The Dalai Lama

A Brief Biography
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet. At the age of two the child, who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or 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.

Three Main Commitments

His Holiness has three main commitments in life.

Firstly, on the level of a human being, His Holiness’ first commitment is the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. All human beings are the same. We all want happiness and do not want suffering. Even people who do not believe in religion recognize the importance of these human values in making their life happier. His Holiness refers to these human values as secular ethics. He remains committed to talk about the importance of these human values and share them with everyone he meets.

Secondly, on the level of a religious practitioner, His Holiness’ second commitment is the promotion of religious harmony and understanding among the world’s major religious traditions. Despite philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings. It is therefore important for all religious traditions to respect one another and recognize the value of each other’s respective traditions. As far as one truth, one religion is concerned, this is relevant on an individual level. However, for the community at large, several truths, several religions are necessary.

Thirdly, His Holiness is a Tibetan and carries the name of the ‘Dalai Lama’. Tibetans place their trust in him. Therefore, his third commitment is to the Tibetan issue. His Holiness’ has a responsibility to act as the free spokesperson of the Tibetans in their struggle for justice. As far as this third commitment is concerned, it will cease to exist once a mutually beneficial solution is reached between the Tibetans and Chinese.

However, His Holiness will carry on with the first two commitments till his last breath.

Op-Ed: Dalai Lama receives $1.7m Templeton Prize in Washington

Not everyone knows of the Dalai Lama's unbound support, ease, interest, and investment in science,such as his 2005 address Science at the Crossroads, given at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Washington.
On Thursday, March 29, 2012, 76-year-old Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, received the 2012 Templeton Prize worth 1.7 million dollars.
Despite statistics estimating that 80%, or 5 billion people in in the world are religious, many extremely so, curiously almost no religious leaders rise to the level of international prominence or recognition. Stop your average woman on the street and ask her to name 4 religious leaders, and most will have trouble. But, if she can make any progress at all on the question, surely “the Dalai Lama” will be on her list. Political figures, entertainers, and even corporate leaders fare better.
Similarly, the overcrowded world of prizes and awards is not widely known. Few can get past Nobel and Pulitzer, and surely very few know of the Templeton Prize even though it is the largest prize in the world, far exceeding the sums awarded by either Nobel or Pulitzer.
Many award and prize giving institutions are self-serving, far more interested in the cache they get from association with awardees, than in how their foundation benefits prize winners. Those past the climbing phase, often become politicized. The Templeton Prize however, seems quite the exception in both cases. It is unique in its focus on spirituality, it is genuinely generous, and its rosters of prize winners is broad and diverse.
So what are we to make of this year’s prize? Arguably the best known religious leader alive named to the largest prize in the world, a once in a lifetime moment, like some close flying meteor we wake up in the middle of the night to watch because it happens only every 25,000 years. So who exactly is “the Dalai Lama,” and what exactly is the Templeton Prize? Do they deserve each other? Are both well-served by their newfound association?
In December 2007, I brought Hyung Jin Moon, youngest son of Reverend Sun Myung Moon to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamsala, India, seat of the The Central Tibetan Administration, commonly referred to as the Tibetan Government in Exile. After 27 unending hours of travel, 14 by air and 13 by road, we arrived in Dharamsala with only enough time to throw down our luggage and race to the residence of His Holiness. We arrived punctually, and after a rather sophisticated security check, were welcomed by a gentle aide de camp, serene with perfect English, into a humble, unpretentious waiting parlour. Guests from the world over came and went in what could only be fleeting meetings. Some seemed to come only for Blessings, others on matters of business.
Who people commonly call “The Dalai Lama,” or those more schooled,“His Holiness,” is more accurately the 14th and current Dalai Lama, the most influential figure in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans traditionally believe him to be the reincarnation of his predecessors and a manifestation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, in short, the highest embodiment of compassion, or the “presence” of compassion in the world today.
What does it mean that His Holiness is “the 14th”? This has to do with him being a tulku. In Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is a particularly high-ranking lama (e.g., the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama, the Karmapa) who can choose the manner of his (or her) rebirth (more accurately re-manifestation -- a subtle but significant Buddhist technicality). Only a tulku can do this. All other sentient beings including other lamas have no choice as to the manner of their rebirth. For those with spiritual sensibilities the chance to be in the presence of this lineage is simply jaw-drop stuff. But the international renown and attention enjoyed by His Holiness, does not really come from these Buddhist bound notions.

