His Holiness the Dalai Lama
                          photo Gabreal Franklin All Planet Network
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of state, and the 
spiritual leader of the Tibetian people.
Born in the northeastern region of Tibet in a village called Taktser under the 
name of Lhamo Dhondrup on July 6, 1935, in accordance with Tibetian tradition, 
he was recognized as the reincarnation of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama in 1937
at the age of two years old.

As the reincarnate, he is the continuation of Avalokitesvara, the Buddah of Compassion.
Dalai Lama means OCEAN OF WISDOM. Tibetians often refer to His Holiness as
YIZHIN NORBU, translated as THE WISH FULFILLING GEM, or simply as KUNDUN
which means THE PRESENCE.


In March of 1959, he went into exile, during the national revolts of the Tibetian people
against Chinese military occupation of his homeland. Since this time, he has lived in 
Dharamsala India, also known as 'Little Lhasa", which is where the seat of the Tibetian 
Government-in-exile is based, as a constitutional democracy since 1963. There may be 
as many as 125,000 Tibetian refugees living in India.
Over the last 10 or more years, His Holiness has attempted to initiate dialogues with the
Chinese government and to propose his FIVE POINT PEACE PLAN - initially proposed in 1987 which would stabilize the entire Asian region, and which has received much acclaim and praise from statesmen and governments around the world.

We still await the response from the Chinese.

He received the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE in December 1989. 
 

A copy of his acceptance letter is posted in the next section, below.

Photo: Gabreal Franklin, All Planet Network

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 
Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
University Aula, Oslo, December 10, 1989

Your Majesty, Members of the Nobel Committee, Brothers and Sisters:

I am very happy to be here with you today to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace. I feel honoured, humbled and deeply moved that you should give this important prize to a simple monk from Tibet. I am no one special. But, I believe the prize is a recognition of the true values of altruism, love, compassion and nonviolence which I try to practise, in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha and the great sages of India and Tibet. 

I accept the prize with profound gratitude on behalf of the oppressed everywhere and for all those who struggle for freedom and work for world peace. I accept it as a tribute to the man who founded the modern tradition of nonviolent action for change - Mahatma Gandhi - whose life taught and inspired me. And, of course, I accept it on behalf of the six million Tibetan people, my brave countrymen and women inside Tibet, who have suffered and continue to suffer so much. They confront a calculated and systematic strategy aimed at the destruction of their national and cultural identities. The prize reaffirms our conviction that with truth, courage and determination as our weapons, Tibet will be liberated. 

No matter what part of the world we come from, we are all basically the same human beings. We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. We have the same basic human needs and concerns. All of us human beings want freedom and the right to determine our own destiny as individuals and as peoples. That is human nature. The great changes that are taking place everywhere in the world, from Eastern Europe to Africa, are a clear indication of this. 

In China the popular movement for democracy was crushed by brutal force in June this year. But I do not believe the demonstrations were in vain, because the spirit of freedom was rekindled among the Chinese people and China cannot escape the impact of this spirit of freedom sweeping many parts of the world. The brave students and their supporters showed the Chinese leadership and the world the human face of that great nation. 

Last week a number of Tibetans were once again sentenced to prison terms of up to nineteen years at a mass show trial, possibly intended to frighten the population before today's event. Their only "crime" was the expression of the widespread desire of Tibetans for the restoration of their beloved country's independence. 

The suffering of our people during the past forty years of occupation is well documented. Ours has been a long struggle. We know our cause is just. Because violence can only breed more violence and suffering, our struggle must remain nonviolent and free of hatred. We are trying to end the suffering of our people, not to inflict suffering upon others. 

It is with this in mind that I proposed negotiations between Tibet and China on numerous occasions. In 1987, I made specific proposals in a five-point plan for the restoration of peace and human rights in Tibet. This included the conversion of the entire Tibetan plateau into a Zone of Ahimsa, a sanctuary of peace and nonviolence where human beings and nature can live in peace and harmony. 

Last year, I elaborated on that plan in Strasbourg, at the European Parliament. I believe the ideas I expressed on those occasions are both realistic and reasonable, although they have been criticised by some of my people as being too conciliatory. Unfortunately, China's leaders have not responded positively to the suggestions we have made, which included important concessions. If this continues we will be compelled to reconsider our position. 

Any relationship between Tibet and China will have to be based on the principle of equality, respect, trust and mutual benefit. It will also have to be based on the principle which the wise rulers of Tibet and of China laid down in a treaty as early as 823 A.D., carved on the pillar which still stands today in front of the Jo-khang, Tibet's holiest shrine, in Lhasa, that "Tibetans will live happily in the great land of Tibet, and the Chinese will live happily in the great land of China". 

