Dalai Lama: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Dalai Lama means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

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In Buddhism

General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Dalai Lama in Buddhism glossary
Source: WikiPedia: Buddhism

The Dalai Lama is a lineage of religious leaders of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and was the political leader of Lhasa based Tibetan government between the 17th century and 1959. Referred to by his followers simply as "His Holiness" (HH), or "His Holiness The Dalai Lama", many Tibetans usually call the Dalai Lama by the epithets Gyalwa Rinpoche, meaning "Precious Victor", or Yishin Norbu, meaning "Wish fulfilling Jewel." "Lama" (meaning "teacher") is a title given to many different ranks of Tibetan Buddhist clergy.

The Dalai Lama is believed to be the current incarnation of a long line of Tulkus, or Buddhist Masters, who have become exempt from the wheel of death and rebirth. These ascended masters have chosen of their own free will to be reborn to this place in order to enlighten others. He is also the official leader of the Tibetan government in exile, or the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

Source: Shambala Publications: General

Dalai Lama (dalai bla-ma), Mong. and Tib., lit., “teacher whose wisdom is as great as the ocean”; an honorary title bestowed by the Mon­golian prince Altan Khan on the third head of the Geluk school in 1578. This close con­nection with Mongolia brought the school of Tsongkhapa into a position of political preemi­nence, which with the fifth Dalai Lama (1617–82) was consolidated into rulership over all of Tibet. Since this time, the Dalai Lama has been regarded as an incarnation of Avalokitesh­vara, and the Panchen Lama has been vener­ated as his spiritual representative. Each Dalai Lama is considered a reincarnation (tulku) of the preceding Dalai Lamas.

The Dalai Lamas not only fulfilled their role as heads of state. Among them are also great scholars and poets filled with joie de vivre, like the sixth Dalai Lama. The fourteenth Dalai Lama, in exile since 1959, combines in his per­son a spiritual and political authority that is still binding for the Tibetan people.

The individual Dalai Lamas are as follows:

  1. Dalai Lama Gendün Drub (1391–­­­1475)
  2. Dalai Lama Gendün Gyatso (1475–1542)
  3. Dalai Lama Sönam Gyatso (1543–1588)
  4. Dalai Lama Yönten Gyatso (1589–1617)
  5. Dalai Lama Losang Gyatso (1617–1682)
  6. Dalai Lama Jamyang Gyatso (1683–1706)
  7. Dalai Lama Kelsang Gyatso (1708–1757)
  8. Dalai Lama Jampel Gyatso (1758–1804)
  9. Dalai Lama Lungtog Gyatso (1806–1815)
  10. Dalai Lama Tsültrim Gyatso (1816–1837)
  11. Dalai Lama Kedrub Gyatso (1838–1856)
  12. Dalai Lama Trinle Gyatso (1856–1875)
  13. Dalai Lama Tubten Gyatso (1876–1933)
  14. Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso (born 1935)

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