14th Dalai Lama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tenzin Gyatso |
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| 14th Dalai Lama | |
The Dalai Lama in 2012
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| 14th Dalai Lama | |
| Reign | 22 February 1940 – present |
| Predecessor | 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso |
| Regent |
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| Head of the Tibetan Administration for Tibetans-in-exile | |
| In office | 14 June 1991 – 2011 |
| Head of State of Tibet | |
| In office | 10 March 1963 – 13 June 1991 |
| Director of the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region | |
| In office | 1956–1959 |
| Predecessor | Office established |
| Successor | 10th Panchen Lama, Choekyi Gyaltsen (acting) |
| Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress | |
| In office | 27 September 1954 – 3 January 1965 |
| Born | Lhamo Thondup 6 July 1935 Taktser, Amdo |
| Father | Choekyong Tsering |
| Mother | Diki Tsering |
| Religion | Tibetan Buddhism, Gelug school |
| Signature |  |
The 14th Dalai Lama (born Lhamo Thondup on 6 July 1935) is the most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism. His full spiritual name is Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, but he is often called Tenzin Gyatso. Before 1959, he was both the religious and political leader of Tibet. After leaving Tibet, he set up and led the Tibetan government in exile in India.
Followers of Tibetan Buddhism believe the Dalai Lama is a living Bodhisattva. This means he is a special being who chooses to be reborn to help others. He is seen as a form of Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The name Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom. Tibetans also call him Gyalwa Rinpoche, which means The Precious Jewel-like Buddha-Master. Many people around the world call him His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is also a monk and leader of the Gelug school, which is a part of Tibetan Buddhism.
The 14th Dalai Lama was born into a farming family in a small village called Taktser in Tibet. He was chosen as the next Dalai Lama in 1937 and officially recognized in 1939. His special ceremony was held in Lhasa on 22 February 1940. When he was 15, in 1950, he took on his full duties as leader.
In 1959, during a time of trouble in Tibet, the Dalai Lama went to live in India. He still lives there today. In India, he created the Tibetan government in exile. He stepped down as the political head in 2011 to allow for a more democratic government. The Dalai Lama works to help Tibetans and has asked for a peaceful solution with China since the 1970s. This idea, called the Middle Way Approach, aims for Tibetans to keep their culture and religion while remaining part of China.
The Dalai Lama travels all over the world. He teaches about Tibetan Buddhism and attends meetings about many topics. These include how religion and science can work together. He also meets with world leaders, religious leaders, and scientists. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Time magazine called him a spiritual successor to Mahatma Gandhi for his focus on nonviolence.
Contents
Finding the 14th Dalai Lama
Lhamo Thondup was born on 6 July 1935. His family were farmers and traded horses in a small village called Taktser. This village was on the edge of the traditional Tibetan region of Amdo. He was one of seven children who lived past childhood. Two of his brothers were also recognized as important reincarnated lamas. His sister, Jetsun Pema, helped create the Tibetan Children's Villages. The Dalai Lama has said his first language was a Chinese dialect.
After the 13th Dalai Lama passed away, people began searching for his reincarnation. This search followed special traditions and rules. One important sign was that the head of the 13th Dalai Lama's embalmed body turned to face the northeast. This was seen as a sign pointing to where his successor would be found. The Regent, Reting Rinpoche, also had a vision at a sacred lake. This vision showed a large monastery with a golden roof and a small house nearby.
Three search teams were sent out. One team, led by Kewtsang Rinpoche, went to the northeast. They visited the Panchen Lama, another high lama, who had already found three possible candidates. One of these candidates was a "fearless" child from Taktser village. This village was on a hill, just like in the vision. It was also near the great Kumbum Monastery with its golden roof. There, they found the house where Lhamo Dhondup lived.
