Dalai Llama

Ocean of Wisdom “Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.” (Pico) is a wise adage once quoted by the famous Ralph Waldo Emerson. Throughout history, humans have always had the tendency to utilize violence to overcome obstacles. This leads to a world pessimists and morally volatile individuals (Choeling). Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama, has been able to captivate the hearts of millions worldwide through his uplifting messages, in attempt to aid the path to world peace, dealing with social, religious and political predicaments in Tibet and worldwide. The current Dalai Lama, was born on July 6, 1935; however, he was not the Dalai Lama. His birth name was Lhamo Thondup. Thondup lived with his seven brothers and sisters in the fertile fields of Takster, Tibet. This picturesque area was home to a small nomadic community consisting of around twenty families. The families were able to cultivate a sustainable amount of barley, wheat and potatoes. Tibet lived in prosperity until the previous Dalai Lama, Thuben Gyatso, had a prophecy. He sensed darkness about to envelope the province and feared he was too frail to withstand it. Shortly after his prophecy he passed away in December of 1933. It was when Thondup was only four, the search party discovered him. Immediately when the monks arrived to Taktser, Thondup crawled up onto one of the monk’s laps and chanted, “Sera Lama,Sera Lama” (Choeling). This dialect was one that was strictly used by prestigious religious hierarchy. Almost immediately after the monk’s discovery, Thondup and his family journeyed to the capital of Tibet, Lhasa. Some of his fondest memories were trying to push his closest brother off the wagon on the voyage there. When the group arrived in Lhasa, at only the age of five, Thondup was forced away from his parents. Fortunately, his brother, Lobsang Samten, was able to stay with him and quickly became the professor’s punching bag for whenever