Biography of His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama
His Holiness the Dalai Lama was born on 6 July 1935, and named Lhamo Thondup, to a Tibetan farming family in the small village of Taktser, located in the province of Amdo.
Enthronement Ceremony (Iron-Dragon Year, 1st month, 14th day)
Begins monastic education at the age of five
Receives Vows of Novice Monk from Taktra Rinpoche (1st month, 10th day)
At the age of 16, His Holiness the Dalai Lama assumed political leader of Tibet after China’s invasion of Tibet in 1949 (Iron-Tiger Year, 10th month, 11th day)
17-Point Agreement signed by Tibetan delegation in Peking under duress
Chinese delegation led by General Chiang Chin-wu, newly appointed Commissioner and Administrator of Civil and Military Affairs of Tibet, meets with His Holiness in Dromo (Yatung)
Receives Gelong Ordination from Ling Rinpoche (Wood-Horse Year, 1st month, 15th day)
Confers 1st Kalachakra Initiation in Norbulingka Palace, Lhasa
(July 1954 to June 1955)
Visits China for peace talks and meets with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, including Chou En-Lai, Chu Teh and Deng Xiaoping
(November 1956 to March 1957)
Visits India to participate in 2500th Buddha Jayanti celebrations
His Holiness gave his final examination in Lhasa’s Jokhang Temple, during the annual Monlam (prayer) Festival in 1959 at the age of 23. He passed with honors and was awarded the Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest-level degree, equivalent to a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy.
Tens of thousands of Tibetans gathered in front of Norbulingka Palace, Lhasa to prevent His Holiness from going to a performance at the Chinese Army Camp in Lhasa. Tibetan People’s Uprising begins in Lhasa.
Escapes at night from Norbulingka Palace in Lhasa
First declaration of formally reestablishment of Tibetan Government at Lhudup Dzong. 17-Point Agreement formally repudiated by Tibetan Government
Enters India from Tibet after a 14-day harrowing escape.
His Holiness arrived in Mussorie on 20 April 1959 and met with Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to talk about rehabilitation of Tibetan refugee. On 20 June 1959 held international press conference and formally repudiates the 17-Point Agreement. Established Council for Religious Affair, the Departments of Information, Education, Home, Security, and Economic Affairs.
Residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Government in Exile had been shifted to Dharamsala from Mussooire.
Presents a draft democratic constitution for Tibet. First exile Tibetan Parliament (Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies) established in Dharamsala.
First visits abroad (since coming into exile) to Japan and Thailand |
First visit to the West (Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, UK, West Germany & Austria)
First contact with the Government of the People’s Republic of China established since coming into exile in 1959. First fact-finding delegation of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, led by Kalon Juchen Thubten Namgyal, begins tour of Tibet in 5 August 1979
His Holiness the Dalai Lama addresses the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Caucus and presents a Five-Point Peace Plan for Tibet, proposing the Chinese government to start earnest negotiations based on the Middle Way Approach.
Delivers historic Strasbourg Proposal for Tibet in Strasbourg, France to members of the European Parliament
Awarded the 1989 Nobel Prize for Peace in Oslo, Norway
Initiates a number of additional major democratic steps, including the direct elections of Kalons (Ministers) by the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies and the establishment of a judiciary branch. Previously Kalons appointed directly by His Holiness
First direct democratic elections held by the Tibetan people for the post of Kalon Tripa (Senior Minister) in the history of Tibet
His Holiness the Dalai Lama received congressional gold medal, the highest civilian award of the US from President George W Bush.
On March 14 His Holiness the Dalai Lama sends a letter to the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (Tibetan Parliament in exile) requesting them to devolve his temporal power. On May 29 His Holiness signs into law the formal transfer of his temporal power to the democratically elected leader. This brings to an end the 368-year old tradition of the Dalai Lamas being both spiritual and temporal head of Tibet. In August 8, 2011 during the swearing in ceremony His Holiness the Dalai Lama passed His full political power to Dr. Lobsang Sangay.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama met President Barack Obama in July 2011, in the White House. The White House applauds “the Dalai Lama‟s commitment to non-violence and dialogue with China and his pursuit of the Middle Way Approach,” and encourages the relevant parties to engage in “direct dialogue to resolve long-standing differences”, saying that “a dialogue that produces results would be positive for China and Tibetans.” that “a dialogue that produces results would be positive for China and Tibetans.”
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