When the search team visited, they pretended to be pilgrims. Their leader, a Sera Lama, sat in the kitchen. He held a prayer bead necklace that belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama. The two-year-old boy, Lhamo Dhondup, walked up and asked for it. The monk said, "If you know who I am, you can have it." The child replied, "Sera Lama, Sera Lama," and spoke in a special accent that his mother did not understand.
The next time the team returned, they revealed their true purpose. They showed the boy pairs of objects. One object in each pair had belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama, and the other had not. In every case, the boy chose the correct objects.
The village of Taktser was on the border between Tibet and China. The local Chinese ruler, Ma Bufang, wanted to control the search for the Dalai Lama. He demanded money before allowing the boy and his family to travel to Lhasa. After two years of talks and payments, the family was finally allowed to leave.
On 21 July 1939, the four-year-old Lhamo Dhondup began his journey to Lhasa. He traveled in a special carriage. Once they were out of Ma Bufang's area, he was officially declared the 14th Dalai Lama. He arrived in Lhasa on 8 October 1939. He received his monastic name, Tenzin Gyatso, and was ordained as a monk. His family became part of the highest group in Tibetan society.
In 1959, at age 23, he took his final exams at Lhasa's Jokhang Temple. He passed with high honors and received the Lharampa degree. This is the highest degree in Buddhist philosophy, similar to a doctorate.
The Dalai Lama had several teachers in Tibet. When he was 11, he met an Austrian mountaineer named Heinrich Harrer. Harrer taught him about the world outside Lhasa. They remained friends for many years.
Life as the Dalai Lama
Historically, the Dalai Lamas were both the political and religious leaders of Tibet. This began in 1642. The 14th Dalai Lama's childhood was spent between the Potala Palace and Norbulingka, his summer home. Both are now important historical sites.
In October 1950, the army of the People's Republic of China entered Tibet. On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, the 14th Dalai Lama took on his full political power as the ruler of Tibet. This was earlier than usual because of the difficult situation.
Working with China
The Dalai Lama's time as the head of the Tibetan government was short. When Chinese forces arrived in 1950, he became the head of state at age 15. He sent a group to Beijing, who signed an agreement with China in 1951. This agreement, called the Seventeen Point Agreement, recognized China's control over Tibet. However, it also allowed the Dalai Lama to continue leading Tibet internally.
From 1954 to 1955, the 19-year-old Dalai Lama visited China. He met many Chinese leaders, including Chairman Mao Zedong. He learned about Chinese culture and socialist ideas. In September 1954, he became a Vice-chairman of the National People's Congress. He held this position until 1964.
In 1956, during a trip to India, the Dalai Lama asked India's Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, if he could stay in India if needed. Nehru advised against it, wanting to avoid problems with China.
China often calls the Dalai Lama a "splittist" or "traitor." However, the Dalai Lama has tried to have talks with China about Tibet's future. The United States has encouraged China to talk with the Dalai Lama without conditions. China sometimes bans pictures of the Dalai Lama in Tibet and arrests people for having them.
The Dalai Lama's office has also been targeted by cyberattacks. Security experts believe these attacks come from China. Stolen documents have included the Dalai Lama's personal emails.
Living in India
In 1959, during the 1959 Tibetan uprising, the Dalai Lama feared for his safety. He fled Tibet and went to India. He set up the Government of Tibet in Exile in Dharamshala, India. This place is often called "Little Lhasa." He helped about 80,000 Tibetan refugees who followed him to India. He helped them create new homes and farms.
He also started a Tibetan education system. This system teaches Tibetan children their language, history, religion, and culture. He supported the rebuilding of many monasteries and nunneries. This helped preserve Tibetan Buddhist teachings and the Tibetan way of life.
The Dalai Lama asked the United Nations to help protect the rights of Tibetans. The UN passed resolutions in 1959, 1961, and 1965. These resolutions asked China to respect the human rights of Tibetans. In 1963, he created a democratic constitution for the Tibetan government in exile. This constitution is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1970, he opened the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. This library holds many important Tibetan manuscripts and resources.
