Plt. maj. Mihai BONCHE Dalai Lama

RomniaMinisterul Aprrii NaionaleCentrul Secundar de nvare a Limbii Engleze

Proiect de curs

DALAI LAMA

ndrumtor: Cursant:Prof. Patricia LUPA Plt. Maj. Mihai BONCHE

Cluj-Napoca2011

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 3

1. AUSPICIOUS DISCOVERY........................................................................................... 4

2. BECOMING THE 14th DALAI LAMA.......................................................................... 6

3. EMINENT EDUCATION................................................................................................. 8

4. LEAVING TIBET.............................................................................................................. 9

5. GOVERNING IN EXILE................................................................................................ 10

6. ADVOCATOR OF UNIVERSAL PEACE FOR THE WORLD................................. 11

CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................... 14

BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................................. 14

There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness. ~ Dalai Lama ~

INTRODUCTION

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. The Dalai Lama is synonymous with Buddhism, Tibet and compassion. He has given his entire life over to making Buddhism into a global household name, and the practice of altruism into a worldwide phenomenon. Without Dalai Lamas untiring efforts in talking about loving kindness and promoting it on an international media platform, the world may not have even come to value the word: COMPASSION. It is through the Dalai Lamas relentless efforts and dedication that the world is experiencing this renaissance of Buddhism.The 14th Dalai Lama, Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of the government-in-exile based in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India. Tibetans believe him to be the reincarnation of his predecessors, and an emanation of the Buddha of Compassion: Chenrezig (Tibetan) or Avalokiteshvara (Sanskrit), the patron saint of Tibet.The origins of the Dalai LamaIn 1578, the Mongolian ruler, Altan Khan bestowed the title Dalai Lama on Sonam Gyatso, the 3rd Dalai Lama. The full Mongolian title means "the wonderful Vajradhara, good splendid meritorious ocean," and is primarily a translation of the Tibetan words Sonam Gyatso. The title was later applied retrospectively to the two predecessors in his reincarnation line, Gendun Drub and Gendun Gyatso. Gendun Gyatso was also Sonam Gyatso's predecessor as abbot of Drepung monastery. It was in 1642 during the time of the 5th Dalai Lama (1617-1682) that the Dalai Lamas came to be recognised as being the spiritual and temporal leaders of Tibet. Prior to this, the Dalai Lama was recognised as the head of the Gelugpa school of Buddhism since the fourteenth century, and took on the additional role of political leader in the seventeenth century. All Dalai Lamas since then have held that dual responsibility. The current Dalai Lama is the fourteenth person to hold that title in straight succession.

AUSPICIOUS DISCOVERYWhen the 13th Dalai Lama passed away in December 1933, the High Lamas prayed for guidance to locate the new Dalai Lama. They relied on traditional methods, signs and oracles in their search for his reincarnation. They finally received a vision that the new Dalai Lama would be found in the northeastern part of Tibet, and that he would be living in a house that had strange gutters and was near a monastery. Many monks went out on long journeys to find him. After much searching, a group of them came to the village of Taktser, which has a monastery nearby. There they found a child named Lhamo and his house had strangely shaped gutters. They spoke to both the child and his parents, and performed a series of tests. The monks had brought several items with them which belonged to the late 13th Dalai Lama, and placed the items together with other imitations or common objects to test the young boy. When Lhamo had correctly identified the objects that had belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama, the monks knew that they had found the reincarnation of their leader.On recognising incarnations of the Dalai LamaTraditionally it has been the responsibility of the High Lamas of the Gelugpa Tradition and the Tibetan government to find the Dalai Lamas reincarnation. Upon the death of a Dalai Lama, a consultation with the Nechung Oracle takes place and a search for the Lama's reincarnation is then conducted. The process can take up to two or three years. In the case of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the search went on for four years before he was found. The High Lamas employ several ways which would increase the chances of finding the reincarnation. These High Lamas often visit the holy lake, called Lhamo La-tso, in central Tibet and watch for a sign from the lake itself. This may be either a vision or some indication of the direction in which to search, and this was how Tenzin Gyatso was found. It is said that Palden Lhamo, the female guardian spirit of the sacred lake, Lhamo La-tso, promised Gendun Drup, the 1st Dalai Lama in one of his visions "that she would protect the reincarnation lineage of the Dalai Lamas." Ever since the time of Gendun Gyatso, the 2nd Dalai Lama, who formalised the system, the Regents and other monks have gone to the lake to seek guidance on choosing the next reincarnation through visions while meditating there.In 1935, it was at this very lake that the Regent, Reting Rinpoche, received a clear vision of three Tibetan letters and of a monastery with a jade-green and gold roof, and a house with turquoise roof tiles, which led to the discovery of Tenzin Gyatso, the present 14th Dalai Lama. Once the High Lamas have found the home and the boy they believe to be the reincarnation, the boy undergoes a series of tests to affirm the rebirth. They will present the boy with a number of artefacts, of which only some belong to the previous Dalai Lama. If the boy chooses the right items, then this is seen as a sign, in conjunction with all of the other indications, that the boy is the undisputed reincarnation. The High Lamas will then invite Living Buddhas of the three great monasteries together with secular clergy and monk officials, to confirm their findings and will then report to the Central Government through the Minister of Tibet. Later, a group consisting of the three major servants of Dalai Lama, eminent officials and troops will invite the boy and his family to travel to Lhasa. Usually, the boy would be taken to Drepung Monastery to study the Buddhist sutra in preparation for assuming the role of Spiritual Leader of Tibet. This has been the tradition.

