DALAI LĀMA

Dalai Lāma, meaning 'Ocean of Wisdom,' is the title given to the spiritual and secular rulers of Tibet since the 15th century. Each Dalai Lāma is believed by Tibetans to be his predecessor reborn. All Dalai Lāmas are monks of the Gelupa sect of Tibetan Vajrayāna Buddhism and are also believed to be emanations of Avalokiteśvara, bodhisattva of compassion. The present Dalai Lāma, the 14th in the line, is a teacher, scholar and statesman of outstanding ability and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1989. In 1959, he was forced to flee Tibet by the Chinese communists and has since lived in exile in India. The institution of religio/political leaders who are supposedly their predecessors reborn, is unique to Tibet and those lands influenced by Tibetan culture – Mongolia, Bhutan and Ladhak.