Global Efforts
In 1987, the Dalai Lama gave a speech in Washington, D.C. He shared his ideas for Tibet's future. He wanted Tibet to become a peaceful, democratic area without nuclear weapons. This plan was called the "Strasbourg proposal." He suggested that Tibet could be self-governing but still connected to China. However, this plan was later rejected by the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. The Dalai Lama has said he wants to return to Tibet only if China agrees to no conditions for his return.
The Dalai Lama celebrated his 70th birthday on 6 July 2005. Many Tibetan refugees, monks, and tourists gathered to celebrate. He also speaks out against nuclear weapons. He is part of the Advisory Council of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. He supports the idea of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. This group wants to make the United Nations more democratic.
Teaching and Public Talks
Even as he gets older, the Dalai Lama keeps a busy schedule of talks and teachings around the world. His public talks are often broadcast live online in many languages. You can find many of his past teaching videos on his website.
One of his most famous teachings is the Kalachakra tantra. He has given this teaching many times, often to very large crowds. Sometimes, up to 200,000 people attend these events. The Kalachakra is a complex Buddhist teaching that can take two weeks to explain.
The Dalai Lama has written many books about Buddhism. These books cover general Buddhist topics and specific practices like Dzogchen. In his essay "The Ethic of Compassion" (1999), he writes that compassion should extend to everyone, not just those we love. He believes that developing empathy makes us better humans.
He often visits different countries to teach large Buddhist groups. These teachings are usually based on old Buddhist texts. The Dalai Lama sees himself as a follower of the great masters from the Nalanda monastery in ancient India. He believes that Tibetan Buddhism is based on their teachings.
In India, the Dalai Lama gives religious teachings for free. When he travels abroad, there is usually a ticket fee to cover costs. Any extra money often goes to charities. He has also visited many colleges and universities. Some have given him special awards. Many videos of his public talks on topics like peace, happiness, and the environment are available online.
Talking with Other Religions
The Dalai Lama has met with many religious leaders from around the world. He met Pope Paul VI in 1973 and Pope John Paul II several times. He has also met with Jewish teachers, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, and leaders from Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh faiths.
In 2009, he opened a conference called "World Religions-Dialogue and Symphony." In 2010, he started the Common Ground Project. This project helps people find common ideas between Islam and Buddhism. In 2019, he supported a conference about diversity in the Muslim world.
Interest in Science
The Dalai Lama has always been interested in science and technology. As a child, he loved to fix and take apart mechanical objects like clocks and cars. He once looked at the Moon through a telescope and realized it was a rocky body, not a glowing heavenly one. He has said that if he hadn't become a monk, he might have been an engineer.
He believes that science and Buddhism share a similar approach. Both challenge old ideas based on what can be observed and analyzed. He wanted to have serious discussions with scientists. This led to the creation of the Mind and Life Institute in 1987. This institute brings together the Dalai Lama and scientists to talk about topics like the mind, consciousness, and the brain.
These discussions have led to many books and scientific studies. Science subjects have also been added to the lessons for Tibetan monks. The Dalai Lama believes that if science proves something in Buddhism to be false, then Buddhists must accept the scientific findings. He has even changed some of his own old Buddhist ideas based on science.
Important Beliefs
Tibet's Future
The Dalai Lama no longer supports full independence for Tibet. Instead, he wants Tibetans to have more control over their own affairs within China. This idea is called the "Middle Way." In 2017, he said that Tibetans want to stay with China and get more development. In 2020, he said he hoped to visit China as a Nobel Prize winner. He believes that different ethnic groups can live in harmony within China.
Death Penalty
The Dalai Lama is against the death penalty. He says it goes against the Buddhist idea of non-violence. He believes it shows anger, not compassion. He thinks criminals should be punished but also shown that they can change. He has praised countries and states that have stopped using the death penalty.
Democracy and Peace
The Dalai Lama actively shares India's message of nonviolence and religious harmony. He sees India as a teacher for Tibet, especially in Buddhism. He believes that the 21st century should be a time of understanding and discussion, not violence.
