H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is synonymous with Buddhism, Tibet and compassion. He has given his entire life over to making Buddhism into a global household name, and the practice of altruism into a worldwide phenomenon. Without His Holiness’s untiring efforts in talking about loving kindness and promoting it on an international media platform, the world may not have even come to value the word: COMPASSION .
It is through the Dalai Lama’s relentless efforts and dedication that the world is experiencing this renaissance of Buddhism.
“There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness.”
~ His Holiness, the Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of the government-in-exile based in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Tibetans believe him to be the reincarnation of his predecessors, and an emanation of the Buddha of Compassion: Chenrezig (Tibetan) or Avalokiteshvara (Sanskrit), the patron saint of Tibet.
The origins of the Dalai Lama
In 1578, the Mongolian ruler, Altan Khan bestowed the title Dalai Lama on Sonam Gyatso, the 3rd Dalai Lama. The full Mongolian title means “the wonderful Vajradhara, good splendid meritorious ocean,” and is primarily a translation of the Tibetan words Sonam Gyatso.
The title was later applied retrospectively to the two predecessors in his reincarnation line, Gendun Drub and Gendun Gyatso. Gendun Gyatso was also Sonam Gyatso’s predecessor as abbot of Drepung monastery.
It was in 1642 during the time of the 5th Dalai Lama (1617-1682) that the Dalai Lamas came to be recognised as being the spiritual and temporal leaders of Tibet. Prior to this, the Dalai Lama was recognised as the head of the Gelugpa school of Buddhism since the fourteenth century, and took on the additional role of political leader in the seventeenth century. All Dalai Lamas since then have held that dual responsibility.
The current Dalai Lama is the fourteenth person to hold that title in straight succession.
Auspicious Discovery
The 13th Dalai Lama
When the 13th Dalai Lama passed away in December 1933, the High Lamas prayed for guidance to locate the new Dalai Lama. They relied on traditional methods, signs and oracles in their search for his reincarnation. They finally received a vision that the new Dalai Lama would be found in the northeastern part of Tibet, and that he would be living in a house that had strange gutters and was near a monastery.
Many monks went out on long journeys to find him. After much searching, a group of them came to the village of Taktser, which has a monastery nearby. There they found a child named Lhamo and his house had strangely shaped gutters. They spoke to both the child and his parents, and performed a series of tests. The monks had brought several items with them which belonged to the late 13th Dalai Lama, and placed the items together with other imitations or common objects to test the young boy. When Lhamo had correctly identified the objects that had belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama, the monks knew that they had found the reincarnation of their leader.
On Recognising Incarnations of he Dalai Lama
Traditionally it has been the responsibility of the High Lamas of the Gelugpa Tradition and the Tibetan government to find the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. Upon the death of a Dalai Lama, a consultation with the Nechung Oracle takes place and a search for the Lama’s reincarnation is then conducted. The process can take up to two or three years. In the case of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the search went on for four years before he was found.
The High Lamas employ several ways which would increase the chances of finding the reincarnation. These High Lamas often visit the holy lake, called Lhamo La-tso, in central Tibet and watch for a sign from the lake itself. This may be either a vision or some indication of the direction in which to search, and this was how Tenzin Gyatso was found.
It is said that Palden Lhamo, the female guardian spirit of the sacred lake, Lhamo La-tso, promised Gendun Drup, the 1st Dalai Lama in one of his visions “that she would protect the reincarnation lineage of the Dalai Lamas.” Ever since the time of Gendun Gyatso, the 2nd Dalai Lama, who formalised the system, the Regents and other monks have gone to the lake to seek guidance on choosing the next reincarnation through visions while meditating there.
In 1935, it was at this very lake that the Regent, Reting Rinpoche, received a clear vision of three Tibetan letters and of a monastery with a jade-green and gold roof, and a house with turquoise roof tiles, which led to the discovery of Tenzin Gyatso, the present 14th Dalai Lama.
