| Tenzin Gyatso (The 14th Dalai Lama) Born July 6th, 1935 "I am just a simple Buddhist monk - no more, nor less." -The Dalai Lama |
| His Holiness was born Lhamo Dhondrub on July 6th, 1935, in Takster, Amdo, North East Tibet, to a peasant family. He was recognized at the age of two, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. His enthronement as the 14th Dalai Lama took place on February 22, 1949 in Lhas, the capital of Tibet. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva (Buddha) of Compassion, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom. Tibetans also refer to His Holiness as Yeshe Norbu, the Wishfulfilling Gem or simply "Kundun - The Presence." On November 17, 1950, 80 000 Chinese troops invaded Tibet. In 1954, the Dalai Lama went to Beijing for peace talks with Mao Tse-tung. His efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to Sino-Tibetan conflict were thwarted in Bejing. In 1959 the capital of Tibet, Lhasa was the scene of a huge demonstration calling for China's withdrawl from Tibet, and reaffirtming Tibetan independance. The uprising was crushed by the Chinese army. The Dalai Lama escaped to India where he was given political asylum. Since 1960, the Dalai Lama has resided in Dharamsala, India, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile. In 1989 the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His holiness often says, "I am just a simply Buddhist monk- no more, no less." In explaining his greatest sources of inspiration, he often cites a favourite verse, found in the writings of the eighth century Buddhist saint Shantideva: "For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I too abide to dispel the misery of the world." |
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| (You will be transported to my Main Kuan Yin Site and will need to use your back button to return to this - the sister (secondary) site)...... |