H.H. The Dalai Lama
His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama is the highest religious, political and social figure of the Tibetan people.
The Dalai Lamas, which means "Ocean of Wisdom", are the physical manifestations of the Buddha of Compassion, who decides to take rebirth for the benefit of all sentient beings.
H. H. Tenzin Gyatso was born on July 6th, 1935 in a small hamlet in north eastern Tibet. In 1937 he was recognised as the 14th Dalai Lama. Then he moved to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, in the traditional mansion of the Dalai Lamas, where he started receiving a high-level monastic education, with the purpose of being prepared to guide his people both spiritually and politically. At 23 he was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest degree of Buddhist studies.
In 1950, His Holiness assumed full political power. In accordance with the principles of non-violence of Buddhism, he has always been trying to find a pacific solution in order to preserve his people's culture. In 1959 he fled from his home country to India, where he still lives.
In Dharamsala he established the Tibetan government in exile and started to work and take care of his people.
His Holiness is always looking for pacific solutions to the problems and he has never encouraged the use of violence.
He is a promoter of a wider understanding among people and religions. Since 1967, he met many world religious and political leaders. He has been awarded many international acknowledgements and honorary degrees. In 1989 he received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Apart from his work for the world peace and for his people, he continues to teach Buddhism and meditates more than five hours a day, admirably reconciling the life of a monk and that of a politician.
His Holiness has numerous disciples all over the world and he always gives teachings. He's the author of several Buddhist texts and works and he's universally acknowledged as a man of peace, both among Buddhist and non-Buddhist people.
According to his own statements, he has three main purposes in his life: developing human values as compassion and tolerance, in particular among those who don't believe in any religion; promoting harmonious relationship among the world religions and, finally, as Tibetan leader, obtaining a non-violent solution to the problems of Tibet.
His charisma, based upon authentic inner qualities of pacifism, sincere humbleness and humanity, makes the Dalai Lama one of the most well-known persons of the world. His conferences and teachings, which he gives with no intention of proselytism, are true lessons of life, peace, tolerance and compassion, which he gives with the sole intention of contributing to human peace and brotherhood. For this reason more and more people every year attend them.