Tenzin Gyatso embodies Peace, Love and Kindness
Nobel Peace Prize Winner, popularizer of Buddhism and head of the Tibetan Government in Exile. The Dalai Lama's life is a unique convergence of religion, politics and an admirable stand on peace in the face of aggression.
This lens focuses on his life, his politics and his Buddhism.
Raised to become a leader he took on that role at a younger age than expected, when the Chinese government invaded his country. He fled and has since been the leader of the Tibetan people in exile.
Dalai Lama Pictures
Tenzin Gyatso photographed
KKL_1177
KKL_1172
DSCF9107
Dalai LaMainstream?
The Dalai Lama in the news
The political life of the Dalai Lama today
- Dalai Lama turns 74, says should live to 100
- NEW DELHI (AP) ? The Dalai Lama celebrated his 74th birthday Monday in a typically jocular mood, remarking lightheartedly that the prayers being said for ...
- Dalai Lama urges China to exercise restrain in dealing with ethnic ...
- Dharamsala, July 9(ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday asked the Chinese government to exercise restraint in dealing with the ethnic ...
- Some recent international cyber attacks
- ... sensitive information from thousands of hard drives worldwide and hacked into the computer system of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet. ...
- Dalai Lama contributes to students' message of hope for ...
- But the students realized more than just a dream of creating a book: In an image on the cover, they are gathered around a photograph of the Dalai Lama, ...
Life in Tibet by the Dalai Lama
Early responsibility
Because the Chinese became such a powerful threat to Tibet, the Tenzin took responsibility of the government of his country at the early age of 15. When the Chinese actually invaded the country, the Dalai Lama was forced to flee to India in 1959.
Dalai Lama - his health
As I write this reports are he is in a hospital in India from where he joins nearly 2,000 Tibetan exiles 'to overcome and ease conflict and suffering in the world and particularly for freedom and justice of the people of Tibet and China'.
Now out of Hospital (writing Sept. 2nd) he reportedly just needs more rest. Whatever it was that ailed him, it obviously means that we can see his age catching up with him.
Okt. 10th update: the Dalai Lama is recovering from gallstone surgery.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/28/dalai.lama.ap/index.html
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gxwCp6xI-Ip76IjG12M7XTGO5hrAD92SHJF00
http://spiritualglobe.blogspot.com/2008/10/dalai-lama-hospitalized-could-undergo.html
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hXxYh6x-1ugV_g6MjaJDnHfu2y9gD93O8IF80
Books about Tenzin Gyatzo, The Dalai Lama
Kundun: A Biography of the Family of the Dalai Lama
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $20.95 (as of 07/10/2009) 
A Simple Monk: Writings on His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of The Dalai Lama
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $12.47 (as of 07/10/2009)
"Purpose of religion is to control yourself, not to criticize others
Atributed to H.H. the Dalai Lama"
The Dalai Lama in blogs
Tibetan Buddhist Religious views and current events discussed
- Dalai Lama urges China to exercise restrain in dealing with ethnic ...
- Dharamsala, July 9(ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday asked the Chinese government to exercise restraint in dealing with the ethnic.
- Robert Thurman | Why the Dalai Lama Matters - Dalai Lama: Think ...
- Robert Thurman's New Book, Why The Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet and the World, shows the path to peace not only for Tibet and China, but for everyone, for you.
- Uighur Dalai Lama: Rebiya Kadeer « Pak Tea House
- The 58-year-old Kadeer is likened to the Dalai Lama, and the comparison grew more apt when she strived for Nobel Peace Prize, following in the footsteps of the Dalai Lama, who has been revered by Kadeer as the spiritual tutor. ...
- Dalai Lama urges China to exercise restrain in dealing with ethnic ...
- DHARAMSALA - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday asked the Chinese government to exercise restraint in dealing with the ethnic violence in Urumqi, the capital of China's Xinjiang Uighurs province, which has claimed 156 ...
The Olympic Games and Protests in Tibet
The Dalai Lama in the middle
There have been protests in Tibet and around the world as this year (2008) is both an anniversary for protests that China repressed violently in 1987, 1988 - as well as the year of the Olympic games in China. The Dalai Lama claims (March 29th 2008) that these riots were started by Chinese dressed as Tibetan Buddhist monks. (source)These protests have been suppressed and my sources in Tibet say that the atmosphere in Lhasa is violent. CNN reports that several convoys of armed forces are moving in for a further crackdown (3-21-08). Chinese citizens are advised to stay inside, because they might be attacked by Tibetans. The Chinese government has closed Tibet from tourists and journalists.
