Dalai Lama

Who is the Dalai Lama?

The first man to be designated Dalai Lama was a monk named Sonam Gyatso. Sonam Gyatso was a well-known and respected Buddhist teacher of the Gelug school, and in 1578, the Mongolian leader Altan Khan invited him to teach in Mongolia. In Mongolia, he was called dalai lama, meaning “ocean-like” lama: a teacher whose good qualities are as vast as the ocean. According to the current Dalai Lama, however, the word dalai was not intended as a term of admiration but was the Mongol's translation of the name Gyatso, which means “ocean” in Tibetan. Tibetans, in fact, do not themselves use the title “Dalai Lama” when speaking of their leader but prefer the epithets Gyalwa Rinpoche (“Precious Victor”), Kundun (“Presence”), and Yishin Norbu (“Wish-Fullfilling Jewel”).

While the Dalai Lama is the most well-known lineage of Tibetan reincarnate lamas, the tradition of recognizing reincarnations of important lamas, or tulkus, was already well established by Sonam Gyatso's time. The lineage of the reincarnate head of the Karma Kargyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, the Karmapa, is traced back to the 12th century and represents the oldest such lineage.

Process of Recognition

It is up to the leading Gelug lamas to interpret various clues and to determine the identity of the next Dalai Lama. The process sometimes begins while the previous Dalai Lama is still alive. Before a Dalai Lama dies, he may give hints as to where he will take rebirth. The 13th Dalai Lama, for example, turned his head toward the northeast as he passed away, and it is said that rainbows and auspicious clouds appeared in the northeastern part of the sky. In correspondence with this, the 14th Dalai Lama was discovered in the northeastern part of Tibet. Lamas consult oracles for advice on where to search for the new Dalai Lama and note any dreams they have about his rebirth. Some go to Lhamo Lhatso, a sacred lake, to look for signs on the surface of the water. When they hear of a promising candidate, a search committee goes to interview the child.

In the case of the present Dalai Lama, he recognized a member of the search committee as his previous incarnation's teacher and begged to be taken back to Lhasa. When the search committee presented him with a variety of objects, he correctly pointed to the rosary, drum, and walking stick that had been his in his previous life as the 13th Dalai Lama. The search committee also looks for physical signs on the body of the boy, such as birthmarks. When the lamas and oracles have agreed on the identity of the reincarnation, the boy is taken to Lhasa to begin his education.

...