![]() “On march 17, 1959, the Tsongdu, the Tibetan Nacional Assembly as well as the Kashag, the Council of Ministers, had taken the decision that the Dalai Lama should leave Lhasa immediately, as in their view his life was in danger.” 8 Protests against Mao’s policies were taking place in Tibet, and suspecting that the Chinese government would attempt to capture the Dalai Lama, his escape was planned. Tensions continued increasing, resulting in the Dalai Lama’s exile. 7 The news of Tibetan occupation may have created international interest on the topic, but no political intervention took place probably due to the fact that China is a powerful country, and most countries are not willing to break economic ties or have bad relationships because of an issue that does not affect them directly, which may still be the cause of the unwillingness to take more action in current times. Widespread poverty became a new problem in Tibet, accompanied by abuse of basic human rights. “While the communists believed that Marxism was the cure for all the world’s problems and that communization would create a perfect society, the Tibetans looked for rewards beyond the present life, since as Buddhists they believed that any sort of mundane existence is unsatisfactory.” 6 The Chinese claimed that all their policies were aimed at the Tibetan people’s benefit, but despite all the promises the situation worsened and the relations between Mao and the Dalai Lama worsened. The difference in ideologies between Tibet and China was extremely marked. This invasion can be seen as the start of the decline in Tibetan Buddhism, since it was the moment when the Chinese started attempting to eliminate Tibetan religion and culture in order to enhance their control over Tibet. 5 Therefore, with no international allies or support, and not enough military power to repel a foreign invasion, the Dalai Lama had no choice but to surrender to Mao Zedung’s power. ![]() ![]() A year later, the Chinese invasion took place, and this shows how since the beginning of his governance, the circumstances were unfavorable for Tibet, which was clearly in need of a strong leadership.Īt this moment, one of the most important characteristics of Tibet was its isolation, which was primarily determined geographically, but increased by the fact that they allowed the fewest possible foreign people in their country, which they thought was the best way of ensuring peace. 4 However, in 1950 an oracle indicated that the fourteenth Dalai Lama should assume power even though he had not yet reached the normal age of maturity, and therefore he assumed temporal and religious control of Tibet at the age of sixteen. He is a Bodhisattva that has ruled Tibet for centuries in the different lives in which he has reincarnated, a fact that gives him divine attributes.Ĭommonly, when a Dalai Lama dies, a Regent is appointed by the National Assembly to govern while the next one is found and until he reaches maturity. This process represents how the role of the Dalai Lama is much more than that of a governor or a president. ![]() The Dalai Lama is one of them, and before dying they commonly make predictions about their rebirth, which are then followed by different tests to make sure that the right person was found. “All such incarnate beings can influence, by their own wishes in each life, the place and time when they will be reborn, and after each birth, they have a lingering memory of their previous life which enables others to identify them.” 3 Bodhisattvas are those who are able to achieve enlightenment, but they postpone it in order to teach other people their knowledge to help them reach nirvana. 2 The only way out of that cycle is through achieving enlightenment, which is the highest stage in Buddhism. However, when there are powerful events that shape someone’s life, it is possible, through meditative training, to gain access to those memories. In order to understand how these changes occured, it is important to know what a Dalai Lama is, and the historical circumstances in which the current one assumed power.Īccording to the Buddhist faith, every being is reborn over and over again in a cycle, in which most people cannot remember their past lives. Among these changes we can find the newfound international interest in Tibet after the Dalai Lama’s exile, later strengthened by the Nobel Peace Price he was awarded the end of isolationism of Tibet, accompanied by the spread of Buddhism to the West with increasing popularity the revival of Buddhism in Tibet, followed by a rise in nationalism the democratization of the Tibetan government in exile and, finally, the Dalai Lama’s shift from being a traditional local leader to becoming an international figure.
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