Once the High Lamas have found the home and the boy they believe to be the reincarnation, the boy undergoes a series of tests to affirm the rebirth. They will present the boy with a number of artefacts, of which only some belong to the previous Dalai Lama. If the boy chooses the ‘right’ items, then this is seen as a sign, in conjunction with all of the other indications, that the boy is the undisputed reincarnation.
The High Lamas will then invite Living Buddhas of the three great monasteries together with secular clergy and monk officials, to confirm their findings and will then report to the Central Government through the Minister of Tibet. Later, a group consisting of the three major servants of Dalai Lama, eminent officials and troops will invite the boy and his family to travel to Lhasa. Usually, the boy would be taken to Drepung Monastery to study the Buddhist sutra in preparation for assuming the role of Spiritual Leader of Tibet.
This has been the tradition.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalai_Lama
Becoming the 14th Dalai Lama
His Holiness was born on 6 July 1935, to a poor farming family in a small hamlet located in the village of Taktser, in the Amdo province of north eastern Tibet. His name was Lhamo Thondup, which literally means Wish-Fulfilling Goddess.
Taktser (Roaring Tiger) was a small and poor settlement that stood on a hill overlooking a broad valley. Its pastures had not been settled or farmed for long, only grazed by nomads. The reason for this was the unpredictability of the weather in that area.
His Holiness writes in his autobiography Freedom in Exile,
“During my early childhood, my family was one of twenty or so
making a precarious living from the land there.”
His parents were small farmers who mostly grew barley, buckwheat and potatoes. His father was a man of medium height with a very quick temper. His Holiness recalls that his mother was undoubtedly one of the kindest people he has ever known. She had a total of sixteen children, of whom only seven survived.
His Holiness had two sisters and four brothers who survived their infancy. Tsering Dolma, the eldest child, was eighteen years older than him. He also had three elder brothers. They were Thupten Jigme Norbu – the eldest, who was recognised as the reincarnation of a high lama, Taktser Rinpoche – Gyalo Thondup and Lobsang Samten. The youngest brother, Tenzin Cheogyal was also recognised as the reincarnation of another high lama, Ngari Rinpoche.
In Freedom in Exile, His Holiness wrote:
“One thing that I remember enjoying particularly as a very young boy was going into the chicken coop to collect the eggs with my mother and then staying behind. I liked to sit in the hens’ nest and make clucking noises.”
“Another favourite occupation of mine as an infant was to pack things in a bag as if I was about to go on a long journey. I’m going to Lhasa, I’m going to Lhasa, I would say. This, coupled with my insistence that I be allowed always to sit at the head of the table, was later said to be an indication that I must have known that I was destined for greater things.”
Lhamo was two years old when he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.
It was reported that he had correctly identified all the items owned by the previous Dalai Lama, exclaiming, “That’s mine! That’s mine.”**
Lhamo Thondup was taken to the Potala Palace in the winter of 1940, where he was officially installed as the spiritual leader of Tibet.
Soon after, the newly recognised Dalai Lama was taken to Jokhang temple where His Holiness was inducted as a novice monk in a ceremony known as “taphue”, meaning cutting of the hair.
From that moment on, he was to be shaven-headed and attired in maroon monk’s robes. In accordance with ancient custom, His Holiness forfeited his name Lhamo Thondup and assumed his new name, Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso.
Source: http://www.cosmicharmony.com/Tibet/DalaiLama/DalaiLama.html
Eminent Education
H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama with his Senior Tutor Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and his Junior Tutor Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche
His Holiness began his monastic education at the age of six. His tutors were H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and H.H. Kyabje Ling Rinpoche. The curriculum consisted of five major and five minor subjects. This is the same primary education that applies to all monks pursuing a doctorate in Buddhist studies. The major subjects included logic, Tibetan art and culture, Sanskrit, medicine, and Buddhist philosophy.
