Influence
Over the years the Dalai Lama has influenced many people with his teachings. He has written many books on world peace and has given many speeches about happiness, compassion, justice, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has very different views to life than other religious leaders. What sets him apart is that instead of promoting that everyone should become Buddhists and praise Buddha, he simply says that Buddhism is good for me, although Buddhism may not be the best idea for someone else.
With his teachings he has influenced world peace and many other traits. He is seen as a symbol of peace and is continuing to help influence people through his books and his occasional speeches to the public in many countries.
"According to the Buddhist faith, every being is reborn over and over again in a cycle, in which most people cannot remember their past lives. However, when there are powerful events that shape someone’s life, it is possible, through meditative training, to gain access to those memories. The only way out of that cycle is through achieving enlightenment, which is the highest stage in Buddhism. Bodhisattvas are those who are able to achieve enlightenment, but they postpone it in order to teach other people their knowledge to help them reach nirvana. “All such incarnate beings can influence, by their own wishes in each life, the place and time when they will be reborn, and after each birth, they have a lingering memory of their previous life which enables others to identify them.” The Dalai Lama is one of them, and before dying they commonly make predictions about their rebirth, which are then followed by different tests to make sure that the right person was found. This process represents how the role of the Dalai Lama is much more than that of a governor or a president. He is a Bodhisattva that has ruled Tibet for centuries in the different lives in which he has reincarnated, a fact that gives him divine attributes."Otero, M. (2010, January 1)
"Commonly, when a Dalai Lama dies, a Regent is appointed by the National Assembly to govern while the next one is found and until he reaches maturity. However, in 1950 an oracle indicated that the fourteenth Dalai Lama should assume power even though he had not yet reached the normal age of maturity, and therefore he assumed temporal and religious control of Tibet at the age of sixteen. A year later, the Chinese invasion took place, and this shows how since the beginning of his governance, the circumstances were unfavourable for Tibet, which was clearly in need of a strong leadership."Otero, M. (2010, January 1)
"When the High Lamas believed they had found the reincarnated Dalai Lama, they conducted a simple test. Several articles, only some of which were owned by the previous Dalai Lama, are placed in front of the child. If he chooses the correct items, this is read as a sign, along with the previous signs and some set of secret signs, that he is the tulku."Melissa. (2013, April 22).
"Next, three of the former Dalai Lama’s servants who knew him well are asked to confirm the child’s identity; other officials are also required to sign off on it, too. If more than one boy is identified in this manner and a clear choice cannot be made, the names are placed in a vase, and the name drawn out is that of the person that will become the next Dalai Lama."Melissa. (2013, April 22).
"Upon formal confirmation, the Dalai Lama is traditionally taken with his family to the Drepung Monastery in Lhasa to begin his studies. Where he will then take his place as the next Dalai Lama"Melissa. (2013, April 22).
With his teachings he has influenced world peace and many other traits. He is seen as a symbol of peace and is continuing to help influence people through his books and his occasional speeches to the public in many countries.
"According to the Buddhist faith, every being is reborn over and over again in a cycle, in which most people cannot remember their past lives. However, when there are powerful events that shape someone’s life, it is possible, through meditative training, to gain access to those memories. The only way out of that cycle is through achieving enlightenment, which is the highest stage in Buddhism. Bodhisattvas are those who are able to achieve enlightenment, but they postpone it in order to teach other people their knowledge to help them reach nirvana. “All such incarnate beings can influence, by their own wishes in each life, the place and time when they will be reborn, and after each birth, they have a lingering memory of their previous life which enables others to identify them.” The Dalai Lama is one of them, and before dying they commonly make predictions about their rebirth, which are then followed by different tests to make sure that the right person was found. This process represents how the role of the Dalai Lama is much more than that of a governor or a president. He is a Bodhisattva that has ruled Tibet for centuries in the different lives in which he has reincarnated, a fact that gives him divine attributes."Otero, M. (2010, January 1)
"Commonly, when a Dalai Lama dies, a Regent is appointed by the National Assembly to govern while the next one is found and until he reaches maturity. However, in 1950 an oracle indicated that the fourteenth Dalai Lama should assume power even though he had not yet reached the normal age of maturity, and therefore he assumed temporal and religious control of Tibet at the age of sixteen. A year later, the Chinese invasion took place, and this shows how since the beginning of his governance, the circumstances were unfavourable for Tibet, which was clearly in need of a strong leadership."Otero, M. (2010, January 1)
"When the High Lamas believed they had found the reincarnated Dalai Lama, they conducted a simple test. Several articles, only some of which were owned by the previous Dalai Lama, are placed in front of the child. If he chooses the correct items, this is read as a sign, along with the previous signs and some set of secret signs, that he is the tulku."Melissa. (2013, April 22).
"Next, three of the former Dalai Lama’s servants who knew him well are asked to confirm the child’s identity; other officials are also required to sign off on it, too. If more than one boy is identified in this manner and a clear choice cannot be made, the names are placed in a vase, and the name drawn out is that of the person that will become the next Dalai Lama."Melissa. (2013, April 22).
"Upon formal confirmation, the Dalai Lama is traditionally taken with his family to the Drepung Monastery in Lhasa to begin his studies. Where he will then take his place as the next Dalai Lama"Melissa. (2013, April 22).