Tenzin Gyatso
Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, born Llhamo Döndrub, is the 14th Dalai Lama of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is currently the leader of the Tibetan government in exile, and is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Early life
Llhamo Döndrub[1] was born on a straw covered dirt floor on July 6, 1935[2] to Choekyong and Diki Tsering, relatively wealthy farmers of the village of Takster in the Amdo region of Qinghai province, China. His parents, and all the other village inhabitants of 20 families, made a precarious living growing barley, buckwheat and potatoes. His parents had 16 children, of which he was the fifth eldest of seven who survived childhood. His elder brother, Thupten Jigme Norbu, was recognised as the re-incarnation of the High Lama, Takster Rinpoche. His eldest sister, Tsering Dolma, would later depict their mother in the film Seven years in Tibet. His other brothers and sisters are Gyalo Thondup, Lobsang Samten, Jetsun Pema, and Tendzin Choegyal.
Footnotes
- ↑ The Literal meaning of Llhamo Döndrub is wish-fulfilling Goddess
- ↑ Marcello, Patricia Cronin - The Dalai Lama: A Biography, page 1, ISBN 0313322074