This week I will be attending a talk by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, who will speak about non-violence. I’m looking forward to it and expect it to be an inspiring talk. In addition, I am going with a good friend who spent two years in Tibet so she brings a unique perspective. I will update you on how it goes, but in preparation, I did a little research on his Holiness. I realized that although I knew who he was, and that he spoke on peace, I did not know much more. So here’s what I found out.

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” – Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibet. He is the 14th Dalai Lama and as those before him he is considered to be a reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have delayed their own nirvana. Instead, they have been reborn so that they could serve others. Translated Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom.

This Dalai Lama was born in 1935, to a farming family, in northeastern Tibet.  At the age of two he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. He was than taken to Lhasa, Tibet. He began his education at the age of six and in 1950 at the age of 15, Tenzin Gyatso was formally recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama and became the spiritual and supreme leader of Tibet. When he was 25, he completed the Geshe Lharampa Degree (Doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy).

In 1959, there was a Tibetan uprising and the Dalai Lama, fearing for his life, fled Tibet and eventually set up the Government of Tibet in Exile in Dharamshala, India, which also carries the nickname, little Lhasa.

In 1989 he won the Nobel Peace Prize

He is on twitter @DalaiLama and as of today he has 4,033,096 followers

In the talk this week, the Dalai Lama will talk about non-violence which is related to the other topics he seems to choose. When he speaks in other countries, he often advocates for better understanding and respect among the different faiths of the world. He has been willing to attend interfaith services so that he can demonstrate his message of universal responsibility, love, compassion and kindness. As our world becomes smaller and technology simultaneously brings us together and alienates us, he seems to stand for human face-to-face relationships on which we can depend; a willingness to lean on each other and be leaned upon. People and nations do better when we work together to solve problems because, sharing a small planet, we are all eventually affected.

“I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.” – Dalai Lama
~