H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama in tantric dress
The last, the most important and the most difficult was subdivided into further five categories: Prajnaparamita, the perfection of wisdom; Madhyamika, the philosophy of the Middle Way; Vinaya, the canon of monastic discipline; Abidharma, metaphysics; and Pramana, logic and epistemology.
The five minor subjects included poetry, music and drama, astrology and phrasing, and synonyms.
At the age of 11, His Holiness met the Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer, having spotted him in Lhasa through his telescope. Harrer effectively became one of the young Dalai Lama’s tutors, and taught him about the outside world. The two remained friends until Harrer’s death in 2006.
At of the age of 23, His Holiness sat for his final examination in the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, during the annual Monlam (prayer) Festival in 1959. He passed with honours and was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest-level degree equivalent to a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy.
“We can never obtain peace in the outer world
until we make peace with ourselves.”
Leaving Tibet
In 1950, His Holiness was called upon to assume full political power, which he did, including going to Beijing in 1954 for peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping.
However in 1959, His Holiness eventually escaped from Tibet to go into exile in India. It was on 17 March 1959 during a consultation with Nechung Oracle that His Holiness was given an explicit instruction to leave the country. The Oracle’s decision was further confirmed when a divination performed by His Holiness produced the same answer. The odds against making a successful break seemed terrifyingly high. However, for the sake of his people and the continuance of Tibet, His Holiness decided to make that 14-day harrowing journey through the Himalayas.
Meeting Mao Zedong
A few minutes before ten o’clock, His Holiness disguised himself as a common soldier, slipped past the massive throng of people along with a small escort party and proceed towards the Kyichu river. There, he was joined by the rest of the entourage, including his immediate family members.
Three weeks after leaving Lhasa, His Holiness and his entourage reached the Indian border from where they were escorted by Indian guards to Bomdila. The Indian government had already agreed to provide asylum to His Holiness and his followers in India. It was in Mussoorie that His Holiness met with the Indian Prime Minister and the two talked about rehabilitating the Tibetan refugees.
His Holiness has been living in Dharamsala, northern India, to this day.
Governing in Exile
The Dalai Lama in 1959
On 20th June 1959, His Holiness called a press conference and broke his self ‘elected’ silence. On that day, His Holiness formally repudiated the Seventeen-Point Agreement.
On 10 March 1960 just before leaving for Dharamsala with the eighty or so officials who comprised the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, His Holiness began what is now a tradition by making a statement on the anniversary of the Tibetan People’s Uprising.
“On this first occasion, I stressed the need for my people to take a long-term view of the situation in Tibet. For those of us in exile, I said that our priority must be resettlement and the continuity of our cultural traditions. As to the future, I stated my belief that, with Truth, Justice and Courage as our weapons, we Tibetans would eventually prevail in regaining freedom for Tibet.”
Source: http://www.dalailama.com/biography/from-birth-to-exile#discovery
His Holiness saw the creation of various new Tibetan government departments. These included Departments of Information, Education, Home, Security, Religious Affairs and Economic Affairs. Most of the Tibetan refugees, whose number had grown to almost 30,000, were moved to road camps in the hills of northern India.
In 1963 His Holiness presented a draft democratic constitution for Tibet, based upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That was followed by a number of reforms to democratise the administrative set-up. The new democratic constitution was named “The Charter of Tibetans in Exile”. The charter enshrines freedom of speech, belief, assembly and movement. It also provides detailed guidelines on the functioning of the Tibetan government with respect to those living in exile.
During 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 regarded as one of the most important institutions for Tibetology in the world.
In September 1987 His Holiness proposed the Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet as the first step towards a peaceful solution to the situation in Tibet. He envisioned that Tibet would become a sanctuary; a zone of peace at the heart of Asia, where all sentient beings can exist in harmony and the delicate environment can be preserved.
