The twenty-first century exemplifies many international revolutions, signifying an overthrowing of current governments. Protests have led to an eruption of political wars and turmoil in Egypt, Syria, and Libya for the common goal of reforming and reclaiming their respective countries. However, one nation that has suffered a variety of predicaments and difficulties on a scale even greater than these Middle Eastern nations is Tibet. Until 1949, Tibet was once an independent territory that functioned as the sanctuary for Tibetan Buddhism, but coveting Tibet’s vast natural resources and strategic location in Central Asia, the Chinese invaded, causing many to leave in exile, including their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (A Brief Biography). Nonetheless, as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 1989, the Dalai Lama promotes religious tolerance, universal responsibility, and liberation for Tibet.
Before becoming the 14th Dalai Lama, Lhamo Thondup, was born on July 6, 1935 in a small village located in Taktser, Amdo, in northeastern Tibet. He was born into an agricultural family sustained by barely, buckwheat, and potatoes (A Brief Biography). Along with his birth, his mother described how he was not an ordinary boy and how he claimed descent from heaven (Morgan 21). When Lhamo was three years old, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama had passed away, and the search for the new reincarnation commenced. Various signs and visions led the Regent, a senior lama, to Lhamo Thondup in order to test him (From Birth to Exile); moreover, the test specifically tested whether Lhamo could choose the personal items of the previous Dalai Lama from a group of items laid in front of him. Correctly choosing all of the items of the previous Dalai Lama, Lhamo Thondup was...
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Lama, Dalai, and Howard C. Cutler. The Art of Happiness at Work. New York: Riverhead, 2003. Print.
Morgan, Tom. A Simple Monk: Writings on His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Novato, CA: New World Library, 2001. Print.
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Hạnh, Nhất, and Arnold Kotler. Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life.
Yu, Han. “Memorial on Buddhism”. Making of the Modern World 12: Classical & Medieval Tradition. Trans. Richard F. Burton. Ed. Janet Smarr. La Jolla: University Readers, 2012. 111-112. Print.
Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor, delivered The Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, in Oslo on December 10, 1986. He started his speech off by reciting the following prayer: "Barukh atah Adonai …shehekhyanu vekiymanu vehigianu lazman hazeh"—"Blessed be Thou…for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this day." Then, after his speech, the people thanked him for everything he had done to help humankind make peace. With a profound sense of humility, he accepted this honor.
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In a world of suffering and pain the Dalai Lama said, “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive”. The Dalai Lama has become a figurehead for Buddhism worldwide for his compassion and warm smiles. Buddhism has extended beyond meditation and even monks such as the Dalai Lama. The basic concepts of compassion and mindfulness in Buddhism are being applied in the daily lives of lay people who need it the most.
My inspiration and therefore case for my History and Culture essay was the documentary I have seen 2 months ago. Documentary’s name is Tibet in Song. This documentary was released in 2009 by former Tibetan prisoner and musician Ngawang Choephel – he was in prison because of making that document.
The Dalai Lama is considered to be a wise and respected leader, among other things, while Alice Walker is regarded as a respected novelist and activist in her right. Through their writings each of them expresses their concern on many subjects; nevertheless, both the Dalai Lama and Walker show the need for expansion of one's compassion to those that are not immediately close to him or her. However, they both ask for this growth in two distinctive ways. In his passage The Ethic of Compassion, the Dalai Lama proposes for the increase in compassion through his tactics of reasoning and experience. While Walker focuses more on the emotions of people and trying to get her audience
Thích Nh’at Hanh is a world renowned Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, religious figure and accomplished writer. Living Buddha, Living Christ is only one of his many famous publications. Thích Nh’at Hanh, is famous for his insights into spiritual heritage and mindfulness in the present moment. Many Americans are seeking religious understanding and personal spirituality, even if they do not practice in the traditional manner. Throughout this book Nh’at Hang encourages readers to find meaning, understanding, mindfulness, and peace in the teachings of Buddha and Christ. His main focus is to open meaningful dialogue between different traditions, cultures, and religious groups around the world, for the betterment
[11] Trimondi, Victor and Victoria, The Shadow of the Dalai Lama, part I, section 2.
The Dalai Lama’s speech talked about what him and his people have already done. He also didn’t think what his people have done is nearly good enough. He believes that they could do more, and that they should. What he has done is not enough for him. He took a different approach into his speech but what he said is something
Bowman, James. "The Pursuit of Happiness." The American Spectator. N.p., Sept. 2010. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
Khantipalo, Bhikkhu. "The Buddhist Monk's Discipline: Some Points Explained for Laypeople." Access to Insight. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
...olyandry: Kinship, Domesticity, and Population on the Tibetan Border. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press.
In my movie, “Seven Years in Tibet”, we follow the journey of an Austrian native named Heinrich Harrer. This movie was based on the true events of his life and is based off of the book he wrote, in which he detailed the experiences. The movie features the unlikely friendship between Heinrich and the Dalai Lama, after a series of enthralling and treacherous events lead Harrer to Lhasa, the Holy home of the Dalai Lama.