Why is Dalai Lama so famous?

His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the XIVth Dalai Lama, is the Tibetan people’s spiritual and temporal leader.

Previous Dalai Lamas have frequently appeared shrouded in mystery, living in seclusion in Lhasa’s Potala Palace.

In contrast, the 14th Dalai Lama his Holiness Tenzin Gyatso achieved a level of visibility and celebrity that his predecessors could not have imagined.

His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso rose to become the world’s most famous Buddhist teacher and is widely regarded for his dedication to nonviolence and the cause of Tibetan freedom.

In the early years of his exile, His Holiness addressed the issue of Tibet to the United Nations, which resulted in three resolutions adopted by the General Assembly in 1959, 1961, and 1965.

His Holiness has established educational, cultural, and religious institutions that have made significant contributions to the preservation of Tibetan identity and heritage over the last two decades.

He has given numerous teachings and initiations, including the rare Kalachakra Initiation, which he has given more times than any of his predecessors.

In recent years, His Holiness has received Peace Awards and honorary Doctorate Degrees from a number of Western universities and institutions in recognition of his distinguished writings in Buddhist philosophy and distinguished leadership in the service of freedom and peace.