| The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the | | | | "Feelings of anger, bitterness, and hate are |
| spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan | | | | negative. If I kept those inside me they |
| people. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize | | | | would spoil my body and my health. They are |
| in 1989 and has travelled extensively around | | | | of no use." |
| the world offering the message of Tibetan | | | | |
| Buddhism. | | | | "Infinite altruism is the basis of peace and |
| | | | happiness. If you want altruism, you must |
| The Dalai Lama was born in the small Tibetan | | | | control hate and you must practice patience. |
| village of Takster in Northern Tibet. His | | | | The main teachers of patience are our |
| original name being Tenzin Gyatso. At the age | | | | enemies." |
| of 2 Tenzin was recognized as the | | | | |
| reincarnation of his predecessor, the 13th | | | | - Dalai Lama |
| Dalai Lama. Thus from an early age the Dalai | | | | |
| Lama spent many years studying Tibetan | | | | The Dalai Lama has sought to preserve parts |
| scriptures and he completed a doctorate in | | | | of the Tibetan culture through educational |
| Tibetan Buddhist philosophy by the age of 25. | | | | and cultural institutions. He has also sought |
| | | | to raise awareness of the plight of Tibet to |
| The Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom. Lama | | | | the wider world. |
| also means "Guru" or teacher. The Dalai | | | | |
| Lama's are believed to be reincarnations of | | | | The Dalai Lama has travelled extensively in |
| the Bodhisattva of compassion. These are | | | | the West meeting with many religious and |
| beings who choose to reincarnate to serve | | | | political leaders. The Dalai Lama has said |
| humanity. As the Dalai Lama says himself. | | | | that there is a need for a variety of faiths |
| | | | and religions so that it can suit the |
| "The more we care for the happiness of | | | | different temprements of people. He advises |
| others, the greater our own sense of | | | | people to think very carefully before |
| well-being becomes." | | | | changing their religion. He has often said |
| | | | there is an underlying unity between the |
| Despite being a man of peace the Dalai Lama | | | | different world religions. |
| has had to face the consequences of the | | | | |
| Chinese occupation of Tibet. In 1950 the | | | | " All religions are essentially the same in |
| Chinese army entered into Tibet and began to | | | | their goal of developing a good human heart |
| degenerate the Tibetan culture and religion. | | | | so that we may become better human beings." |
| Despite many attempted negotiations and | | | | |
| non-violent protests the Dalai Lama was | | | | In 1989 the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel |
| finally forced into exile in 1959. With many | | | | Peace Prize. The Nobel citation read: |
| followers the Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala | | | | |
| in India. Since 1960 the Dalai Lama has | | | | "The Committee wants to emphasize the fact |
| maintained a Tibetan government in exile from | | | | that the Dalai Lama in his struggle for the |
| this base in Dharamsala. Despite the | | | | liberation of Tibet consistently has opposed |
| turbulent and difficult times the Dalai Lama | | | | the use of violence. He has instead advocated |
| has lived through he has sought to maintain a | | | | peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and |
| spiritual outlook and learn to deal with | | | | mutual respect in order to preserve the |
| life's challenges, even his "enemies" | | | | historical and cultural heritage of his |
| | | | people. |