Dalai Lama
October 31, 2007
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Today, a profile of the 14th Dalai Lama, a religious leader who has broken barriers with a philosophy of compassion, tolerance and kindness shared with millions.
Assuaging the Prisoner of Conscience
“Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.”
—The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, Nobel Lecture, 1989
—The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, Nobel Lecture, 1989
Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th Dalai Lama, the political and spiritual leader of Tibet. Along with hundreds of thousands of Tibetans, he lives in exile in India but spends much of his time traveling the world to speak about non-violence, compassion, and the plight of his countrymen. Often describing his religion as simply “kindness,” the Dalai Lama has become known not only for his global awareness campaign for Tibet and its people, but also for spreading a philosophy of compassion and pacifism to millions of people, regardless of their religious beliefs.
The Dalai Lama’s official biography can be found on the Central Tibetan Administration’s site. This bio discusses his education, peace initiatives, five-point peace plan, and diplomatic relationships.
Source: The Central Tibetan Administration
The Office of Tibet, the Dalai Lama’s London agency, has links to dozens of transcripts of acceptance speeches, lectures and other statements from the Dalai Lama, several of which mark his visit to other countries and reflect his work and efforts for Tibet and its people.
Source: The Office of Tibet, London
The Initiator
The Central Tibetan Administration hosts five “10th-of-March Statements” commemorating the Tibetan National Uprising Day, in which the Dalai Lama discusses Tibetan struggle. Each statement marks one decade, starting in 1961, and provides an education on the chronology of Tibet’s quest for independence.
Source: The Central Tibetan Administration
The Teacher
On the Dalai Lama’s home page you can read and listen to audio files of his latest teachings in the “Webcast” section, including lectures given during his global travels. The site also has a schedule of the Dalai Lama’s upcoming tours, as well as other words of wisdom in the sections “Training the Mind” and “Words of Truth”.
The “Question and Answers” page on the Dalai Lama’s site is also a fascinating read: in it he describes his sense of self, the process of spiritual learning, his childhood, and growing into the role of the Dalai Lama.
The “Question and Answers” page on the Dalai Lama’s site is also a fascinating read: in it he describes his sense of self, the process of spiritual learning, his childhood, and growing into the role of the Dalai Lama.
Source: Dalai Lama’s Official Site
On October 17, CNN reported on the Dalai Lama’s current visit to the United States, which was highlighted by a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in Washington. This, as CNN explains, is the nation’s highest civilian honor. Chinese officials have criticized the United States for bestowing this award on the Dalai Lama.
Source: CNN
The Leader
eHow publishes a guide for those interested in meeting the Dalai Lama or other religious figures. These tips involve Buddhist customs (especially those pertaining to the Dalai Lama), and advice on clothing, body language, and greetings.
Source: eHow
The Diplomat
The Guardian met with an “optimistic” Dalai Lama in 2003 and discussed the ongoing negotiation process between Tibet and China. Speaking less of philosophy and more of politics here, the Dalai Lama confronted the possibility of a very slow progress to Tibetan independence. That progress continues today and continues to suffer setbacks, as the CNN article above suggests.
Source: The Guardian
Wired reported on the Dalai Lama’s visit with President Bush in 2005, an occasion that marked the Dalai Lama’s lecture for the Society for Neuroscientists. This lecture was just one of the Dalai Lama’s numerous efforts to unite science with spirituality, but it was met with criticism from some of the attending neuroscientists. You can learn about the outcome in Wired’s news story.
Source: Wired
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