyang Gyatso | Kelzang Gyatso | Jamphel Gyatso | Lungtok Gyatso | Tsultrim Gyatso | Khedrup Gyatso | Trinley Gyatso | Thubten Gyatso | Tenzin Gyatso

Nobel Peace Prize laureates Betty Williams / Mairead Corrigan (1976) · Amnesty International (1977) · Anwar El Sadat / Menachem Begin (1978) · Mother Teresa (1979) · Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (1980) · United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (1981) · Alva Myrdal / Alfonso García Robles (1982) · Lech Wałęsa (1983) · Desmond Tutu (1984) · International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (1985) · Elie Wiesel (1986) · Óscar Arias (1987) · UN Peacekeeping (1988) · Tenzin Gyatso (14th Dalai Lama) (1989) · Mikhail Gorbachev (1990) · Aung San Suu Kyi (1991) · Rigoberta Menchú (1992) · Nelson Mandela / F.W. de Klerk (1993) · Yasser Arafat / Shimon Peres / Yitzhak Rabin (1994) · Pugwash Conferences / Joseph Rotblat (1995) · Carlos Belo / José Ramos-Horta (1996) · International Campaign to Ban Landmines / Jody Williams (1997) · John Hume / David Trimble (1998) · Médecins Sans Frontières (1999) · Kim Dae-jung (2000) Complete roster · 1901–1925 · 1926–1950 · 1951–1975 · 1976–2000 · 2001–present

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Persondata
NAME	Gyatso, Tenzin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Dalai Lama (honorific); བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་ (Tibetan); Rgya-mtsho, Bstan-'dzin (Wylie)
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Dalai Lama
DATE OF BIRTH	July 6, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH	Takster, Amdo, Tibet
DATE OF DEATH	living
PLACE OF DEATH