In May 1990, the reforms called for by His Holiness saw the realisation of a truly democratic administration in exile for the Tibetan community. The Tibetan Cabinet (Kashag), which till then had been appointed by His Holiness, was dissolved along with the Tenth Assembly of the Tibetan parliament in exile. In the same year, exile Tibetans on the Indian sub-continent and in more than 33 other countries elected 46 members to the expanded Eleventh Tibetan Assembly. In Tibet’s long history, this was the first time that the people elected the political leadership of Tibet.
In 1992, His Holiness issued guidelines for the constitution of a future, free Tibet. He announced that when Tibet becomes free, the immediate task would be to set up an interim government whose first responsibility will be to elect a constitutional assembly to frame and adopt Tibet’s democratic constitution. On that day His Holiness would transfer all his historical and political authority to the Interim President and live as an ordinary citizen. His Holiness also stated that he hoped that Tibet, comprising of the three traditional provinces of U-Tsang, Amdo and Kham, would be federal and democratic.
Advocator of Universal Peace for the World
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a man devoted to peace and the promotion of peace.
In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems.
His Holiness holds THREE ROOT commitments in life
ONE: On the level of humanity, His Holiness’s first commitment is to promote universal moral ethics such as compassion, forgiveness, patience, generosity, concentration and self-discipline. His Holiness remains steadfast in wanting to share the importance of these human values with everyone he meets. This is his first root commitment.
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries.
Without them humanity cannot survive.”
TWO: On the level of spirituality, His Holiness is deeply passionate about promoting religious harmony, and establishing understanding among the world’s major religious traditions. As we live in a global community together, we need to cultivate an appreciation for each other’s religions and traditions. In this respect, there is no one truth or one religion for all, but several truths and several religions for the whole world. This becomes His Holiness’s second root commitment.
“All major religious traditions carry basically the same message. That is love, compassion and forgiveness. The important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”
The Dalai Lama and the Pope
THREE: His Holiness is a Tibetan and holds the title: ‘Dalai Lama’. He is both the temporal “Head of the State” and the “Spiritual Leader” of Tibet. His Holiness reserves the right to act as the free spokesperson of the Tibetan. In this context, his third root commitment is to the Tibetan issue. However, this will cease to exist once a mutually beneficial solution is reached between the Tibetans and Chinese.
“Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”
At all times, His Holiness will carry on with the first two root commitments until his last breath.
His Holiness has travelled to more than 62 countries spanning six continents. He has met with presidents, prime ministers and crowned rulers of major nations. He has held dialogues with the heads of different religions and many well-known scientists.
The Dalai Lama meets Barack Obama
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. He was given honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and was awarded the United States Congressional Gold Medal during October 2007. He has received more than 100 honorary conferment and major awards.
Since 1959 His Holiness has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. His Holiness has also authored more than 72 books.
However, it was after winning the Nobel Peace Prize that the public awareness of the Dalai Lama became even more prevalent. With that, the keen interest in Buddhism began to rise and spread.
The Dalai Lama and Richard Gere, one of the many Western celebrities who have adopted Buddhism
The Dalai Lama has been the subject of several motion pictures, including Seven Years in Tibet starring Brad Pitt, Martin Scorsese’s feature film Kundun, as well as documentary films, including the 2008 theatrically released Dalai Lama Renaissance, narrated by Harrison Ford.
On 17 December 2008, after months of speculation, the Dalai Lama announced his semi-retirement. He said that the future course of the movement he had directed for nearly five decades would now be decided by the elected parliament-in-exile with the Prime Minister, Samdhong Rinpoche.
The then 73-year-old Nobel laureate, who had undergone surgery, told reporters in Dharamsala,
“I have grown old… It is better if I retire completely and get out of the way of the Tibetan movement.”
His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, has stated that there is a chance that he will not be reborn.
In his autobiography, Freedom In Exile, he states that after he dies it is possible that his people will no longer want a Dalai Lama, in which case there would be no need to search for his reincarnation.
“So, I might take rebirth as an insect, or an animal – whatever would be of most value to the largest number of sentient beings”.
His Holiness often describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. However, to the world over, His Holiness is highly regarded as an icon of peace – a Living Buddha of compassion.
“Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama needs no introduction, but I thought this condensed biography would be inspirational, and nice to read for a blessing also. Reading the biographies of holy people that dedicate their lives to others really makes us think of what we are doing with our lives. It makes us lessen or examine our excuses of not doing more. His Holiness is a modern day living legend and saint. I thought it would be a great blessing to share his sacred life here. May His Holiness live very long. May you be inspired as I have been for many decades now.
Humbly,
Tsem Rinpoche
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His Holiness was born to a farming family in a small hamlet located in the village of Taktser, in north eastern Tibet. He was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso when he is 2 years old. He taken to the Potala Palace and was officially installed as the spiritual leader of Tibet. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. At the age of six, His Holiness began his monastic education .
Following the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa by Chinese troops, His Holiness was forced to escape into exile, living in Dharamsala since then. His Holiness has travelled to many countries to spread Buddhist teachings and to promote interfaith harmony and peace. His Holiness has received many awards , honorary doctorates, prizes, and so forth internationally , in recognition of his message of peace and non-violence.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Personally what i really admired most in the Dalai Lama is his SIMPLICITY, HUMILITY, SPIRITUALLY and HIS COMPASSION. As a man who is so dedicated to peace, he feels that he has a primary commitment towards his intended promotion of universal moral ethics, such as compassion, forgiveness, patience, generosity, concentration, and self-discipline to everyone and is steadfast in wanting to share all his values with everybody. He also has speht relentness efforts in trying to establish religious harmony and understanding amongst major religous traditions in a global community. “There is no one truth or one religion for all, but several truths and several religions for the whole world”. He feels the need for all people who live together in a global community to cultivate an appreciation for each other’s religion for the whole world. His holiness compassion knows no bounds as illustrated in one of the BBCNews report that i came accross many years ago over KFC fast food chain “Abandoned” plan to open outlets in Tibet. The Dalai Lama objected to the opening with the argument that “introduction of industrial food practices into Tibet would perpetuate animal suffering, and he has been particularly concerned with the sufferings of chickens for many years. It was the death of a chicken that finally strenthened his resolve to become vegeterian. These days, when he sees a row of plucked chickens in the meat shop, it hurts. WITH HIS HOLINESS’S UNTIRING EFFORTS IN TALKING ABOUT LOVING KINDNESS AND PROMOTING ON INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PLATFORM, THE WORLD MAY NOT HAVE EVEN COME TO VALUE THE WORD “COMPASSION”.
Thank you Rinpoche for a concise autobiography on one of the most influential people our time. His Holiness has done much to promote Buddhism to so many in the world, and as you pointed out before in one of our videos His Holiness has managed to raise the status of Buddhism to the level it is now through his tireless efforts. Many Buddhist masters and organisations have benefited from His Holiness works.
It’s probably an obvious thing to say, but for me, HH The Dalai Lama represents the complete essence of spirituality. What I find most amazing about him is his incredible humility. I’ve watched HH The Dalai Lama in interviews where he seems to take on the role as the student, always eager to listen and willing to learn from others, and to call himself a simple monk…if ever there was a prime example of how we should conduct ourselves in body, speech and mind, HH The Dalai Lama is THE example. What an inspiration. And he’s always jolly too!
Kind regards,
Sandy
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for this clear and inspiring biography of HH the 14th Dalai Lama, and account of his immense role in bringing Buddhism’s heart values of Compassion, Peace and Forgiveness to all corners of the world making Buddhism synonymous with these values.
Just like all the great lineage masters that Rinpoche has posted about in this blog, including Pabongkha Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche, HH realizes these values, in an altruistic manner, by embodying them in the way he lives his daily life.So must we all aspire to do.
There are so many very inspiring quotations of HH, but one I find especially meaningful is:
“Today more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life”.
With these words, HH has spelt out very clearly our Universal responsibility to express and engage in ‘compassion without boundaries and borders’, compassion towards all living beings.
please, do a divination and ask Her something about me.
