The Dalai Lama Biography

THE DALAI LAMA

 

Dalai Lama is a title for the elite spiritual leader given by the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lamas are known to be the expression of Avalokiteshvara, the patron saint of Tibet. 

 

The Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom; the name Dalai is a Mongolic word which means “ocean” or “big,” which comes from the Mongolian title Dalaiyin gan or Dalaiin Khan translated as Gyatso in Tibetan. And the word lama, which is a Tibetan word, means “master.”

 

STORY BEHIND THE FORMATION OF DALAI LAMA 

 

Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, back in time, vowed the Buddha to guide and protect the people of Tibet. In the late Middle Ages, he established his master plan to fulfill his promise, which was by the incarnation of the Dalai Lama theocracy.  

 

RECOGNITIONS AS DALAI LAMAS

 

The Dalai Lama's recognition based on the unique Tibetan tradition of reincarnation of scholars, which has been of immense help to bring peace and enlightenment to human beings.

The most important sign for being the Dalai Lama involves having the vision of the predecessors' predictive letter and other instructions and indications; the reincarnation being able to recall and recognize about his previous life and speaking about it; identifying people from his past life. Additional methods are also used, which include asking reliable spiritual masters for their foretelling as well as the predictions of mundane oracles, who appear through mediums in a trance, and observing the visions that manifest in sacred lakes of protectors like Lhamo Latso, a sacred lake south of Lhasa.

When there is more than one potential candidate for gratitude as Dalai Lama, the final decision is made by divination employing the dough-ball method (zen tak) before a sacred image while calling upon the power of truth.

 

SHORT BIOGRAPHIES OF DALAI LAMAS TILL DATE

 

         THE FIRST DALAI LAMA

 

 

 The first Dalai Lama was GedHoliness. His holiness was born in 1391 in Gyurmey Rupa, in Tsang region of central Tibet. His born was PemHoliness.

His holiness did his primary studies of reading and writing Tibetan script with Gya-Ton Tsenda Pa-La, and then at the age of fourteen, he took his novice vows from Khenchen Drupa Sherab, abbot of Narthang monastery, who gave him the religious name of Gedun Drupa. Later, he took the Gelong vows (full ordination) from the abbot in the year 1411.

 

The young Gedun Drupa became a disciple of the Great Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa School, and with his loyalty and devotion, Gedun Drupa was able to receive a brand new set of robes by Tsongkhapa who believed Gedun Drupa would spread the teaching of Buddhism all over Tibet. 

 

The first Dalai Lama was known to be a great person with a high level of scholarship and knowledge. He had written more than eight books based on Buddha’s teachings and philosophy. He founded the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, which one of the biggest monastic University of Gelugpa School located in ShHoliness 

His holiness Gedun Drupa died at the age of eighty-four at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.

 

 

 

THE SECOND DALAI LAMA

The second Dalai Lama, Gedun Gyatso, was born in 1475 in Tanag Sekme, near Shigatse in the Tsang region of central Tibet. He belonged to a farming family.

 

 Gedun Gyatso was reported to have mentioned that his name was Pema Dorjee, the birth name of First Dalai Lama, to his parents when he was able to speak. 

 

In 1517, Gedun Gyatso was the one to become the abbot of the Drepung monastery and able to revive the Monlam Chenmo, the Great Prayer Festival, and presided over the events with monks from the three great monastic Universities of Gelugpa Sect. He succeeds in being the abbot of Sera monastery in 1525.

        He lived for 67 years and left the earth in 1542.

 

 

 

THE THIRD DALAI LAMA

 

 

Sonam Gyatso, who was born in 1543, became the third Dalai Lama. His birthplace was Tolung, near Lhasa. He belonged to a wealthy family.

 

His given name was Ranu Sicho Pelzang. In 1546 he was recognized as the reincarnation of Gedun Gyatso. He was escorted to the Drepung monastery. 

 Sonam Gyatso became the abbot of Drepung monastery and abbot of Sera monastery by the year 1552 and 1558 respectively. In 1574 he established the Namgyal monastery, which was once known to be as Phende Lekshe Ling. This monastery is now served as the Dalai Lama’s personal monastery. 