BECOMING THE 14th DALAI LAMAThe Dalai Lama was born on 6 July 1935, to a poor farming family in a small hamlet located in the village of Taktser, in the Amdo province of north eastern Tibet. His name was Lhamo Thondup, which literally means Wish-Fulfilling Goddess. Taktser (Roaring Tiger) was a small and poor settlement that stood on a hill overlooking a broad valley. Its pastures had not been settled or farmed for long, only grazed by nomads. The reason for this was the unpredictability of the weather in that area.

The Dalai Lama writes in his autobiography, Freedom in Exile:During my early childhood, my family was one of twenty or so making a precarious living from the land there.

His parents were small farmers who mostly grew barley, buckwheat and potatoes. His father was a man of medium height with a very quick temper. His Holiness recalls that his mother was undoubtedly one of the kindest people he has ever known. She had a total of sixteen children, of whom only seven survived. His Holiness had two sisters and four brothers who survived their infancy. Tsering Dolma, the eldest child, was eighteen years older than him. He also had three elder brothers. They were Thupten Jigme Norbu the eldest, who was recognised as the reincarnation of a high lama, Taktser Rinpoche Gyalo Thondup and Lobsang Samten. The youngest brother, Tenzin Cheogyal was also recognised as the reincarnation of another high lama, Ngari Rinpoche.In Freedom in Exile, the Dalai Lama wrote:One thing that I remember enjoying particularly as a very young boy was going into the chicken coop to collect the eggs with my mother and then staying behind. I liked to sit in the hens' nest and make clucking noises."....."Another favourite occupation of mine as an infant was to pack things in a bag as if I was about to go on a long journey. I'm going to Lhasa, I'm going to Lhasa, I would say. This, coupled with my insistence that I be allowed always to sit at the head of the table, was later said to be an indication that I must have known that I was destined for greater things.Lhamo was two years old when he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. It was reported that he had correctly identified all the items owned by the previous Dalai Lama, exclaiming, "That's mine! That's mine. Lhamo Thondup was taken to the Potala Palace in the winter of 1940, where he was officially installed as the spiritual leader of Tibet. Soon after, the newly recognised Dalai Lama was taken to Jokhang temple where His Holiness was inducted as a novice monk in a ceremony known as taphue, meaning cutting of the hair.From that moment on, he was to be shaven-headed and attired in maroon monk's robes. In accordance with ancient custom, His Holiness forfeited his name Lhamo Thondup and assumed his new name, Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso.