She knows me. JHO!
1) I want to know if I will ever attain Enlightenment in this life.
2) I want to know if I will ever find a Lama
3) … if my death is close.
4) … what is the name(if He/She has)of my Great Main Protector.
5) … how to pray to HH Jessus and to Her.
Rinpoche, I thank you so much for your answer.
please be so kind and answer me another question: when I first heared you reciting HH Palden Lhamo ‘s Holy Mantra, I v heared like ”Celestial Cry” you know, something like that.(2 nd part of ”The Great Protector SETRAP”) this cry can mean that my karma is very negative, or that the entire world is in great danger?
(i think both of them).
Thank you so much Rinpoche for posting such a clear and unusual biography of His Holiness, free from propaganda done by some parties. I like how Rinpoche listed down the agendas and duties of His Holiness because it helps to dispel once and for all those doubts and rumors that persists against His Holiness for so long. There is nothing like this anywhere on the net and most articles pertaining to His Holiness usually have anti chinese propaganda attached to it.
It is still very refreshing and inspiring to me every time Rinpoche mentions a lineage lama or a saint’s biography and especially of Rinpoche’s Gurus because it helps give me an idea on which direction i should develop my mind and thinking to. Every time i read a new post on Rinpoche’s blog or attend Rinpoche’s teachings i feel that my mind has improved a little and people around me feel happier with me…and for this i am very grateful for being able to meet Rinpoche in this life.
HH the 14th Dalai Lama is a great visionary,spiritual leader, teacher,ambassador, father and friend to all. He is deeply loved and respected by the Tibetans and people from all walks of life who have been inspired and touched by applying his teachings and philosophy to lead fuller lives through benefiting others.
Among all the holy figures I have met and admired there is non other more HUMAN and charismatic than HH the Dalai Lama. A British reporter living in Dharamsala related this story to show how impish HH could be:
On an international flight HH was seated next to a young woman who watched stupefied as HH tuck into a beef steak. Unable to hide her curiosity she asked HH: “Aren’t you the Dalai Lama?” HH looked at her and said ” Yes, I am.” “But you are eating beef steak?” the woman sputtered. To that HH responded, ” Not all Tibetans are GOOD people,” his eyes twinkling with mischief.
On one of his many teaching overseas tours which I attended, HH would surprise by responding to complicated questions from the floor with an impish and spontaneous “I DON’T KNOW?” and chuckles, sending everyone laughing.
HH is a strong advocate of justice and human rights and the protection of global environment.
May HH the 14th Dalai Lama, the powerful chenrezig live very long until the end of existence to bring peace, harmony,happiness and benefits to many people. May you be inspired as I have been.
I was introduced to Tibetan Buddhism through Dalai Lama’s books.
He promotes Tibetan Buddhism to modern day lay people in the way they can relate to. Forget about all the politics, mysticism and rituals that surround the Tibetan lineages, HH Dalai Lama speaks clearly on the essence of the practice and won people from both the West and East.
Once again Rinpoche has made the knowledge on our lineage Lamas easy for us. Thank you Rinpoche for the condensed and clear biography of Dalai Lama.
What an amazingly comprehensive history of the Dalai Lama. I think the most amazing contribution of the Dalai Lama is to give a kind and compassionate face to Buddhism. His worldwide appeal is phenomenal and has brought Buddhism to faraway lands and to people who would otherwise wouldn’t appreciate Buddhism or specifically Tibetan Buddhism as a world recognised religion. The Dalai Lama did that and set the stage for many other Lamas, monks and teachers to spread Buddhism. He is indeed Chenrezig!
“He envisioned that Tibet would become a sanctuary; a zone of peace at the heart of Asia, where all sentient beings can exist in harmony and the delicate environment can be preserved.”