The Dalai Lama was so upset by all this he threatens to lay down his post (announced that he might do that on march 18th '08). He also started talking to Tibetans who feel his stance about Tibet is too peaceful. The Dalai Lama is stuck between extremist Tibetans who don't want to stay peaceful in their struggle for independence and the Chinese government who blames 'the clique around the Dalai Lama' for the whole trouble.
The Dalai Lama himself has consistently argued not for independence, but for more autonomy. Some of the Tibetans, whether in exile or in Tibet, feel that is just ignorant and weak. Just the same, he talked to such radicals on March 19th 2008.
Whether or not the Chinese started these riots themselves, it is clear that not all Tibetan people (whether in Tibet, India or abroad) support the Dalai Lama in his attempts to keep things pieceful despite continuing human rights violations.
The Dalai Lama does not want people to boycot the Olympic Games, but merely wants the current problems in Tibet to be investigated and implies possible cultural genocide.
Compared to other troubles around the world, the Tibetan one seem mild. A mere hundred casualties by the largest estimates doesn't compare to civil war in say Darfur, Palestine or Iraq.
(Source: the Dutch newspaper NRC)
If you agree with the position of the Dalai Lama, sign this petition which calls for an end to violence in Tibet
Unique Dalai Lama products you just might love
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Tibetan Politics and the Dalai Lama
An advocate for democracy!
Life in India & peace efforts
The Dalai Lama on peace in Tibet
The Dalai Lama has since been most famous for his efforts towards peace in Tibet. He has made it clear he would settle for self-government, in place of total independence. Given the amount of Chinese immigrants in Tibet, this is obviously the more realistic viewpoint. On the other hand - China has not been willing to deal honestly with the representatives of the Tibetan people, so peace is going to be hard to achieve.
Preparing for the future: rethinking relations with China
Religion and politics - Buddhism and China
In a speech he said that the Chinese government did not respect the Tibetan people, nor their own. That the only viable method of dealing with the occupation is to make the occupation of Tibet as expensive and troublesome as possible, without resorting to violence.
The Dalai Lama is calling a meeting to be held from Nov. 17-to-22 in which all Tibetan refugees will be represented in Dharmsala - and wants the outcome to be democratic.
March 10th 2009 the Dalai Lama made it clear he feels that Chinese occupation in China has made the area a hell on earth.
The regent for the next Dalai Lama
Tibetan Buddhist politics
The 14th Dalai Lama is in his 70's now and has had health problems recently. This makes his succession an active concern. He has told his people that he wants to appoint a regent to take over his responsibilities when he can no longer do so (for health reasons or because he has died).
Speculation about who that regent will be has started. The candidate most named is the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa.
Dalai Lama video's
Tibetan Buddhism, Politics & China
You might be interested in these Buddhist Calendars and books
-
Best books on Buddhism
-
If you are into a specific type of Buddhism - don't think you already know what 'Buddhism' is. Buddhism comes in a variety of forms and they disagree on issues you probably take for granted. These books will amaze and inform you. I'm going to be sen...
-
Best books and movies about the Dalai Lama
-
The most famous man in Buddhism. The arch enemy of the Chinese government who write to every government that receive him. They probably have a clerk for the duty, because the Dalai Lama is received by most heads of state - as he's respected world wid...
-
Best Dalai Lama DVD, CD and Blueray Disks
-
The Dalai Lama is one of the most famous religious leaders of our time. His Buddhist teachings have charmed the world. His peaceful attitude in the face of colonial (Chinese) aggression has brought him honour and esteem wherever he goes. His story is...
-
Best Dalai Lama Books
-
The Dalai Lama is that unique mix of a spiritual teacher and a political leader. Unlike the Pope he is virtually uncontested as a spiritual inspiration. His continuing attempts at peaceful dialog with the Chinese government is amazing. His attempts a...
-
Buddha Dharma Calendars, date books, pocket planners and agendas
-
These Buddhist calendars have inspirational quotes and beautiful pictures. Plan your week, your month, your year - or just have Buddhist quotes (from Zen, Tibetan Buddhism etc.) in your life every day. Unless otherwise mentioned, these are dated ca...