EMINENT EDUCATIONThe Dalai Lama began his monastic education at the age of six. His tutors were H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and H.H. Kyabje Ling Rinpoche. The curriculum consisted of five major and five minor subjects. This is the same primary education that applies to all monks pursuing a doctorate in Buddhist studies. The major subjects included logic, Tibetan art and culture, Sanskrit, medicine, and Buddhist philosophy. The last, the most important and the most difficult was subdivided into further five categories: Prajnaparamita, the perfection of wisdom; Madhyamika, the philosophy of the Middle Way; Vinaya, the canon of monastic discipline; Abidharma, metaphysics; and Pramana, logic and epistemology.The five minor subjects included poetry, music and drama, astrology and phrasing, and synonyms. At the age of 11, Dalai Lama met the Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer, having spotted him in Lhasa through his telescope. Harrer effectively became one of the young Dalai Lama's tutors, and taught him about the outside world. The two remained friends until Harrer's death in 2006.At of the age of 23, Dalai Lama sat for his final examination in the Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, during the annual Monlam (prayer) Festival in 1959. He passed with honours and was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest-level degree equivalent to a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy.We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

LEAVING TIBETIn 1950, Dalai Lama was called upon to assume full political power, which he did, including going to Beijing in 1954 for peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, including Deng Xiaoping. However in 1959, His Holiness eventually escaped from Tibet to go into exile in India. It was on 17 March 1959 during a consultation with Nechung Oracle that Dalai Lama was given an explicit instruction to leave the country. The Oracle's decision was further confirmed when a divination performed by His Holiness produced the same answer. The odds against making a successful break seemed terrifyingly high. However, for the sake of his people and the continuance of Tibet, His Holiness decided to make that 14-day harrowing journey through the Himalayas. A few minutes before ten o'clock, His Holiness disguised himself as a common soldier, slipped past the massive throng of people along with a small escort party and proceed towards the Kyichu river. There, he was joined by the rest of the entourage, including his immediate family members. Three weeks after leaving Lhasa, His Holiness and his entourage reached the Indian border from where they were escorted by Indian guards to Bomdila. The Indian government had already agreed to provide asylum to His Holiness and his followers in India. It was in Mussoorie that His Holiness met with the Indian Prime Minister and the two talked about rehabilitating the Tibetan refugees.His Holiness has been living in Dharamsala, northern India, to this day.

GOVERNING IN EXILEOn 20th June 1959, The Dalai Lama called a press conference and broke his self elected silence. On that day, His Holiness formally repudiated the Seventeen-Point Agreement. On 10 March 1960 just before leaving for Dharamsala with the eighty or so officials who comprised the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, The Dalai Lama began what is now a tradition by making a statement on the anniversary of the Tibetan People's Uprising.On this first occasion, I stressed the need for my people to take a long-term view of the situation in Tibet. For those of us in exile, I said that our priority must be resettlement and the continuity of our cultural traditions. As to the future, I stated my belief that, with Truth, Justice and Courage as our weapons, we Tibetans would eventually prevail in regaining freedom for Tibet.The Dalai Lama saw the creation of various new Tibetan government departments. These included Departments of Information, Education, Home, Security, Religious Affairs and Economic Affairs. Most of the Tibetan refugees, whose number had grown to almost 30,000, were moved to road camps in the hills of northern India. In 1963 The Dalai Lama presented a draft democratic constitution for Tibet, based upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That was followed by a number of reforms to democratise the administrative set-up. The new democratic constitution was named "The Charter of Tibetans in Exile". The charter enshrines freedom of speech, belief, assembly and movement. It also provides detailed guidelines on the functioning of the Tibetan government with respect to those living in exile. During 1970, he opened the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala which houses over 80,000 manuscripts and important knowledge resources related to Tibetan history, politics and culture. It is regarded as one of the most important institutions for Tibetology in the world. In September 1987 His Holiness proposed the Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet as the first step towards a peaceful solution to the situation in Tibet. He envisioned that Tibet would become a sanctuary; a zone of peace at the heart of Asia, where all sentient beings can exist in harmony and the delicate environment can be preserved. In May 1990, the reforms called for by His Holiness saw the realisation of a truly democratic administration in exile for the Tibetan community. The Tibetan Cabinet (Kashag), which till then had been appointed by His Holiness, was dissolved along with the Tenth Assembly of the Tibetan parliament in exile. In the same year, exile Tibetans on the Indian sub-continent and in more than 33 other countries elected 46 members to the expanded Eleventh Tibetan Assembly. In Tibet's long history, this was the first time that the people elected the political leadership of Tibet.In 1992, His Holiness issued guidelines for the constitution of a future, free Tibet. He announced that when Tibet becomes free, the immediate task would be to set up an interim government whose first responsibility will be to elect a constitutional assembly to frame and adopt Tibet's democratic constitution. On that day His Holiness would transfer all his historical and political authority to the Interim President and live as an ordinary citizen. His Holiness also stated that he hoped that Tibet, comprising of the three traditional provinces of U-Tsang, Amdo and Kham, would be federal and democratic.