Dollar Lama must die.

The curse of his holiness the Dalai Lama will incinerate the whole of China.

But the Dalai is a patient man. He is willing to give the Chinese a trillion chances. But, sure as hell, one day the Chinese luck will run out.

already has.

Hope wrote:

The curse of his holiness the Dalai Lama will incinerate the whole of China.
But the Dalai is a patient man. He is willing to give the Chinese a trillion chances. But, sure as hell, one day the Chinese luck will run out.

I was only thinking today, The seams to me the fad of toasting yourself has run its course. If we are going to have 1.4 billion Chinese incinerate themselves then you had better pull your finger out. Let us know when the senour monks are going to light themselves up please. I might go along to watch.

Free southern Tibet.

Hope wrote:

The curse of his holiness the Dalai Lama will incinerate the whole of China.
But the Dalai is a patient man. He is willing to give the Chinese a trillion chances. But, sure as hell, one day the Chinese luck will run out.

Dollar Lama's time will run out any day now.

uncle fargo wrote:

<quoted text>I was only thinking today, The seams to me the fad of toasting yourself has run its course. If we are going to have 1.4 billion Chinese incinerate themselves then you had better pull your finger out. Let us know when the senour monks are going to light themselves up please. I might go along to watch.
Free southern Tibet.

The Dollar Lama will be in London in July, just prior to the Olympics, to promote secession. Last chance for Dollar to torch itself, if he makes it to July.

Fang died at 76. Dollar will be 77 then.

Hope wrote:

The curse of his holiness the Dalai Lama will incinerate the whole of China.
But the Dalai is a patient man. He is willing to give the Chinese a trillion chances. But, sure as hell, one day the Chinese luck will run out.

So out comes the deli liars "curse". China is a slightly more mature than be frightened by a witchdoctor.(Read Tibetan Buddhism monk! Casting spells and forcasting the future! Do you really believe all that crap?) China moved into the 21st century, so Tibet is catching up to the rest of the world from the 14 century Slave society. And when you say "as sure as hell", which one? Dickheads, you don't even believe your own "living god" and his bullshit! Perhaps if we all stuck pins in a deli liar doll by the light of a full moon on Friday the 13th the arsehole might self ignite!
Casing spells. "Oogie, boogie boogie"!

Reunite the Tibetan people!

Free southern Tibet!!

uncle fargo wrote:

<quoted text>So out comes the deli liars "curse". China is a slightly more mature than be frightened by a witchdoctor.(Read Tibetan Buddhism monk! Casting spells and forcasting the future! Do you really believe all that crap?) China moved into the 21st century, so Tibet is catching up to the rest of the world from the 14 century Slave society. And when you say "as sure as hell", which one? Dickheads, you don't even believe your own "living god" and his bullshit! Perhaps if we all stuck pins in a deli liar doll by the light of a full moon on Friday the 13th the arsehole might self ignite!
Casing spells. "Oogie, boogie boogie"!
Reunite the Tibetan people!
Free southern Tibet!!

you do not know Chinese history at all , can you tell people that Mao have sevral mistresses ?.

Lol, the Chinese are spooked ! But judgement will come to China, surely

uncle fargo wrote:

<quoted text>So out comes the deli liars "curse". China is a slightly more mature than be frightened by a witchdoctor.(Read Tibetan Buddhism monk! Casting spells and forcasting the future! Do you really believe all that crap?) China moved into the 21st century, so Tibet is catching up to the rest of the world from the 14 century Slave society. And when you say "as sure as hell", which one? Dickheads, you don't even believe your own "living god" and his bullshit! Perhaps if we all stuck pins in a deli liar doll by the light of a full moon on Friday the 13th the arsehole might self ignite!
Casing spells. "Oogie, boogie boogie"!
Reunite the Tibetan people!
Free southern Tibet!!

His holiness, the Dalai Lama is a very kind man. He might forgive you, fargo. But the time is running out.

Hope wrote:

<quoted text>
His holiness, the Dalai Lama is a very kind man. He might forgive you, fargo. But the time is running out.