Doesn’t this seem like what Kechara is doing too? Malaysia as a main center, and then around the world! So eloquently His Holiness evokes our desire to preserve an important piece of the earth, Tibet. Robert Thurman(Tibet House, Columbia University, USA) has said, Tibet feeds China’s greatest rivers, and that Tibet’s exploitation will lead directly to human suffering and death in China and Tibet.
It is difficult for anyone who had read HH’s books or writings and not feel something. If you are a scholar,it can be a sense of satisfaction at receiving answers to many questions from reading his clear writings.If we have problems or issues, it can be a feeling of joy due to his wise practical advices which we can easily adopt.
He is a true universal teacher of our century.No other Buddhist leaders had such an impact on the world and able to reach out to so wide a spectrum of people.Compassion, his universal message, does conquer all. HH’s bio and struggles reflect this beautiful quality which he is tirelessly helping every one to cultivate , for one’s inner peace, World Peace and achieving true happiness.
Dear Yoshiaki,
1. Pelden Hlamo is a fully enlightened Buddha, so practicing her in any way is very beneficial.
2. You may dissolve all Buddhas, Yidams, and enlightened beings into her and then do your puja to her. In that way she becomes like a yidam.
3. Her prayers/propitiation texts are not set out in the same way as a yidam, but it has many benefits.
4. For now, it would be ok to practice her all the way and devote yourself to her.
Pelden Hlamo is truy magnificent. I have tremendous trust in her.
Good luck to you,
Tsem Tulku
I remember Rinpoche also explained to us once that Chenrezig is known for having made a prayer, “May I always be reborn in the worst of hells, among the greatest suffering, so that I might be able to help the beings there” (not verbatim, but carrying that message).
The Dalai Lama, as an emanation of Chenrezig, shows us this in action for sure – emanating in what has probably been the most difficult times. From total political upheaval within his country, to having to resettle in a completely foreign land, and bringing Buddhism to the difficult, resistant, 21st-Century minds. And yet, it is by these very difficulties that he has brought Buddhism to so much of the world. It is by his example of kindness, in the face of so much adversity, even criticism (and he has received plenty of this even from his own people), that has inspired so many others onto a spiritual path. By him, so many have begun a journey that will relieve their sufferings – just as Chenrezig promised to do for samsara.
Andrew, I love that quote too – it’s always been fascinating to me that Bodhisattvas can and will reincarnate in any form, as long as it will be of the greatest benefit to the greatest number of beings. They could be any one among us – an old lady, a prostitute, a dog, a beggar on the street, the supermarket cashier… (and there have been many accounts which tell of how these beings manifest as ordinary beings but those with attainments can see their real nature as a Buddha).
I love this because it encourages us to look at the possible and inherent enlightened nature of every being we come across, instead of merely focusing on their negativities. It’s a totally new way of looking at difficult people! We begin to think that perhaps this is an enlightened being who is “testing” us and pushing us towards greater patience / kindness / generosity. We shift from merely focusing on their negative traits to focusing on how WE react and act to them. A much more positive way of living!
Thank you for this condensed biography which shows the enlightened qualities of HH the 14th Dalai Lama. He is probably the person who has singlehandedly brought more awareness about Buddhism to the world at large than any other person this century. It is quite an achievement that the Dalai Lama has become an icon for peace and compassion and respected by people the world over, even non-Buddhists.
Personally, i like this quote best, “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.” It tells me to get my act together and learn more! HH the Dalai Lama is very inspirational. May he live long and spread his message of peace and harmony everywhere.
What must have I done in the past to gain the chance to live in the same world as extrordinary people such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama?
What must have I done to be able to see his picture in the media, to have access to his biography, and read this blog about him?
What must I have done in the past to come across the Dalai Lama and be inspired, be moved, and recognize such extraordinary qualities in him?
Well, I don’t know what I have done, but I know that I now have a unique chance to get my acts together and work my way towards this incredible example of compassion and wisdom.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for posting the precious information. I pray really hard that such a PRECIOUS and PURE PRESENCE of H.H. DALAI LAMA REMAIN UNTIL SAMSARA’s END! People, please pray hard too… and the Chinese leaders, please STOP having negative thoughts of His Holiness!