ADVOCATOR OF UNIVERSAL PEACE FOR THE WORLDHis Holiness the Dalai Lama is a man devoted to peace and the promotion of peace. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems. Three Main Commitments Dalai Lama has three main commitments in life: ONE: On the level of humanity, His Holinesss first commitment is to promote universal moral ethics such as compassion, forgiveness, patience, generosity, concentration and self-discipline. His Holiness remains steadfast in wanting to share the importance of these human values with everyone he meets. This is his first root commitment.Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.TWO: On the level of spirituality, His Holiness is deeply passionate about promoting religious harmony, and establishing understanding among the worlds major religious traditions. As we live in a global community together, we need to cultivate an appreciation for each others religions and traditions. In this respect, there is no one truth or one religion for all, but several truths and several religions for the whole world. This becomes His Holinesss second root commitment.All major religious traditions carry basically the same message. That is love, compassion and forgiveness. The important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.THREE: His Holiness is a Tibetan and holds the title: Dalai Lama. He is both the temporal Head of the State and the Spiritual Leader of Tibet. His Holiness reserves the right to act as the free spokesperson of the Tibetan. In this context, his third root commitment is to the Tibetan issue. However, this will cease to exist once a mutually beneficial solution is reached between the Tibetans and Chinese.Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.At all times, His Holiness will carry on with the first two root commitments until his last breath. His Holiness has travelled to more than 62 countries spanning six continents. He has met with presidents, prime ministers and crowned rulers of major nations. He has held dialogues with the heads of different religions and many well-known scientists. He is the first Dalai Lama to travel to the West, where he seeks to spread Buddhist teachings and to promote ethics and interfaith harmony. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was given honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and was awarded the United States Congressional Gold Medal during October 2007. He has received more than 100 honorary conferment and major awards. Since 1959 the Dalai Lama has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. His Holiness has also authored more than 72 books.However, it was after winning the Nobel Peace Prize that the public awareness of the Dalai Lama became even more prevalent. With that, the keen interest in Buddhism began to rise and spread.The Dalai Lama has been the subject of several motion pictures, including Seven Years in Tibet starring Brad Pitt, Martin Scorsese's feature film Kundun, as well as documentary films, including the 2008 theatrically released Dalai Lama Renaissance, narrated by Harrison Ford. On 17 December 2008, after months of speculation, the Dalai Lama announced his semi-retirement. He said that the future course of the movement he had directed for nearly five decades would now be decided by the elected parliament-in-exile with the Prime Minister, Samdhong Rinpoche. The then 73-year-old Nobel laureate, who had undergone surgery, told reporters in Dharamsala:"I have grown old.It is better if I retire completely andget out of the way of the Tibetan movement.The 14th Dalai Lama, has stated that there is a chance that he will not be reborn.In his autobiography, Freedom In Exile, he states that after he dies it is possible that his people will no longer want a Dalai Lama, in which case there would be no need to search for his reincarnation."So, I might take rebirth as an insect, or an animal whatever would be of most value to the largest number of sentient beings".The Dalai Lama often describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. However, to the world over, His Holiness is highly regarded as an icon of peace a Living Buddha of compassion.Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.

CONCLUSIONSAccording to Buddhist belief, the Dalai Lamas are earthly incarnations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the bodhisattva of compassion and patron saint of Tibet. In Buddhist tradition, bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who chose rebirth, rather than moving on to the afterlife, in order to serve humanity. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of Tibet. The Dalai Lama is a man of peace. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. He also became the first Nobel Laureate to be recognized for his concern for global environmental problems. He has travelled to more than 62 countries spanning 6 continents. He has met with presidents, prime ministers and crowned rulers of major nations. He has held dialogues with the heads of different religions and many well-known scientists. He has also authored more than 72 books. Since 1959 the Dalai Lama has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion.

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."~ Dalai Lama ~

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.dalailama.com http://blog.tsemtulku.com http://en.wikipedia.org http://www.msnbc.msn.com~ 14 ~