Yes, time is running out on the Dollar Lama. Fang died at 76 this week; Dollar will be 77 this year.

Have instructions come from your Dollar Lama for you to self-immolate? Get on it.

Questions & Answers

Question: How do you view yourself?

Answer: I always consider myself as a simple Buddhist monk. I feel that is the real me. I feel that the Dalai Lama as a temporal ruler is a man-made institution. As long as the people accept the Dalai Lama, they will accept me. But being a monk is something which belongs to me. No one can change that. Deep down inside, I always consider myself a monk, even in my dreams. So naturally I feel myself as more of a religious person. Even in my daily life, I can say that I spend 80% of my time on spiritual activities and 20% on Tibet as a whole. The spiritual or religious life is something I know and have great interest in. I have some kind of confidence in it, and thus I want to study it more. Regarding politics, I have no modern education except for a little experience. It is a big responsibility for someone not so well equipped. This is not voluntary work but something that I feel I must pursue because of the hope and trust that the Tibetan people place on me.

Question: Will you be the last Dalai Lama?

Answer: Whether the institution of the Dalai Lama remains or not depends entirely on the wishes of the Tibetan people. It is for them to decide. I made this clear as early as in 1969. Even in 1963, after four years in exile, we made a draft constitution for a future Tibet which is based on the democratic system. The constitution clearly mentions that the power of the Dalai Lama can be removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the Assembly. At the present moment, the Dalai Lama's institution is useful to the Tibetan culture and the Tibetan people. Thus, if I were to die today, I think the Tibetan people would choose to have another Dalai Lama. In the future, if the Dalai Lama's institution is no longer relevant or useful and our present situation changes, then the Dalai Lama's institution will cease to exist.Personally, I feel the institution of the Dalai Lama has served its purpose. More recently, since 2001 we now have a democratically elected head of our administration, the Kalon Tripa. The Kalon Tripa runs the daily affairs of our administration and is in charge of our political establishment. Half jokingly and half seriously, I state that I am now in semi-retirement.

Question: Do you think you will ever be able to return to Tibet?

Answer: Yes, I remain optimistic that I will be able to return to Tibet. China is in the process of changing. If you compare China today to ten or twenty years ago, there is tremendous change. China is no longer isolated. It is part of the world community. Global interdependence, especially in terms of economics and environment make it impossible for nations to remain isolated. Besides, I am not seeking separation from China. I am committed to my middle-way approach whereby Tibet remains within the People's Republic of China enjoying a high degree of self-rule or autonomy. I firmly believe that this is of mutual benefit both to the Tibetans as well as to the Chinese. We Tibetans will be able to develop Tibet with China's assistance, while at the same time preserving our own unique culture, including spirituality, and our delicate environment. By amicably resolving the Tibetan issue, China will be able to contribute to her own unity and stability.

Question: The Chinese have recently stated that the next Dalai Lama will be born in Tibet and chosen by them. What do you have to say about this?

Answer: If the present situation regarding Tibet remains the same, I will be born outside Tibet away from the control of the Chinese authorities. This is logical. The very purpose of a reincarnation is to continue the unfinished work of the previous incarnation. Thus if the Tibetan situation still remains unsolved it is logical I will be born in exile to continue my unfinished work. Of course the Chinese will still choose their own Dalai Lama and we Tibetans will choose our own according to tradition. It will be similar to the present situation of the Panchen Lama. There is a Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama and there is the Panchen Lama chosen by me. One is paraded to serve its master's purposes and the other is the Panchen Lama accepted in the hearts of all the Tibetans.
Question: What are your commitments?

Answer: In general, I always state that I have three commitments in life. Firstly, on the level of a human being, my first commitment is the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. All human beings are the same. We all want happiness and do not want suffering. Even people who do not believe in religion recognize the importance of these human values in making their lives happier. I remain committed to talk about the importance of these human values and share them with everyone I meet. Secondly, on the level of a religious practitioner, my second commitment is the promotion of religious harmony and understanding amongst different religious traditions. Despite philosophical differences, all major world religions have the same potential to create better human beings. It is therefore important for all religious traditions to respect one another and recognize the value of each other's respective traditions. Thirdly, I am a Tibetan and carry the name of the Dalai Lama. Tibetans place their trust in me. Therefore, my third commitment is to the Tibetan issue. I have a responsibility to act the free spokesperson of the Tibetans in their struggle for justice. As far as this third commitment, it will cease to exist once a mutually beneficial solution is reached between the Tibetans and Chinese. However, my first two commitments I will carry on till my last breath.

