Happy Birthday, Dear Dalai Lama

Happy 78th Birthday, Dalai Lama! ~~~~~ On his birthday on Saturday, 6 July, the beloved Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader spoke to a crowd of 40,000 Tibetans, saying he was counting on young people to create a "happier" century. The Dalai Lama celebrated his birthday at Bylakuppe, 250 kilometres (150 miles) from Karnataka state capital Bangalore, where the largest camp of Tibetan exiles was set up in India in the early 1960s. They migrated from Tibet and settled in India after the Dalai Lama fled from Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule. The currenr Dalai Lama is known for his infectious guffaw, oversized spectacles and teachings about peace. Saturday he said : "For those of us from the 20th century, there is nothing we can do now....The present-day generation can create better conditions and build a world where everyone can live in harmony and in a spirit of coexistence." In an hour-long speech, he urged people to "practice compassion" and not just think of themselves, adding that education only has value "when you are compassionate towards others." The Dalai Lama set up his headquarters in Dharamshala, the mist- shrouded northern Indian hill station after escaping Chinese rule. But some 18,000 Tibetans, including 9,000 monks and nuns reside in Bylakuppe, the largest Tibetan resettlement camp in India that houses two monasteries, temples, schools, hospitals, houses and shops. Karnataka has the largest Tibetan population in India. Out of the total 120,000 refugees in India, 40,000 live in the three main camps of Karnataka, while the rest are scattered across northern India, according to official figures. Two years ago, the Dalai Lama announced he was retiring from political duties and upgraded the role of prime minister of the Tibetan exile community. He devolved power in an attempt to lessen his own totemic status and secure the movement's future after his death. But he is still the most powerful rallying point for Tibetans, both in exile and in their homeland, and remains the universally recognised face of the movement. Despite his age, the Dalai Lama keeps up a globe-trotting schedule that would normally tire anyone half his age, aides say. The close-cropped balding monk, who eats a healthy, mainly vegetarian diet and exercises regularly, supports "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet within China rather than outright independence. But China, which says Tibetans are better off now because of Chinese investment in the Himalayan region, accuses the Dala Lama of covertly campaigning for Tibet's independence and calls him a "splittist." ~~~~~ If you are like me, dear readers, there is a lot you don't know about the Dalai Lama and his significance for Tibet and Buddhism. So, let's fill in a few holes with some facts. (1). THE HISTORY OF THE DALAI LAMAS. The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsongkhapa (1357–1419). The name is a combination of words meaning "ocean" and "guru, teacher." According to Tibetan Buddhist doctrine, the Dalai Lama is the rebirth in a line of tulkus who are metaphorically considered to be manifestations of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteśvara. The line of Dalai Lamas began as a lineage of spiritual teachers; the 5th Dalai Lama assumed political authority over Tibet. For certain periods between the 17th century and 1959, the Dalai Lamas sometimes directed the Tibetan government, which administered portions of Tibet from Lhasa. The current 14th Dalai Lama remained the head of state for the Central Tibetan Administration ("Tibetan government in exile") until his retirement on March 14, 2011. He has indicated that the institution of the Dalai Lama may be abolished in the future, and also that the next Dalai Lama may be found outside Tibet and may be female. The Chinese government rejected this and asserted that only it has the authority to select the next Dalai Lama. (2). THE REINCARNATION OF THE DALAI LAMA. In Himalayan tradition, 'phowa' is the discipline that transfers the mindstream to the intended body. Upon the death of the Dalai Lama and consultation with the Nechung Oracle, a search for the Lama's yangsi, or reincarnation, is conducted. Traditionally, it has been the responsibility of the High Lamas of the Gelugpa tradition and the Tibetan government to find his reincarnation. It can take two or three years to identify the Dalai Lama. Historically, the search for the Dalai Lama has usually been limited to Tibet. The current Dakai Lama, however, has stated that he wil not be reborn in the People's Republic of China, though he has also suggested he may not be reborn at all, suggesting the function of the Dalai Lama may be outdated. The High Lamas use several ways to increase their chances of finding the reincarnation. High Lamas often visit Lhamo La-tso, a lake in central Tibet, and watch for a sign from the lake itself. This may be a vision or another indication of the direction in which to search. It is said that Palden Lhamo, the female guardian spirit of the sacred lake Lhamo La-tso promised Gendun Drup, the 1st Dalai Lama, in one of his visions "that she would protect the reincarnation lineage of the Dalai Lamas." Ever since the time of the 2nd Dalai Lama, who formalised the system, the Regents and other monks have gone to the lake to seek guidance on choosing the next reincarnation through visions while meditating there. It was here that in 1935, the Regent Reting Rinpoche received a clear vision of three Tibetan letters and of a monastery with a jade-green and gold roof, and a house with turquoise roof tiles, which led to the discovery of the current 14th Dalai Lama. High Lamas may also have a vision by a dream or if the Dalai Lama was cremated, they will often monitor the direction of the smoke as an indication of the direction of the rebirth. Once the High Lamas have found the home and the boy they believe to be the reincarnation, the boy undergoes a series of tests to affirm the rebirth. They present a number of artifacts, only some of which belonged to the previous Dalai Lama, and if the boy chooses the items which belonged to the previous Dalai Lama, this is seen as a sign, in conjunction with all of the other indications, that the boy is the reincarnation. If there is only one boy found, the High Lamas will invite Living Buddhas of the three great monasteries, together with secular clergy and monk officials, to confirm their findings and then report to the Central Government. Later, a group consisting of the three major servants of Dalai Lama, eminent officials, and troops will collect the boy and his family and travel to Lhasa, where the boy would be taken, usually to Drepung Monastery, to study the Buddhist holy books in preparation for assuming the role of spiritual leader of Tibet. If there are several possible reincarnations, however, regents, eminent officials, monks at the Jokhang in Lhasa have historically decided on the individual by putting the boys' names inside an urn and drawing one name in public. ~~~~~ The world has been blessed with your gentle wisdom and love of peace, dear Dalai Lama, and we wish you a very Happy Birthday and a long and fulfilling life.