Definitions for dalai lamaˈdɑ laɪ ˈlɑ mə
This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word dalai lama
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
Da•lai La•maˈdɑ laɪ ˈlɑ mə(n.)
the title for the traditional ruler and chief monk of Tibet.
Category: Eastern Religions
(Tenzin Gyatso), born 1935, Tibetan religious and political leader, in exile since 1959: the Dalai Lama since 1940; Nobel peace prize 1989.
Origin of Dalai Lama:
< Mongolian, =dalai ocean +lama a celibate priest
Dalai Lama, Grand Lama(noun)
chief lama and once ruler of Tibet
(Tibetan Buddhism) The supreme head of Tibetan Buddhism, believed to be an incarnation of Avalokitesvara, and considered the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.
Origin: From далай + Tibetan བླ་མ.
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsongkhapa. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word dalai meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word བླ་མ་ bla-ma meaning "guru, teacher". According to Tibetan Buddhist doctrine, the Dalai Lama is the rebirth in a line of tulkus who are metaphorically considered to be manifestations of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteśvara. The Dalai Lama is often thought to be the leader of the Gelug School, but this position belongs officially to the Ganden Tripa, which is a temporary position appointed by the Dalai Lama who, in practice, exerts much influence. The line of Dalai Lamas began as a lineage of spiritual teachers; the 5th Dalai Lama assumed political authority over Tibet. For certain periods between the 17th century and 1959, the Dalai Lamas sometimes directed the Tibetan government, which administered portions of Tibet from Lhasa. The 14th Dalai Lama remained the head of state for the Central Tibetan Administration until his retirement on March 14, 2011. He has indicated that the institution of the Dalai Lama may be abolished in the future, and also that the next Dalai Lama may be found outside Tibet and may be female. The Chinese government rejected this and asserted that only it has the authority to select the next Dalai Lama.
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