As a Buddhist monk, my concern extends to all members of the human family and, indeed, to all sentient beings who suffer. I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion and elimination of ignorance, selfishness and greed. 

The problems we face today, violent conflicts, destruction of nature, poverty, hunger, and so on, are human-created problems which can be resolved through human effort, understanding and the development of a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. We need to cultivate a universal responsibility for one another and the planet we share. Although I have found my own Buddhist religion helpful in generating love and compassion, even for those we consider our enemies, I am convinced that everyone can develop a good heart and a sense of universal responsibility with or without religion. 

With the ever-growing impact of science on our lives, religion and spirituality have a greater role to play by reminding us of our humanity. There is no contradiction between the two. Each gives us valuable insights into the other. Both science and the teachings of the Buddha tell us of the fundamental unity of all things. This understanding is crucial if we are to take positive and decisive action on the pressing global concern with the environment. I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness and bringing happiness to all human beings. Though the means might appear different the ends are the same. 
As we enter the final decade of this century I am optimistic that the ancient values that have sustained mankind are today reaffirming themselves to prepare us for a kinder, happier twenty-first century. 

I pray for all of us, oppressor and friend, that together we succeed in building a better world through human understanding and love, and that in doing so we may reduce the pain and suffering of all sentient beings. 

Thank you.
 


Watch here for the VIDEO PRESS RELEASE on 
                His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Visit in
                                Northern California, May 2001 


LISTING OF APPEARANCES REMAINING IN US 2001

                                                        Teachings in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on May 8 - 9, 2001
                                                        Teaching: "Generating a Good Heart"
                                                        Public Address: "Compassion and Universal Responsibility"
                                                        Contact and ticket information at: www.dalailamaminnesota.org
                                                        USA Tel: 612-624-2345

                                                        Teachings in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA on May 10 - 13th, 2001
                                                        Organized by the Utah Tibet Support Group and the Utah Tibetan Association
                                                        Teaching: "The Practice of Six Perfections"
                                                        Public Address: "Ethics for a New Millenium"
                                                        Contact and ticket information: www.utahtibet.org

                                                        Teachings in Portland, Oregon, USA on May 14 - 15th, 2001
                                                        Organized by the Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association
                                                        Teaching: "Pathways to Peace"
                                                        Contact and ticket information: www.nwtca.org Tel: 503-222-7172


                                                       Teachings in San Francisco, California, USA May 16th,2001
                                                        Organized by American Himalayan Foundation
                                                        Public Address
                                                        Contact and ticket informaiton: www.himalayan-foundation.org
                                                        USA Tel: 415-288-7245

                                                        NOTICE- This event, originally released as May 18, is actually May 16
                                                       at the San Francisco Opera House. 
                                                    Thank you to Marilyn Seaton and Ericka Stone of 
                                                       the American Himalayan Foundation for assisting in clarifying this mistake. 
                                                       All Planet apologizes for any inconvienence this may have caused.



                                                      His Holiness the Dalai Lama
                                              Shoreline Amphitheater, San Jose     May 17, 18, 19 2001
                                                                                  Program

                                                                           Heart of Wisdom Teachings

                                                    Thursday May 17:  10 am - 12 noon and 2 pm - 4 pm

                                                    Friday May 18:  10 am - 12 noon and 2 pm - 4 pm

                                                    Saturday May 19:   10 am - 12 noon and 2 pm - 4 pm

                                                                Public Talk: Peace Through Inner Peace

                                                                            Saturday May 19, 5:30 pm 

                                                                      Medicine Buddha Empowerment 

                                                                      Sunday May 20, 9:00 am to noon. 



                                                        Teachings in San Jose, California, USA from May 17th - 20th, 2001
                                                        Organized by Land of Medicine Buddha
                                                        Teaching: "the Heart of Wisdom and a Medicine Buddha Empowerment"
                                                        Public Address: "Peace Through Inner Peace"
                                                        Contact and ticket information: www.medicinebuddha.org USA Tel:
                                                        831-476-0865 

                                                       Teachings in Los Angeles, California, USA from May 25th - 27th,2001
                                                        Organized by Compassion & Wisdom buddhist Association
                                                        Teaching: Shantideva's "Guide to a Boddhisattva's Way of Life"
                                                        Chapter 6 on Patience and the 8pt. Mind Training 
                                                        Contact: www.cwbausa.org (Chinese language only website)
                                                        Tel: 626-839-6436

                                                        A public talk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
                                                        UCLA 's Pauley Pavillion May 26th, 2001 6:00pm
                                                        for ticket information please contact:
                                                        310-825-2101-UCLA Ticket Office


 
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