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report on teachings of Dalai Lama

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Answered by MARCELLA02
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama is one of the most beloved and recognized leaders of our time. He is the spiritual leader of Tibet, but his presence and impact is known worldwide as a statesman, spiritual teacher, and theologian. Also known by his given religious name, Tenzin Gyatso, he is the fourteenth person to be recognized as a Dalai Lama.

What is a Dalai Lama? As written on his office’s official website, “The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are believed to be enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.”

The 81-year-old self-proclaimed “simple monk” has dedicated his life to the service of humanity, promoting a universal “religion of human kindness.” As a spokesman for the peaceful and compassionate resolution of conflict, he promotes love and compassion on a global scale, and urges all beings to create their own happinesses



The life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Early life

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was born Lhamo Thondup on July 6, 1935 to a Tibetan farming family in Taktser, a peasant village in northeastern Tibet. He was one of sixteen children born into the family, nine of whom had died in infancy. At the age of two, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. A search team had been sent out by the Tibetan government, and after following signs and visions, they were led to Lhamo Dhonup’s house. The location of the home had been described in a vision from the Panchen Lama before his death.



The 14th Dalai Lama as a young boy. Image via public domain.

The search team posed as pilgrims, and their leader, Kewtsang Rinpoche, disguised as a servant, interacted with the boy, who recognized him as a “lama from Sera.”

The search party returned weeks later with dignitaries and performed a series of formal tests, including showing the boy objects that had belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama amongst others which had not. Lhamo Thondup chose the previous Dalai Lama’s objects each time, and so he was identified as the 14th Dalai Lama.

The boy was taken to live at Kumbum Monastery, where he remained for a long eighteen months, due to a ransom requested by warlord Ma Bufang for the boy to leave Lhasa.

Shortly after his fourth birthday, Lhamo Thondup embarked on a three-month journey to the capital city of Tibet with his family. Officials kept their recognition of Lhamo Thondup as the 14th Dalai Lama a secret from all until they had exited Ma Bufang’s area. Once Lhamo Thondup was officially deemed the reincarnated Dalai Lama he was renamed Tenzin Gyasto.

Education

At the age of six, the Dalai Lama began his formal Buddhist education in Tibet, living at the Potala Palace and studying with a succession of tutors. He studied subjects such as Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan culture, Sanskrit, and memorized Buddhist scripture. He was able to visit with his family twice a month.

In 1950, Eastern Tibet was invaded by Chinese communist forces. His Holiness, now 15 years old, assumed his position as the formal leader of the nation. The teenager was now the leader of six million people who faced the threat of a war. In 1951, he sent a delegation to meet with Chinese communist leaders in Beijing, and the “Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet” was signed, supposedly by force, surrendering Tibet to Chinese rule. The Dalai Lama traveled to Beijing in 1954 for peace talks and to discuss China’s constitution in an attempt to create a peaceful solution with China. Amidst conflict in Tibet, he traveled to India in 1956 to celebrate Buddha’s birthday, and met with India’s Prime Minister, asking to take refuge there, but he was discouraged against doing so.

In 1959, at the age of 23, the Dalai Lama took his final exam at Lhasa Johkhang Temple and passed with honors. He was awarded the geshe degree, the highest level of Buddhist education, and the equivalent to a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy.

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