The Dalai Lama is recognized around the world as the spiritual leader of Tibet. Officially, he is the leader of the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism, which traces back to the fifteenth century. However the origin of the title is a result of a long relationship between Tibet and Mongolia.
Genghis Khan
In 1207, the leaders of Tibet sent an envoy to pay homage to the ruler of neighbouring Mongolia, Genghis Khan. Thubten Samphel-Tendar explains in his book The Dalai Lamas of Tibet that doing so spared Tibet from the Mongolian assault that conquered much of Asia. This began a union between Tibet and Mongolia where Tibetan spiritual leaders would serve as Buddhist teachers in Mongolia, in exchange for military protection.
Ocean of Wisdom
There are many sects of Buddhism in Tibet, but in the late 1500's, Sonam Gyatso of the Gelugpa order further aligned himself with Mongolia's Altan Khan. The powerful Mongolian ruler so appreciated Sonam Gyatso's efforts in expanding Buddhism through Mongolia that he bestowed on him the title Dalai Lama. Dalai is the Mongolian word for ocean, and Lama is the Tibetan word for teacher. Dalai Lama is translated as "Ocean of Wisdom".
The First Dalai Lama
Since Sonam Gyatso was accepted to be the 3rd incarnation of a great teacher, the title of Dalai Lama was posthumously awarded to Gedun Drub and Gedun Gyatso. Therefore, the first person to receive this title during his lifetime was actually the 3rd Dalai Lama.
Fortuitously, the incarnation of the 4th Dalai Lama was found in the great-grandson of Altan Khan. This further galvanized the relationship between the Khans of Mongolia and the Dalai Lamas of Tibet.
Reincarnation
Following the death of a Dalai Lama, special envoys of the Gelugpa order set out across Tibet to search for his reincarnation. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be able to control when and where they will be reborn, and often offer clues of where to find their next incarnation after they die. When monks were not at first able to find the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, they took a cue from his body, which still lay in state. His head had tilted in a new direction. Focusing on that direction, they were able to find the 14th Dalai Lama.
During the search for a reincarnated lama, monks investigate stories of children with unique wisdom, and consult astrologers for clues of where to look. Children that are thought to potentially be a reincarnated lama are tested. These tests include placing before a child a number of possessions owned by the deceased lama, along with random objects. The child is then asked to select which items were his in a past life. This test is passed if the child selects all items correctly.
Great Dalai Lamas
Because of both their political savvy and spiritual leadership, both the 5th and 13th Dalai Lamas are referred to as the Great 5th and Great 13th Dalai Lama.
Author Sunil S.
Genghis Khan
In 1207, the leaders of Tibet sent an envoy to pay homage to the ruler of neighbouring Mongolia, Genghis Khan. Thubten Samphel-Tendar explains in his book The Dalai Lamas of Tibet that doing so spared Tibet from the Mongolian assault that conquered much of Asia. This began a union between Tibet and Mongolia where Tibetan spiritual leaders would serve as Buddhist teachers in Mongolia, in exchange for military protection.
Ocean of Wisdom
There are many sects of Buddhism in Tibet, but in the late 1500's, Sonam Gyatso of the Gelugpa order further aligned himself with Mongolia's Altan Khan. The powerful Mongolian ruler so appreciated Sonam Gyatso's efforts in expanding Buddhism through Mongolia that he bestowed on him the title Dalai Lama. Dalai is the Mongolian word for ocean, and Lama is the Tibetan word for teacher. Dalai Lama is translated as "Ocean of Wisdom".
The First Dalai Lama
Since Sonam Gyatso was accepted to be the 3rd incarnation of a great teacher, the title of Dalai Lama was posthumously awarded to Gedun Drub and Gedun Gyatso. Therefore, the first person to receive this title during his lifetime was actually the 3rd Dalai Lama.
Fortuitously, the incarnation of the 4th Dalai Lama was found in the great-grandson of Altan Khan. This further galvanized the relationship between the Khans of Mongolia and the Dalai Lamas of Tibet.
Reincarnation
Following the death of a Dalai Lama, special envoys of the Gelugpa order set out across Tibet to search for his reincarnation. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be able to control when and where they will be reborn, and often offer clues of where to find their next incarnation after they die. When monks were not at first able to find the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, they took a cue from his body, which still lay in state. His head had tilted in a new direction. Focusing on that direction, they were able to find the 14th Dalai Lama.
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During the search for a reincarnated lama, monks investigate stories of children with unique wisdom, and consult astrologers for clues of where to look. Children that are thought to potentially be a reincarnated lama are tested. These tests include placing before a child a number of possessions owned by the deceased lama, along with random objects. The child is then asked to select which items were his in a past life. This test is passed if the child selects all items correctly.
Great Dalai Lamas
Because of both their political savvy and spiritual leadership, both the 5th and 13th Dalai Lamas are referred to as the Great 5th and Great 13th Dalai Lama.
Author Sunil S.
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