 

It was during his time the title of Dalai Lama was officially introduced by the Mongolian King Altan Khan. 

 

The third Dalai lama died in 1588 while teaching in Mongolia.

 

 

THE FOURTH DALAI LAMA 

 

 

The fourth Dalai Lama, named as Yonten Gyatso was born in 1589 in Mongolia to the Chokar tribal chieftain Tsultrim Choeje, who was the grandson of Altan Khan.

 

The fourth Dalai Lama was recognized as a reincarnation by the abbot of Gaden monastery with the predictions from auspicious signs at his birth. 

 

At the age of twelve, he shifted to Tibet. In 1614, he took the Gelong vows from the Fourth Panchen Lama. Later he became the abbot of Drepung monastery and then Sera monastery. 

Yonten Gyatso died at the age of twenty-seven in 1617.

 

 

THE FIFTH DALAI LAMA

 

 

The fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso, was native of Lhoka Chingwar Taktse, south of Lhasa, and he was born in 1617.

 

He was recognized as the Dalai Lama by Sonam Choephel, who was the chief attendant of the Fourth Dalai Lama. The fact about him being Dalai Lama was kept a secret due to the political situations. When the thing got back to normal, he was taken to the Drepung monastery and was named Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso.

 

In 1642, the Dalai Lama was enthroned as both the spiritual and political leader of Tibet.

 In 1645, the Dalai Lama established Potala Palace on the Red hill which took almost forty- three years to complete.

 

The fifth Dalai Lama was a great scholar, guiding in many political as well as spiritual activities. He wrote many books, established two educational institutions. He words spoken by the Dalai Lama carried conviction and influenced many rulers beyond the borders of Tibet as well. 

He died at the age of sixty-five in 1682.

 

THE SIXTH DALAI LAMA

 

 

The sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, was inherent in the region of Mon Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) India in 1682.

 

Tsangayang Gyatso, at the age of fourteen in 1697, was enthroned as sixth Dalai Lama. In 1701 due to the political disturbances, the Dalai Lama left his monastic study and chose the outdoor life and had no plans on taking fully ordained vows. In 1706 he died on his way to China.

 

 

THE SEVENTH DALAI LAMA 

 

 

The seventh Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso, was born in 1208. Thupten Jampaling Monastery recognized his reincarnations, but due to the turbulent political situation, he was taken to the Kumbum monastery.

 

In 1720, he was enthroned in the Potala Palace, where he got his name Kelsang Gyatso. He studied the entire major Buddhist philosophical treatises and became a master in both the sutra and tantra.

 

In 1751, at the age of 43, he abolished the post of Desi and became the spiritual and political leader of Tibet. At the age of 45, he founded the Tse School in Potala Palace and built a new palace of Norling Kalsang Phodrang.  

He died in 1757.

 

 

THE EIGHT DALAI LAMA

 

 

The eight Dalai Lama, Jamphel Gyatso, was born in 1758 at Thobgyal (Lhari Gang) the southwestern Tibet. 

The parents of eight Dalai lamas recognized many of the spiritual signs after his birth. At the age of two and a half years old, he went through the recognition ceremony, and he got the name Jamphel Gyatso.

 

 In 1762, the boy moved to Lhasa and enthroned in the Potala Palace. He built the famous park called Norbulingka and also Summer Palace on the outskirts of Lhasa. He died at the age of 47.

 

THE NINTH DALAI LAMA

 

The Ninth Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso, belongs to Dan Chokhor, and his date of birth was 1805. In 1807 he was recognized as the reincarnation of Eight Dalai Lama. In 1810, he was enthroned at the Potala Palace, but he died at the very young age of nine in 1815.

 

 

THE TENTH DALAI LAMA

 

 

The tenth Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso, was a resident of Lithan Kham since his birth in 1816.  

 

In 1822, he was recognized and inaugurated in Potala Palace. In 1831 he reconstructed the Potala Palace. However, due to his poor health condition, he died in 1837.

