THE
DALAI LAMAS
Dalai Lamas was the title of Tibet's
rulers for over 500 years.Fourteen Dalai Lama ruled in succession,
each one a reincarnation of his predecessor according to
Tibetan belief.The title Dalai or Ocean (presumably ocean
of wisdom), was given to the third in 1578 by a Mongol King
and applied posthumously to the first two. The fifth name
him self ,his four predecessors and all future Dalai Lamas
as incarnation of the Bodhisattva of compassion, chenrezi
thus adopting divine status. When
A Dalai Lama died, a search for his reincarnation began
at once helped by the state or oracle portents and dreams.
High Lamas scoured Tibet for a boy with special physical
traits such as big ears and long eyes who in addition two
other test could identify the late Dalai Lamas possession
among a pile of similar objects. Incase of rival candidates,
they drew a lot until the new Dalai Lama was eighteen or
regent wielded unlimited power. The fifth and thirteen were
the greatest Dalai Lamas.
The first Dalai
Lama (1391-1474) was a disciple of Tsong Khapa.he founded
Tashihunpo Monastery, at Shigatse and was it first abbot
.The second (1475-1542) served as the abbot of three great
yellow hat monastery while dispute raged between rival Tibetan
sects.The third (1543-1588) an abbot Drepung Monastery succeeded
in reviving Buddhism in Mongolia. Altan Khan the king became
his patron.
The fourth (1588-1616)
was conveniently discovered to be the great grandson of
Altan Khan to the only the none. Tibetan in the line of
Dalai Lama. The great fifth(1617-82) was a mighty Scholar
Politician and architect aided by a Mongol Prince he unified
Tibet under his rule and suppressed all rivals of the yellow
hat sect. the Potala is his monument. The sixth ( 1683-1706)
preferred women, wine and poetry.Angry Mongolians killed
the regent and kidnapped the Dalai Lama.He was never seen
again. The seventh (1708-1757) was installed with Chineese
help after Mongols imposed a false Dalai Lama.
The Eighth to the
twelfth(1758-1875) are of minor importance.Most died
young (probably poisoned) while their regents held on to
power. The great thirteenth (1808-1933)
withstood a British invasion in 1904 and made Tibet independent
in (1912) after China became a republic. An able intelligent
ruler, he tried in vain to modernize Tibet's institutions.The
fourteenth(b 1935) was only 16 when Mao Zedong's China took
over Tibet.He rulled in Partial capacity under the chineese
for ten years but fled in 1959 with 80,000 followers to
India, where he keeps an active headquarters.He is still
held in great esteem in Tibet.
The first Dalai Lama
is entombed at Tashihunpo Monastery; the second, third,
and fourth at Drepung Monastery and all the other except
sixth who has no tomb) inside the Potala.