RayH wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, time is running out on the Dollar Lama. Fang died at 76 this week; Dollar will be 77 this year.
Have instructions come from your Dollar Lama for you to self-immolate? Get on it.

His holiness the Dalai Lama will live upto more than a hundred years.

He will lord over the implosion and unravelling of China, if it does not mend its ways by freeing the Tibetan people and democratising itself.

Hope wrote:

<quoted text>
His holiness, the Dalai Lama is a very kind man. He might forgive you, fargo. But the time is running out.

So this is what a "kind man will do? "The curse of his holiness the Dalai Lama will incinerate the whole of China." You are so full of shit I am begining to think you might be the deli liar himself!!

So Mr kind Deli liar, when will you ask the Indian government to return the stolen land to China?

Free southern Tibet!

idea wrote:

Questions & Answers
Question: How do you view yourself?
Answer: I always consider myself as a simple Buddhist monk. I feel that is the real me. I feel that the Dalai Lama as a temporal ruler is a man-made institution. As long as the people accept the Dalai Lama, they will accept me. But being a monk is something which belongs to me. No one can change that. Deep down inside, I always consider myself a monk, even in my dreams. So naturally I feel myself as more of a religious person. Even in my daily life, I can say that I spend 80% of my time on spiritual activities and 20% on Tibet as a whole. The spiritual or religious life is something I know and have great interest in. I have some kind of confidence in it, and thus I want to study it more. Regarding politics, I have no modern education except for a little experience. It is a big responsibility for someone not so well equipped. This is not voluntary work but something that I feel I must pursue because of the hope and trust that the Tibetan people place on me.
Question: Will you be the last Dalai Lama?
Answer: Whether the institution of the Dalai Lama remains or not depends entirely on the wishes of the Tibetan people. It is for them to decide. I made this clear as early as in 1969. Even in 1963, after four years in exile, we made a draft constitution for a future Tibet which is based on the democratic system. The constitution clearly mentions that the power of the Dalai Lama can be removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the Assembly. At the present moment, the Dalai Lama's institution is useful to the Tibetan culture and the Tibetan people. Thus, if I were to die today, I think the Tibetan people would choose to have another Dalai Lama. In the future, if the Dalai Lama's institution is no longer relevant or useful and our present situation changes, then the Dalai Lama's institution will cease to exist.Personally, I feel the institution of the Dalai Lama has served its purpose. More recently, since 2001 we now have a democratically elected head of our administration, the Kalon Tripa. The Kalon Tripa runs the daily affairs of our administration and is in charge of our political establishment. Half jokingly and half seriously, I state that I am now in semi-retirement.
Question: Do you think you will ever be able to return to Tibet?
Answer: Yes, I remain optimistic that I will be able to return to Tibet. China is in the process of changing. If you compare China today to ten or twenty years ago, there is tremendous change. China is no longer isolated. It is part of the world community. Global interdependence, especially in terms of economics and environment make it impossible for nations to remain isolated. Besides, I am not seeking separation from China. I am committed to my middle-way approach whereby Tibet remains within the People's Republic of China enjoying a high degree of self-rule or autonomy. I firmly believe that this is of mutual benefit both to the Tibetans as well as to the Chinese. We Tibetans will be able to develop Tibet with China's assistance, while at the same time preserving our own unique culture, including spirituality, and our delicate environment. By amicably resolving the Tibetan issue, China will be able to contribute to her own unity and stability.

I wonder if this is the "phony" consisituion someone mentioned? Amazing that Tibet didn't have a constitution before the "invasion"! Hard to keep the lie going when the holes appear isn't it?

Mr deli liar: Was southern Tibet included in your ge=reat constitution??

Free southern Tibet!

hope wrote:

<quoted text>
His holiness the Dalai Lama will live upto more than a hundred years.
He will lord over the implosion and unravelling of China, if it does not mend its ways by freeing the Tibetan people and democratising itself.

In your dreams maybe. Dollar Lama will be lucky to get through this year.