Finding the next Dalai Lama
Chinese religious intolerance
A political complication has come up in 2007 where the Chinese government insists that any Tibetan Lama that is recognized as a reincarnation of a previous one, will have to be approved by the Chinese government. Since the Dalai Lama doesn't recognize the rights of the Chinese government to control his reincarnation, he has announced that he will not be reborn in Tibet while it's under Chinese domination.
The most famous example of the religious control of the Chinese government over reincarnating lama's is in the Panchen Lama - the most powerful lama in Tibetan Buddhism, after the Dalai Lama. The Chinese government has recognized one boy as the Panchen Lama, while the Dalai Lama recognizes another - a boy whose whereabouts aren't known.
Films about Tibet & (Tibetan) Buddhism
Inspiring Tibetan Buddhist DVDs
Little Buddha
About a little boy from the USA that gets picked as the incarnation of a Tibetan Lama.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Dalai Lama & Tibet links
Please add your favorite link about the Dalai Lama, Tibet or Tibetan Buddhism.
Articles by the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso
Articles and quotes from the Dalai Lama on Tibetan more...2 points
The Dalai Lama’s Guide to Happiness
I believe that the very purpose of our life is to more...1 point
The Office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
The official website of The Office of His Holiness more...0 points
Tibetan Government in Exile - tibet.com
The website of the Tibetan Government in Exile. Co more...0 points
Tibet Online
Activist site supporting Tibet and Tibetans in exi more...0 points
Audio by Dalai Lama
Lectures by the Dalai Lama on stages of meditation more...0 points
Dalai Lama at the Shambhala Sun
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is the spiritu more...0 points
Tibetan Buddhism
The Dalai Lama as the face of Buddhism for the West
Tenzin Gyatzo (the Dalai Lama) is first and foremost a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Yet it is his consistently peaceful stand in the confrontation with China which has impressed many people. He was awarded the Nobel Peace price for this work.
Based on his fame as a fighter for peace, he has also become the face of Buddhism abroad. Many people, when thinking of Buddhism, will think of the Dalai Lama first. This has made Buddhism one of the most popular religions in the world. With it's lack of dogmatism and peaceful stand on all kinds of subjects - it's the ideal religious choice for many westerners disappointed in Christianity.
The books written by the Dalai Lama have mostly (though not exclusively) been focused on right living. The basic aspects of the Buddhist path have been stressed, because those aspects are the ones more people can understand and are eager to learn.
This does not mean the Dalai Lama is a Buddhist light weight. With full training in the Gelugpa School he is fully capable of explaining the more abstruse aspects of (Tibetan) Buddhist philosophy and thought.
more Tibetan Buddhism
Dalai Lama films
Kundun
After the book: a film about the life of the Dalai Lama and his family.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
The Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lamas: A Pilgrimage to The Oracle Lake
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 07/10/2009)
Seven Years in Tibet
Two German mountain climbers find their way to Tibet and stay there for seven years. One of them ends up tutoring the Dalai Lama as a small boy.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/10/2009)
Voting for or against reincarnation!
Dalai Lama gives his followers a choice: should he reincarnate?
If his followers say that he should reincarnate, he is considering appointing his successor while he is still alive. This is surprising - as it puts into question the whole process of reincarnation.
The politics of this move are obvious though: The Chinese government has made it clear that they claim the right to approve or disapprove any incarnation of a Tibetan Buddhist lama. The Dalai Lama clearly doesn't want them to control who becomes the next leader of the Tibetan people.
From: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2955350.ece
The Dalai Lama also made it clear that his next incarnation could be a woman.
From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/07/wlama107.xml
Books by the Dalai Lama
Tibetan Buddhist views and beliefs
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $15.57 (as of 07/10/2009)
How to Practice : The Way to a Meaningful Life
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $10.98 (as of 07/10/2009)
The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/10/2009)
An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Healing Anger: The Power of Patience from a Buddhist Perspective
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/10/2009)
Dalai Lama Quotes, or are they?
- Wisdom from the heart
- These are great quotes, but I don't think the Dalai Lama would have said: Sleep is the best meditation.
- The Dalai Lama's Recommendations for You
- I especially love the last one: Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. The Dalai Lama is not only supposed to be a virgin, being raised a monk - does any of you think he can cook?
The Dalai Lama on homosexuality
Religious Debate in Buddhism
That said, it's clear that within the Buddhist monasteries, sex isn't allowed - that includes gay sex. As a monk, the Dalai Lama himself is supposed to be celibate - and there hasn't been a hint that he isn't.
That's not because there is anything wrong with sexuality or homosexuality. It's because the goal of Buddhism is to transcend desire and sorrow in order to become truly awake or enlightened and reach Nirvana.
More on Buddhism and relationships
Support the Dalai Lama and Free Tibet products
I Love Tibet Dark T-Shirt
Price: 23.99
Flame Free Tibet Throw Pillow
Price: 19.99
Flame Free Tibet Messenger Bag
Price: 23.99
Flame Free Tibet Journal
Price: 10.99
The Dalai Lama and Science
Meditation and neurology
Tenzin Gyatzo has always been interested in science and technology. His interest in Neurology has been influential. He has worked with scientists of the brain on meditation and it's effects on the brain. As it's put on his own website:
The Dalai Lama, who had watched a brain operation during a visit to an American medical school over a decade earlier, asked the surgeons a startling question: Can the mind shape brain matter?
Over the years, he said, neuroscientists had explained to him that mental experiences reflect chemical and electrical changes in the brain. When electrical impulses zip through our visual cortex, for instance, we see; when neurochemicals course through the limbic system we feel.
But something had always bothered him about this explanation, the Dalai Lama said. Could it work the other way around? That is, in addition to the brain giving rise to thoughts and hopes and beliefs and emotions that add up to this thing we call the mind, maybe the mind also acts back on the brain to cause physical changes in the very matter that created it. If so, then pure thought would change the brain's activity, its circuits or even its structure. Source
By now it's pretty well established that everything we do, especially learning efforts, changes the brain itself. The brain is capable of learning and changing far into adult life. The effects of meditation on the brain are also startling, though not yet proved beyond a shadow of the scientists doubts.
This type of evidence also makes it harder to believe that consciousness is a mere byproduct of the brain, as some neurologists claim. If consciousness impacts the brain-wiring, the logical conclusion is that it is in fact in some ways independent of the brain.
More on the existence of the soul and my lens on 'We Do have a Soul
What do you think of this Dalai Lama Lens?
tsewang dorjee wrote
i love this. i am always praying for his long life. pls , pray for his long life. and for world peace. thank you !!
Posted May 21, 2009
Janet1 wrote...
Excellent lens. Frankster sent me here and I'm definitely impressed. Thank you for the great read!
Posted April 15, 2009
EverythingMouse wrote...
Angel Blessings to you for such a wonderful and inspirational lens
Posted December 30, 2008
More Buddhism Lenses
More Buddhism and pondering Buddhism.-
Gautama Buddha - Inspirer of Buddhism
-
Buddhism is the one world religion that everyone seems to respect. Many more people would like to call themselves Buddhists than actually are Buddhists by traditional counts. Buddha found the source of sorrow, what sorrow is and the way out of sorro...
-
Karma and Reincarnation: are we reborn?
-
Karma and reincarnation are linked. Karma is the idea that what we do and have done influences our circumstances, talents and options. Reincarnation means that what we do and think will not just influence our present life, but also our future ex...
-
Bodhisattva - living for others in Buddhism
-
The bodhisattva ideal is embodied in the bodhisattva vow: May I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. This practically means that one vows not just to attain enlightenment or Nirvana (ambitious enough of itself), but to postpone...
-
Buddhism: practice, religious views and beliefs
-
Buddhism is one of the most inspiring world philosophies. On this lens you will find information on the Buddhist path, basic concepts and links to more information.
-
Thich Nhat Hanh: Peace and Zen Buddhism
-
Monk and Vietnamese peace activist turned Zen Meditation teacher. Thich Nhat Hanh is an Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk. He is a teacher, author, and peace activist, born in central Vietnam in 1926. He coined the term Engaged Buddhism in his book Vietna...
Tibet and China lenses
-
Explore China
-
renmenbi.com is all about China. It is an essential online destination that provides insights on culture, travel, lifestyle, and entertainment.
-
Beijing China 2008 Summer Olympics News - 08-08-08-08 - China Games
-
The 2008 Summer Olympic Games August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008. Nine new sports will be introduced to the 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Beijing Olympic slogan is One World, One Dream.
-
Free Tibet!
-
In 1949, China invaded and absorbed the country of Tibet into their own. The people of Tibet have been protesting and fighting for their independence and rights ever since. This lens has links to historical background, a place to debate what's happeni...
-
East Asia - China Travel
-
Great Places in China. This is a travel guide "lens" for the must visit places in China. Hope you find it useful for your trips.
-
Amnesty International: campaigning for human rights
-
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. This lens gives information on human rights and recent Amnesty campaigns.
More Spiritual lenses
More spiritual and religious inspiration-
The Ultimate Questions - religion and spirituality
-
These are the ultimate philosophy questions we all ask ourselves about religion and spirituality. Vote, get inspired and share. Part lensography, part hey monkeybrain lens - I hope you all enjoy.
-
Great spiritual teachers - my favorites and yours
-
These are some of the teachers - past and present - who will keep reminding us that there IS more to life. There is more to US... Spiritual teachers are the salt that gives flavor to our otherwise somewhat dry western culture. With all the focus on...
-
Aum, the sacred Indian mantra ; Om, Ohm - meditating unity
-
Who doesn't know the Indian mantra 'aum' - and use it when they want to make fun of new age spirituality? Aum is actually a sacred mantra for all Indian religions that I know of (Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism etc.). It is a symbol for the most sacred,...
-
Spiritual Lenses - Katinka Hesselink Net: religion and spirituality
-
A lensography of my best spirituality lenses as well as a summary of my website. I feature information from various religious traditions like Buddhism, Sufism, Fourth Way and Theosophy. I also pay attention to various spiritual teachers, whether the...
Thanks for all your support!
A big thank you to all of you who've supported my online work by:
- linking to any of my web projects
- voting on my lenses
- buying stuff from my lenses
- asking questions
- giving constructive feedback
- ... donating money :)
- and being generally supportive :) ;)
More on Buddhism
Put online by yours truly.
Popular Buddhism Books
These books explain Buddhism for a modern Western more...1 point
Gautama Buddha - founder of Buddhism
Buddhism is the one world religion that everyone s more...0 points
The Philosophy of Mahayana Buddhism
Articles on Sunyata. The terms Sunyata (or Shunyat more...0 points
Spiritual Path in Buddhism
The spiritual path in Buddhism: All Buddhism aims more...0 points
Buddhist meditation
Articles on Buddhist meditation, and the limitatio more...0 points
Karma and Reincarnation
Karma and reincarnation are linked. Karma is the i more...0 points
Tibetan Buddhism explored
Tibetan Buddhism has been called 'Vajrayana Buddhi more...0 points
Karma in buddhism
Articles on Karma and reincarnation or rebirth wit more...0 points
History of Buddhism & Buddha stories
Historical material on Buddhism. Includes a time-l more...0 points
Zen Buddhism explained
Zen Buddhism (also called Chan Buddhism in China) more...0 points
Aum, the Indian mantra
Who doesn't know the Indian mantra 'aum' - and use more...0 points
Bodhisattva - self-sacrifice in Buddhism
The bodhisattva ideal is embodied in the bodhisatt more...0 points
What is an Ashram?
What is an ashram? Why go on a spiritual retreat? more...0 points
Thich Nhat Hanh: Zen Buddhist teacher
Monk and Vietnamese peace activist turned Zen Medi more...0 points
Is Buddhism a philosophy or a religion? - eternal question
There is a long tradition in the West to regard Bu more...0 points
Buddhism on my blog All Considering
Considering life, spiritual growth and more ponder more...0 points
Mandala Calendars and Date Books
Mandalas are beautiful, usually round or square, s more...0 points
Best Scholarly books on Buddhism
If you are into a specific type of Buddhism - don' more...0 points
Buddhism Calendars and date books
These Buddhist calendars have inspirational quotes more...0 points
H.H. the Dalai Lama: Buddhist teacher and politician in exile
Nobel Peace Prize Winner, popularizer of Buddhism more...0 points
Dalai Lama Books
The Dalai Lama is that unique mix of a spiritual t more...0 points
Mandala Posters
An art form developed in India and Tibet, mandalas more...0 points
Dalai Lama DVD, CD and Blueray Disks
The Dalai Lama is one of the most famous religious more...0 points
Best Dalai Lama Biographies
The most famous man in Buddhism. The arch enemy of more...0 points
Beautiful Tibetan Buddhist Jewelry
The colors and shapes of Tibetan Buddhism are uniq more...0 points