 

 

THE ELEVENTH DALAI LAMA 

 

 

The eleventh Dalai Lama, Khendrup Gyatso was born in 1838 at Gathar in Kham Minyak.

In 1841 he was recognized as the Dalai Lama. In 1842, he was enthroned in the Potala Palace, and at the age of eleven, he took the novice vows from the Panchen Lama. He died in 1856 in the Potala Palace.

 

 

THE TWELFTH DALAI LAMA

 

 

The twelfth Dalai Lama, Trinley Gyatso, was born in 1856 in Lhoka.

 

In 1858, the Dalai Lama was escorted to Lhasa. In 1860, he was enthroned in the Potala Palace. In 1873, the Dalai Lama took full responsibility as both the spiritual and political leader of Tibet, but he died after two years in 1875 in the Potala Palace.

 

 

THE THIRTEENTH DALAI LAMA

 

 

The next thirteenth Dalai Lama, Thupten Gyatso, a native of Langdon in Dagpo, central Thakpo Tibet, was delivered in 1876.

 

In 1877, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 12th Dalai Lama. In the following year, he was enthroned in the Grand Reception Hall at Potala Palace. In 1882, at age six, the Dalai Lama was formally ordained as a novice monk.

 

In 1895 he took the full monk ordination, and on 27 September of the same year, he assumed the political and spiritual authority of Tibet. He survived during the ordeals of the British invasion of Tibet in 1904. His endurance despite difficult times of the Chinese invasion in his country succeeds in 1909. 

During his period, he went through many political disturbances and tried to bring the enhancement required. 

The thirteenth Dalai Lama was the one to introduce the first Tibetan currency notes and coins. In February 1913, he made public the five point’s statement reasserting Tibet’s Independence. Also, in 1913 he established the first post office in Tibet. 

The 13th Dalai Lama was known to be intellectual, and his aim was the modernization of Tibet. In 1933 he died at the age of fifty-eight.

 

 

THE FOURTEENTH DALAI LAMA 

 

 

The fourteenth and the present Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in 1935 and was named Lhamo Dhondrub. He was born in the province of Amdo in a village called Takster in northeastern Tibet. 

 

After the death of the 13th Dalai Lama, while in search of 14th Dalai Lama, the high Lamas had some signs to help them find the 14th Dalai Lama, which directed them to the village Amdo. After the detailed search, they found the house of Lhamo Thondup. He was three years old at the time and was recognized. 

 

At five years old, he was enrolled in the local monastery for his pieces of training by the highest monks at Lhasa.

He enthroned at the age of 15 in 1950 amidst the beginning of troubles in China. He continued his studies until the age of 25. 

 

After that, Lhamo Dhondrub was renamed as Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso and took leadership of the country Tibet.

 

In 1950, during the political change in China, where there was a conflict of bringing Tibet to Chinese control, many were killed. Due to the fear of being killed by the Chinese government, the Dalai Lama fled to India with his followers and has been residing there. 

 

With the agreement of the government of India, the Dalai Lama formed the Tibetan Government in Dharamshala in India. The Dalai Lama was known for his charismatic manner, and highly intellectual ability drew a lot of support and follower for Buddhism and the Tibetan resistance movement. 

 

In 1963, His Holiness presented a draft democratic constitution for Tibet, which provides detailed guidelines on the functioning of the Tibetan Administration with respect to Tibetans living in exile Holiness. His Holiness proposed a Five-Point Peace Plan for Tibet as the first step towards a peaceful solution of the worsening Holinesson in holiness.

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, is also known as a man of peace as he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent struggle for the liberation of Holiness 

His Holiness has traveled to more than 68 countries and has received over 150 awards, honors in recognition of his idea of peace and nonviolence solutions. He has also authored more than 110 books. 

 

 

On 14 march 2011, His Holiness wrote to the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies for the political retirement. He also mentioned ending the custom of the Dalai Lamas to handle both the Spiritual and political authorities to only handling the spiritual responsible Holiness 

His Holiness on 24 September 2011, also mentioned the clear guidelines for the recognition of the next Dalai Lama.