DALAI LAMA

Tendzin Gyatsho is the 14th Dalai Lama. Since 1940, the Buddhist monk has been wearing this religious title. Read what that means for him and his religion.

DALAI LAMA XIV

Common name: Tendzin Gyatsho

Life data: born on July 6, 1935 in Tibet / Central Asia

Nationality: Indian

Quote: "Be kind to the earth."

Tendzin Gyatsho was declared a Dalai Lama in 1940.

HOW THE DALAI LAMA LIVES

Tendzin Gyatsho was born on July 6, 1935 in northeastern Tibet with the name Lhamo Döndrub. Thubten Gyatsho, the 13th Dalai Lama, died two years earlier. When Tendzin was two, believers became aware of him and declared that he was the reincarnation of the late Dalai Lama. He received extensive training and was officially head of the Buddhist Church and 14th Dalai Lama. His birth name was changed to Tendzin Gyatsho.

The title has many meanings. Dalai Lama is also often translated as "ocean-like teacher". Above all, he is the highest representative of Buddhism, a religion that is predominantly distributed in Asia. It is one of the largest doctrines and faiths in the world and has more than 250 million followers.

As Dalai Lama, Tendzin Gyatsho is responsible for many tasks. So in 1950, at the age of fifteen, he was granted control of Tibet. A difficult position, because Tibet was claimed by the Chinese government. The riots surrounding the government in Tibet at the time were aimed at settling China with a treaty called the "17-Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet".

In it they stated that while Tibet was free to live its religion, politics, trade and military remained in Chinese hands. In 1951, Tibet was incorporated into the People's Republic of China. The Dalai Lama had to agree to protect his people.

Nevertheless, he approached the Chinese government in the following years. China even paid the cost of the palace of the Dalai Lama. He tried to make peace.

1959 broke out in Tibet but another rebellion, which was directed against the government of China. The people wanted China to make any claims for ownership. The Dalai Lama had to flee because the opponents threatened to kidnap him. As the Tibetan uprisings ended without success, nothing changed in the power relations in the country. During the uprisings, the Chinese troops also destroyed almost all monasteries and cultural monuments that were important to the faithful.

Tendzin Gyatsho, the Dalai Lama, has been living in Dharamsala, India ever since. Most recently, in 1987, he attempted to restore peace in the country with a five-point plan. Above all, he wanted to win back respect for human rights and political freedom. The government of China rejected the application in all respects. Tibet is rightly owned by the Chinese. The opinions in this discussion are diverging worldwide.

HOW THE DALAI LAMA CHANGES THE WORLD

From his exile, his sanctuary in India, the Dalai Lama is constantly fighting for Tibet. He is - in accordance with his Buddhist faith - for human rights and peace. His goals include a democratic government for Tibet.

In 1973, he left exile to travel the world and teach Buddhist teachings to people. In 1989 he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his commitment to a non-violent solution for Tibet. Not least for that reason he is an ambassador of peace for people of all religions.