beholders.org

Lhamo Dhondup was born on July 6th 1935, to a farming family in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet. At the age of two the child was renamed Tenzin Gyatso at the time that he 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, chosen to serve humanity.

At the age of 6 he started studying logic, Tibetan art and culture, Sanskrit, medicine, and Buddhist philosophy as well as poetry, music and drama, astrology, motre and phrasing, and synonyms.  At 23 he 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. 

His life took a major turn when he was 14 years old, with the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Because Tibet had a temporary government at the time, until the Dalai Lama became old enough to rule, it was seen as particularly vulnerable. On 17 November 1950, at the age of fifteen, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama was enthroned as Tibet's absolute ruler. 

Under a lot of pressure from the invading Chinese army, in 1951, the Tibetan delegate, appointed by the Dalai Lama, to pacify the invading Chinese army, signed the Seventeen Point Agreement which was ratified by the Dalai Lama a few months later. The agreement stated that:

"The Central Authorities will not alter the existing political system in Tibet. The Central Authorities also will not alter the established status, functions and powers of the Dalai Lama. Officials of various ranks shall hold office as usual, guarantees freedom of religion and that the Central Authorities will not effect any change in the income of the monasteries." Among other points. None of those points have been followed. 

After several requests for international help that went unanswered, in 1954, the Dalai Lama (who was 19 at the time) went to Beijing for peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders.  But finally, in 1959, with the brutal suppression of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa by Chinese troops, he was forced to escape into exile due to the threats to his life. He would never be allowed to return to Tibet again.

Ironically, this is where the real international influence of the Dalai Lama begins, taking him from a Tibetan leader to a respected spiritual leader world wide.

His approach to forgiveness, understanding and compassion has served as lesson to millions in the world. Through the years the Dalai Lama has been recognized by governmental and interfaith organizations alike as an instrumental part of peace negotiations throughout the world. He has won endless awards as a peace icon and Nobel laureate and has received the Congressional Gold Medal of honor.

A few of his wise words can be found below: