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• Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th Dalai Lama (1935 - present). The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibet.Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama to be one of innumerable incarnations of Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.Dalai Lama: Biography

  In March 2009, Dalai Lama was refused a visa to South Africa to attend a peace conference in the country. The government said Dalai Lama would not be allowed into the country until after the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament because his presence would take away attention from the game.Wall Street Journal: Controversy Swells After South Africa Bars Dalai Lama from Conference (March 24, 2009) The peace conference, scheduled to start on March 27, 2009, was postponed after several Nobel laureates invited, including former South African president Frederik De Klerk, said the would boycott it.The Christian Science Monitor: [http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0326/p04s01-woaf.html South Africa turns away Dalai Lama, political firestorm follows(March 26, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Birthdate: July 6, 1935Dalai Lama: Biography
  2. Birth name: Lhamo ThondupDalai Lama: Biography
  3. Religious and political leader of Tibet
  4. Lives in exile in India
  5. Leader of movement for Tibetan Independence
  6. Helped the spread of Buddhism in the West
  7. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989
  8. Dalai" means "Ocean" in Mongolian
  9. Dalai Lama is a translation of the Tibetan name "Gyatso"
  10. "Lama" is equivalent to Sanskrit word "guru"
  11. Commonly translated to mean "spiritual teacher"

• Tibet Conflict

  In March 2009 the conflict between Tibet and China reached the 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan revolt against Chinese authority. The Chinese government puts the blame for continued resistance and protests on the Dalai Lama. Meanwhile, the Dalia Lama has called for peaceful resolution to the conflict and has continually supported autonomy for the region rather than asking for independence from China.CNN: Tensions high on Tibet anniversary (March 8, 2009)

• Retirement Threatens the Dalai Lama

  In 2008, as protests in Tibet rocked the region, some said that the Dalai Lama should 'resign' from his position in protest. Since the role of Dalai Lama must be filled by an incarnation of Avalokitesvara, and only one incarnation can exist at a time, he can only technically leave the position of Dalai Lama by dying. When he dies, Tibetan Buddhists believe an infant somewhere will be born with the soul of Avalokitesvara and thus become the new Dalai Lama. Nonetheless, the Dalai Lama did threaten to "completely resign" if the Tibetans start an armed rebellion against China.

• Meetings With China

  On April 25, 2008 the Xinhua News Agency, China's main news outlet, announced that the Chinese government would meet with a representative of the Dalai Lama. Despite this report, a spokesman for the Dalai Lama stated that they have had no recent contact with China and that, at this point, no arrangements for a meeting have been made.

• Health Concerns

  On August 27, 2008, the Dalai Lama's office reported that the Dalai Lama had been diagnosed with exhaustion and that he would be taking at least three weeks off to rest.MSNBC: Dalai Lama, battling exhaustion, cancels trips (August 27, 2008) On August 28, 2008, the Dalai Lama was admitted to hospital in Mumbai, India to undergo medical testing after experiencing "abdominal discomfort."Financial Times: Dalai Lama admitted to hospital (August 28, 2008)

  The Dalai Lama was admitted to a hospital in India after reporting that he had pain in his arms. He reportedly suffered a pinched nerve, and was released on Monday, February 2, 2009. Kansas City Star: Dalai Lama hospitalized with pinched nerve (February 2, 2009) His spokesperson, Chimme Chhoekyapa, downplayed the incident and stated that the Lama's plans to visit Italy and Germany in early February remained unchanged.BBC News: Dalai Lama Is Taken to Hospital (Febuary 2, 2009)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Dalai Lama Exhaustion | Dalai Lama Hospitalized | Tibet | Buddhism | Tibet Protests 2008 | Tibetan Independence | Free Tibet | Buddhism | Buddha | Tibet

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