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Education in Tibet
He began his education at the age of six and completed the
Geshe Lharampa Degree (Doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy) in
1959, when he was 25. At age 24, he took the preliminary examinations
at each of the three monastic universities: Drepung, Sera
and Ganden. The final examination was conducted in the Jokhang,
Lhasa, during the annual Monlam Festival of Prayer, held in
the first month of the Tibetan calendar.
Leadership Responsibilities
On 17 November 1950, His Holiness was called upon to assume
full political responsibilities as head of the State and Government,
after some 80,000 soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army
(soldiers) invaded Tibet. In 1954 His Holiness went to Beijing
to talk peace with Chairman Mao Tse-tung and other Chinese
leaders, including Chou En-lai and Deng Xiaoping. In 1956,
while visiting India to attend the 2500th Buddha Jayanti Anniversary,
His Holiness had a series of meetings with Prime Minister
Nehru and Premier Chou about deteriorating conditions in Tibet.
His Holiness's efforts to bring about a peaceful solution
to Sino-Tibetan conflict were thwarted by Bejing's ruthless
policy in Eastern Tibet, which ignited a popular uprising
and resistance. This resistance movement spread to other parts
of the country. On 10 March 1959 the capital of Tibet, Lhasa,
exploded with the largest demonstration in Tibetan history,
calling on China to leave Tibet and reaffirming Tibet's independence.
This National Uprising was brutally crushed, however, by the
Chinese army. His Holiness escaped to India where he was given
political asylum. Some 80,000 Tibetan refugees followed His
Holiness into exile. Today, there are more than 120,000 Tibetans
in exile. Since 1960, His Holiness has resided in Dharamsala,
India, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile.
In the early years of exile, His Holiness appealed to the
United Nations on the question of Tibet, resulting in three
resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in 1959, 1961,
and 1965, calling on China to respect the human rights of
Tibetans and their desire for self-determination. With the
newly constituted Tibetan Government-in-exile, His Holiness
saw that his immediate and urgent task was to save both the
Tibetan exiles and their culture alike. Tibetan refugees were
rehabilitated in agricultural settlements; economic development
was promoted; and the creation of a Tibetan educational system
was established to raise refugee children with full knowledge
of their language, history, religion and culture. The Tibetan
Institute of Performing Arts was established in 1959, while
the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies became a university
for Tibetans in India. Over 200 monasteries have been re-established
to preserve the vast corpus of Tibetan Buddhist teachings,
the essence of the Tibetan way of life.
In 1963, His Holiness promulgated a democratic constitution,
as a model for a future free Tibet, based on Buddhist principles
and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today, members
of the Tibetan Parliament are elected directly by the people.
The members of the Tibetan Cabinet are elected by the Parliament,
making the Cabinet answerable to the Parliament. His Holiness
has continuously emphasised the need to further democratise
the Tibetan administration and has publicly declared that
once Tibet regains her independence, he will not hold political
office.
Recognition and Awards
Since his first visit to the west in the early 1973, a number
of western universities and institutions have conferred Peace
Awards and honorary Doctorate Degrees in recognition of His
Holiness' distinguished writings in Buddhist philosophy and
for his leadership in the solution of international conflicts,
human rights issues and global environmental problems. In
presenting the Raoul Wallenberg Congressional Human Rights
Award in 1989, U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos said:
"His Holiness the Dalai Lama's courageous struggle
has distinguished him as a leading proponent of human rights
and world peace. His ongoing efforts to end the suffering
of the Tibetan people through peaceful negotiations and
reconciliation have required enormous courage and sacrifice."
The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize
The Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision to award the 1989
Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama won worldwide
praise and applause, with the exception of China. The Committees
citation read:
"The Committee wants to emphasize the fact that
the Dalai Lama in his struggle for the liberation of Tibet
consistently has opposed the use of violence. He has instead
advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual
respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural
heritage of his people."
On 10 December 1989, His Holiness accepted the prize on the
behalf of oppressed beings everywhere and all those who struggle
for freedom and work for world peace and the people of Tibet.
In his remarks he said:
"The prize reaffirms our conviction that with truth,
courage and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be
liberated. Our struggle must remain nonviolent and free
of hatred."
A Simple Buddhist monk
His Holiness often says, "I am just a simple Buddhist
monk - no more, nor less."
His Holiness follows the life of a Buddhist monk. Living
in a small cottage in Dharamsala, he rises at 4 A.M. to meditate
and pursues an ongoing schedule of administrative meetings,
private audiences and religious teachings and ceremonies.
He concludes each day with further prayer before retiring.
In explaining his greatest sources of inspiration, he often
cites a favourite verse, found in the writings of the renowned
eighth century Buddhist saint Shantideva:
For as long as space endures
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I too abide
To dispel the misery of the world.
For as long as space endures
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I too abide
To dispel the misery of the world.
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