Dalai Lama brief biography
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born on July 6, 1935, in northeastern Tibet. The Dalai Lama is a title bestowed upon the Tibetan spiritual leader. At the age of two, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. He is believed to be manifestation of the Bodhisattva (person on the path to Buddhahood) of Compassion.
When the Dalai Lama was four, he was sent on a ten-week caravan to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. He spent his childhood in the Potala Palace and the summer residence of Norbulingka. He lived a mostly isolated life and was taught by a succession of tutors.
In 1950, China invaded Tibet. In addition to his spiritual leadership role, His Holiness became the political leader of Tibet at the tender age of 15. In the following year, the Tibetan government was pressured and forced into accepting an agreement that incorporated Tibet into the People’s Republic of China. The remainder of the decade was marked by high tension between these adversaries and in 1959 the Chinese brutally suppressed a Tibetan uprising. His Holiness, fearing for his life, was forced to escape. He has since been living in exile in Dharamsala, India.
In the years since his exile, he has traveled to over 65 countries bringing awareness to the plight of Tibetans. He has authored or co-authored at least 110 books and made countless public appearances, discussing issues concerning economics, the environment, interfaith dialogue, women’s rights, sexuality, nonviolence, and Buddhist teachings.
Since the mid-1980s, His Holiness has fostered dialogue between Buddhist monks and notable scientists in the fields of cosmology, neurobiology, psychology, and quantum physics. These cooperative efforts have yielded fascinating insights, especially in terms of mindfulness and the achievement of personal peace.
The 14th Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent opposition to China's forceful occupation and for his “Buddhist peace philosophy on reverence for all living things and the idea of universal responsibility that embraces both man and nature.”
Now in his eighties, the Dalai Lama continues his tireless campaign of peace through compassion.
When the Dalai Lama was four, he was sent on a ten-week caravan to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. He spent his childhood in the Potala Palace and the summer residence of Norbulingka. He lived a mostly isolated life and was taught by a succession of tutors.
In 1950, China invaded Tibet. In addition to his spiritual leadership role, His Holiness became the political leader of Tibet at the tender age of 15. In the following year, the Tibetan government was pressured and forced into accepting an agreement that incorporated Tibet into the People’s Republic of China. The remainder of the decade was marked by high tension between these adversaries and in 1959 the Chinese brutally suppressed a Tibetan uprising. His Holiness, fearing for his life, was forced to escape. He has since been living in exile in Dharamsala, India.
In the years since his exile, he has traveled to over 65 countries bringing awareness to the plight of Tibetans. He has authored or co-authored at least 110 books and made countless public appearances, discussing issues concerning economics, the environment, interfaith dialogue, women’s rights, sexuality, nonviolence, and Buddhist teachings.
Since the mid-1980s, His Holiness has fostered dialogue between Buddhist monks and notable scientists in the fields of cosmology, neurobiology, psychology, and quantum physics. These cooperative efforts have yielded fascinating insights, especially in terms of mindfulness and the achievement of personal peace.
The 14th Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent opposition to China's forceful occupation and for his “Buddhist peace philosophy on reverence for all living things and the idea of universal responsibility that embraces both man and nature.”
Now in his eighties, the Dalai Lama continues his tireless campaign of peace through compassion.