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Tenzin Gyatso (14th Dalai Lama)

Buddhist paths

Portrait of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama

2012

Photo: Christopher Michel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Teaching

Buddhist training of the mind: regarding other beings as precious, a kind relationship with oneself as the basis for caring for others, and understanding the self as dependent on body and mind. 1

Who it is for

For people who want to explore compassion and Buddhist philosophy. This approach belongs to Tibetan Buddhism.

Life and places
  • He was born on 6 July 1935 to a farming family in Taktser, Amdo, in northeastern Tibet, and at the age of two was recognised as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. 3
  • He began his monastic education at six and in 1959 passed his final examination in Lhasa's Jokhang Temple, receiving the Geshe Lharampa degree. 3
  • In 1959 he went into exile in India; since 1960 he has lived in Dharamsala. 3, 4
  • In 2011 he handed his political authority to the elected Tibetan leadership and has since described himself as retired. 3

Where to start

  • Training the Mind: Verse 1, a long teaching text free to read on his office's website, on regarding others as precious and on caring for oneself. 1
Public context
  • He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. 3, 4
  • On 10 April 2023 his office published a statement in which he apologised to a boy and his family after a video of their meeting had circulated; the statement says he often teases people in an innocent and playful way and regrets the incident. 2

Works

  • Approaching the Buddhist Path

    Book · 2017 · Wisdom Publications

    The first volume of The Library of Wisdom and Compassion, a multi-volume presentation of the Buddhist path written with Thubten Chodron; it sets out the context for Buddhist practice.

    openlibrary.org

The short summaries are ours.

Documented teaching relationships

  • Spiritual friendship with Thich Nhat Hanh

    On Thich Nhat Hanh's death in January 2022, the Office of the Dalai Lama wrote that the Dalai Lama was saddened to learn that his friend and spiritual brother had passed away, and published his condolence message.

    Stated by an institution · dalailama.com

  • Personal encounter with Catherine Ingram

    Catherine Ingram's book In the Footsteps of Gandhi (Parallax Press, 1990) opens with her interview with the Dalai Lama; in 2009 she wrote that she had known him for many years.

    Stated by an institution · bibliothek-david-steindl-rast.ch , library.upol.cz , dalailama.com

  • Learned personally with Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

    The Dalai Lama says he received the Vajrakilaya empowerment for the first time from Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and later the Guhyagarbha tantra with Rongzom's commentary; Shechen Monastery names the Dalai Lama among the lamas Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche taught.

    Self-reported · dalailama.com , dalailama.com (2) , shechen.org

  • Personal encounter with Sheng Yen

    The Dalai Lama and Sheng Yen held a public dialogue in New York on the afternoon of 3 May 1998, at the end of a three-day event; according to the foreword of the published dialogue, they had met before on several occasions.

    Stated by an institution · chancenter.org

  • Personal encounter with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

    Tenzin Palmo was one of the Western Buddhist teachers who met the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala from 16 to 19 March 1993 and signed the open letter that came out of the meeting.

    Self-reported · studybuddhism.com

  • Personal encounter with Roshi Joan Halifax

    Joan Halifax moderated Mind & Life dialogues with the Dalai Lama in Brussels in September 2016 and at his residence in Dharamsala in October 2022.

    Stated by an institution · dalailama.com , dalailama.com (2)

Teaching relationships are documented statements. They confer no trust and do not attest realisation.

Sources
  1. Training the Mind: Verse 1 · The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama His own detailed teaching text, published by his office accessed 12 Oct 2026
  2. Statement, 10 April 2023 · The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Official apology by his own office accessed 12 Oct 2026
  3. Brief Biography · The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Official biography by his own office; uses his titles and the office's political view of Tibet accessed 12 Oct 2026
  4. The 14th Dalai Lama, Biographical · NobelPrize.org (from Les Prix Nobel 1989) Biography written at the time of the award for the Nobel Foundation's series, with a selected bibliography accessed 12 Oct 2026

Compiled by us from the sources listed. Last checked 12 Oct 2026.

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This description is factual. It contains no recommendation, ranking or assurance. Statements about effects are those of the respective source.