He has also spoken against trying to convert people to a new religion using tricks. He believes this goes against religious harmony. He says that fighting in the name of religion is very sad.
In 2001, he said that it is okay to defend yourself if someone is trying to kill you, but you should not kill them. In 2013, he criticized Buddhist monks who attacked Muslims in Myanmar. He said that violence by Buddhists is wrong. He reminded people that Buddha teaches forgiveness and compassion. He believes all problems should be solved through talking.
Diet and Animal Welfare
The Dalai Lama encourages people to be kind to animals. He often asks people to try being vegetarian or to eat less meat. In Tibet, meat was a common food. The Dalai Lama became vegetarian after moving to India, where vegetables are easier to find. However, after getting sick, his doctors told him to eat meat twice a week. His own kitchen at home is completely vegetarian.
Economy and Politics
The Dalai Lama has called himself a Marxist. He has also criticized capitalism. He learned about Marxist ideas during his trip to Beijing. He liked the ideas of self-sufficiency and sharing wealth equally. He believes that capitalism only cares about making money, while Marxism has "moral ethics."
Environment
The Dalai Lama cares deeply about environmental problems. He often talks about them in public. He points out that many rivers in Asia start in Tibet. He worries that melting glaciers in the Himalayas could affect many countries. He believes that caring for the environment should be part of our daily lives. He also supports protecting wildlife and is against whaling.
Women's Rights
In 2007, the Dalai Lama said that the next Dalai Lama could be a woman. He said, "If a woman reveals herself as more useful the lama could very well be reincarnated in this form."
In 2009, he said, "I call myself a feminist." He believes women are naturally more compassionate. He has asked women to "lead and create a more compassionate world." In 2014, he said that women's leadership might be more effective because they are more sensitive to others' suffering.
Health
In 2013, the Dalai Lama said that "Warm-heartedness is a key factor for healthy individuals, healthy families and healthy communities."
Immigration
In 2018, the Dalai Lama said that "Europe belongs to the Europeans." He also said that Europe has a duty to help refugees who are in real danger. However, he believes that refugees should eventually return to their home countries to rebuild them. In 2016, he said there were "too many" refugees in Europe and that "Germany cannot become an Arab country."
Future Plans
In May 2011, the Dalai Lama stepped down from his political role in the Central Tibetan Administration. He said that his next life is "entirely up to me." He also said that Chinese laws about choosing successors will not affect his decisions. He has not yet decided if he will be the last Dalai Lama or if he will be reborn.
He has expressed concern that the Chinese government might try to choose the next Dalai Lama for their own political reasons. China has suggested they would choose another Dalai Lama regardless of his decision.
CIA Program
In 1998, the Dalai Lama's administration admitted that it received money from the U.S. government through a CIA program in the 1960s. The Dalai Lama said that while it helped the spirits of those resisting China, it also led to many lives lost. He felt the U.S. government was helping Tibet not for Tibet's sake, but as a way to challenge China during the Cold War. He also said the program was harmful because it stopped when American policy towards China changed.
Discography
The Dalai Lama has released music albums.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
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| GER |
SWI |
US World |
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| Inner World |
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88 | 18 | 8 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
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| "Compassion" | 2020 | Inner World |
Images for kids
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Map showing Tibet's borders and Chinese advance in 1950.
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Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai meeting with Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama in 1955.
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A rare photo of an adult Dalai Lama (right) and Panchen Lama (left) in 1954–1955.
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Dalai Lama in Tokyo, 1967.
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Overview of teaching venue at Bodh Gaya Kalachakra, 1985.
See also
In Spanish: Tenzin Gyatso para niños
- Golden Urn
- Awards and honours presented to the 14th Dalai Lama
- List of Nobel laureates
- List of refugees
- Tibetan art
- Tibetan culture
- Mind & Life Institute