Rinpoche, if I get a abhisheka on Palden Lhamo, cen I practice Her as a Yidam?
“All major religious traditions carry basically the same message.
That is love, compassion and forgiveness.
The important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”
Through all the difficulties that His Holiness faced he has untirelessly worked hard to spread the Buddhadharma through the practiced of love, compassion and forgiveness. This is so important for us to apply into our daily lives during this degenerating times and His Holiness sets this example by practicing what he preached.
“So, I might take rebirth as an insect, or an animal – whatever would be of most value to the largest number of sentient beings”.
Wow, another example of His Holiness compassion for us to follow.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for posting up this inspirational article. This article remind me of how hard Rinpoche had to go though during those early years and Rinpoche never gave up but to apply love, compassion and forgiveness to overcome those difficulties and obstacles to benefit others.
From my memory of history, religions are spread through Victors conquering and acquiring new territories, but for Tibetan Buddhism it is through the “lost” of Tibet for the Dalai Lama.
To me this difference shows the nature of Buddhism which is totally aligned to love, care and compassion the constitution to human rights in its truest form.
The Dalai Lama is revered by the spiritual, the political leaders, celebrities, the poor, the rich the known and unknown for what he represents.
Is he a Simple Monk? Yes,When His Holiness lives by “There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples, my philosophy is Kindness”. So simple an ideology but so difficult to follow.
This is a beautiful account of the Dalai Lama for the rest of us to read up and understand how much this man has endured and what he has done for Buddhism, in general.
Wherever the Dalai Lama goes, he promotes peace for the world and non-violence. More than anything else, Buddhism would not have been so globally recognised if it was not for His Holiness’s relentless efforts and “voice”.
In leaving Tibet, the Dalai Lama has made Tibet international. Now, Tibet resides in every person who practises the way of life that is unique to the land of the snows, preservered for so many centuries – a pure lineage. In a way, Tibet is everywhere.
Thank you, Rinpoche for this very inspiring story. It motivates me to dream higher and do more. Thank you.
Thank you RInpoche for posting this wonderful insight of His Holiness. It is really inspiring to learn about the struggles and the contribution of His Holiness for the freedom of Tibet and the spread of Buddhist teachings. By reading this, it makes my struggles looks so small as compared to what is faced by His Holiness. May the Dalai Lama live long and May Rinpoche live long.
Thank You Rinpoche for making it so easy for us to learn the history of His Holiness. For me, it makes the Kechara way and objectives even purer and richer than before. What seemed like a loss and a disaster for for His Holiness at the beginning, e,g, his “loss” of Tibet, spurred the the greatest spread of the Buddha’s teachings ever. It is apparent now that in “letting go” of Tibet, His Holiness gained the world – the underlying philosophy that is very much alive in all Kechara activities.
Thank you Rinpoche for this blessing.
Terima Kasih Rinpoche!
This quote attributed to His Holiness has intrigued me for some time…
“If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality. By learning from science about aspects of reality where its understanding may be more advanced, I believe that Buddhism enriches its own worldview.”
http://www.katinkahesselink.net/tibet/dalai-lama-quotes.html
Any thoughts on this? Sadhu!
It is indeed inspiring and humbling at the same time. I especially love and admire the part where he said: “So, I might take rebirth as an insect, or an animal – whatever would be of most value to the largest number of sentient beings”. WOW!
If one needs any further proof of His Holiness’s compassion or selflessness, it is right there in that one statement. Not that one needs that as His Holiness does it unconditionally and is beyond what we want and what we think… he just IS!
Even to think or have any incling to aspire to be like His Holiness I think is cause for good merit as it plants the seeds in us. I pray and wish this for myself and others that we may be able to commit to Dharma in order to benefit others… may we create a shining example to the world through Kechara and eventually KWPC in this time of the Buddhist Renaissance