The Dalai Lama: Who Is He And What Is His Role?

As the question of the Dalai Lama's succession begins to arise, let's go back to basics to understand who he is and what his role is.

What is the Dalai Lama?

The title of Dalai Lama, which means "ocean of wisdom," has existed since the 14th century. He is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan community. It is a temporary title that changes regularly, depending on his reincarnations. He is the highest leader of the Tibetan Buddhist school, which is not recognized by Indian and Chinese schools.

What is the role of the Dalai Lama?

He is the spiritual leader of the Tibetans. He advocates for being more pacifist, tolerant, and happier. Tibetans worship the Dalai Lamas as reincarnations of the bodhisattva of compassion (the equivalent of a saint for Buddhists), representing and protecting Tibet and the Tibetan people. He has both a religious and political status. He was the political leader of Tibet until 2011 when he relinquished his political role in favor of a more democratic power. Today, he remains the religious leader of Tibetan Buddhists and also serves as the ambassador of Tibet internationally. His goal is to spread the messages of peace, tolerance, and positivity of Buddha throughout the world through his writings, speeches, and actions.

Who is the Dalai Lama today?

Today, in 2022, the Dalai Lama is called Tenzin Gyatso, born in 1935 in the Qinghai province. He is the 14th Dalai Lama, appointed just a month after the Chinese army's intervention in Tibet in November 1950. He was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous 13 Dalai Lamas when he was only 3 years old, following visions he had. In 1989, the current Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in peacefully resolving the Sino-Tibetan conflict. Although an ambassador for Tibet abroad, he cannot travel as much as before since a lung infection in 2019, but his lectures are broadcast worldwide online. He is now 87 years old in 2022, and the choice of his successor - if there is one - becomes urgent.

Why is the Dalai Lama in exile?

The 14th Dalai Lama, sixty years ago, had to flee Tibet in the face of the troops of the People's Republic of China claiming Tibet as a Chinese province, despite it being an independent region for over four decades. He is currently in northern India in Dharamsala, the capital of the exiled Tibetans.

How is the Dalai Lama chosen?

He is chosen by Tibetan monks trained in a traveling committee, often after years of spiritual and ritualistic quest. They search for signs of reincarnation of their spiritual leader in children.

Where does the Dalai Lama live?

Since March 17, 1959, he has been living in Dharamsala in northern India. This city has about 20,000 inhabitants and has become the capital of the Tibetan exiles. For the most part, they live in McLeod Ganj, where monasteries, temples, and schools have been built. At the bottom of the city is the most touristy part with hotels and restaurants. This city has an average of 400,000 foreign tourists and an equal number of Indian tourists per year (2019 data). Dharamsala is located at an altitude of 1,700 m, surrounded by beautiful cedar and pine forests with terraced agriculture and snow-capped mountains in the background.

What does the Dalai Lama do?

His ultimate goal is to achieve perfect enlightenment. He has chosen to be reborn in the world to help all living beings, regardless of who they are. The Dalai Lama prays and meditates a lot, continuously studies Buddhist texts, participates in public prayers, ceremonies, and gives lectures and audiences on the teachings of Buddha and Buddhist principles. When he is at home, his day starts at three in the morning and he goes to bed around seven in the evening. He follows a frugal vegetarian diet and does not have dinner, in accordance with the rules of vinaya.

The Dalai Lama online

He, like celebrities nowadays, has social networks (Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook) to talk about happiness, world peace, compassion, human values, environmental protection, but also simply to exchange words that are fair and full of compassion.

The most beautiful quotes from the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso:

- Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.
- Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.
- Give those you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.
- True happiness does not depend on any being, on any external object. It only depends on us...
- The ability to put oneself in the shoes of others and reflect on how we would act in their place is very useful if we want to learn to love someone.
- When you speak, you are only repeating what you already know. But when you listen, you may learn something new.