Dalai Lama – Guardian of Peace and Faith

Commemorating the 90th Birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso (July 6, 1935 – July 6, 2025)

“May I always walk the path of benefiting all sentient beings,” Dalai Lama said.

Born on July 6, 1935, in a humble farming family in Qinghai, China, the boy named Lhamo Dhondup was identified at age two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. He was enthroned in Lhasa in 1940, receiving the name Tenzin Gyatso.

In 1950, the 15-year-old Dalai Lama assumed full political power amid Chinese military advances into Tibet. In 1959, after a failed uprising, he fled to India, where he established the Tibetan Government-in-Exile in Dharamshala.

Mao Zedong and the Communist leadership recognized the immense influence of the Dalai Lama, both spiritually and politically. After the signing of the 1951 “Seventeen-Point Agreement,” Mao saw the Dalai Lama’s cooperation as a way to legitimize the so-called peaceful liberation of Tibet. Keeping him in Beijing would project an image of religious tolerance and national unity to both the Chinese public and the international community. As Tibet’s supreme religious and political figure, the Dalai Lama’s presence would help stabilize the region and deter foreign intervention. Moreover, Mao envisioned the Dalai Lama as a symbolic example for other minority leaders—particularly in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia—who could be persuaded to cooperate under a unified, multiethnic socialist state.

Although initially open to cooperation with the new government, the Dalai Lama grew increasingly disillusioned as Beijing tightened control over Tibet and violated promises of genuine autonomy. After witnessing violent military crackdowns on Tibetan uprisings from 1956 onward, and the erosion of religious institutions, he concluded that his people’s cultural and spiritual survival was under threat. The 1959 Lhasa uprising and the real danger to his life forced him to flee to India. His decision to go into exile was not only for self-preservation—it was a conscious choice to protect Tibetan identity, uphold his duty as a spiritual leader, and seek international support through peaceful advocacy. From exile, he aimed to preserve Tibet’s cultural heritage and continue the struggle for dignity and religious freedom through nonviolence.

He advocates the ‘Middle Way’—not seeking independence from China, but meaningful autonomy to preserve Tibet’s culture, language, and religion. His commitment to nonviolence earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

Beyond religion, the Dalai Lama promotes ‘secular ethics’ and collaborates with neuroscientists on the benefits of meditation. He encourages youth to embrace both traditional wisdom and modern knowledge.

As he ages, the question of reincarnation grows. The Dalai Lama has declared he may not reincarnate, or if he does, it will be outside of Chinese-controlled territory. He firmly states the Chinese government has no right to select his successor.

Even at 90, His Holiness remains active. In 2011, he retired from political roles, transferring authority to elected Tibetan leaders, symbolizing the end of the theocratic model.

To Tibetans, he is a cultural anchor; to Buddhists, a living Bodhisattva; to the world, a moral guide. His presence inspires compassion and unity across nations and beliefs.

🌸 Wishing His Holiness health, long life, and peace.
🌸 May his teachings continue to guide a world in turmoil.
🌸 May the Tibetan culture and spiritual heritage flourish for generations.

“I do not worry about my own future. But if humanity loses compassion and honesty, then the future of the entire world is at risk.” — His Holiness (2024)

The introduction text and photo comes from Web

Edited by Clint & Wilson