Tibetan Buddhism

The main focus of this section is the Dalai Lama and the occupation of Tibet by China, not the actual teachings of this branch of Buddhism.

The Mongols ruled China from 1222 to 1386 but never invaded Tibet, instead they appointed the head of a Tibetan monastery to serve as their representative. After Altan Khan was converted to Buddhism in the mid 16th century, he created the Dalai Lama (Ocean of Wisdom), who became the spiritual leader of Tibet. The fifth Dalai Lama, Nqawang Lobsang Gyatso, became Tibet's earthly leader in the 17th century with Mongol support. This Dalai Lama also established diplomatic relations with the Qing dynasty in China, beginning their complicated relationship. In the 18th century when a rivalry between the Qings in Beijing and the Oirots in Mongolia broke out, Tibet got involved as Qing supporters. This Tibetan tie to China is China's basis for their occupation of the country. In 1959, China had taken over Tibet and the 14th Dalai Lama escaped Tibet over the Himalayas and into Northern India, where he governed in exile until 2011 when he passed the leadership to a legal scholar, Lobsang Sangay.

Finding the Dalai Lama: All Dalai Lamas are reincarnations of the first. To find the Dalai Lama a search for a boy who shows the same intelligence and personality of the previous Dalai Lama is undertaken. Objects are presented to candidates to see if he will choose the ones that were the Dalai Lama's favourites. Then the State Oracle enters a trance to contact spirits who confirm the reincarnation. Visions from monks are used to locate possible reincarnations.

The 14th Dalai Lama continues to use non-violent means to negotiate with China on Tibet's behalf, which have so far been unsuccessful.

Sources: Wallace, B. A., Steven Wilhelm. (1993). Tibetan Buddhism: From the Ground Up. Boston: Wisdom Publications.
Goldstein, M. C. (1998). “The Dalai Lama’s Dilemma”. Council on Foreign Relations. 77, no.1, 83-97.