Dalai Lama Fast Facts - CNN

Dalai Lama Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research

Updated 1906 GMT (0306 HKT) April 12, 2023

Although he describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk, the Dalai Lama has been called one of the world's most influential people. Followers believe he is the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, the enlightened Buddha of compassion. He has been living in exile since 1959, but he travels the world with a message of tolerance and peace and is arguably the most visible symbol of Tibet's struggle for autonomy.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
Although he describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk, the Dalai Lama has been called one of the world's most influential people. Followers believe he is the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, the enlightened Buddha of compassion. He has been living in exile since 1959, but he travels the world with a message of tolerance and peace and is arguably the most visible symbol of Tibet's struggle for autonomy.
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The Dalai Lama is seen here as a child. He was born Lhamo Dhondrub on July 6, 1935, in the small village of Taktser in northeastern Tibet.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama is seen here as a child. He was born Lhamo Dhondrub on July 6, 1935, in the small village of Taktser in northeastern Tibet.
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His parents were peasant farmers, pictured here with two of their other sons. In 1938, the future Dalai Lama was taken to the Kumbum monastery after he was found by a delegation of monks and correctly identified several objects that belonged to the previous Dalai Lama.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
His parents were peasant farmers, pictured here with two of their other sons. In 1938, the future Dalai Lama was taken to the Kumbum monastery after he was found by a delegation of monks and correctly identified several objects that belonged to the previous Dalai Lama.
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The Dalai Lama's enthronement ceremony took place on February 22, 1940, in Lhasa, Tibet. He was renamed Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom).
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama's enthronement ceremony took place on February 22, 1940, in Lhasa, Tibet. He was renamed Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom).
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Chinese troops march over the highlands after their invasion of Tibet in 1950. At age 15, the Dalai Lama assumed full political power ahead of schedule. His investiture was moved up from his 18th birthday as a result of China's invasion.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
Chinese troops march over the highlands after their invasion of Tibet in 1950. At age 15, the Dalai Lama assumed full political power ahead of schedule. His investiture was moved up from his 18th birthday as a result of China's invasion.
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The Dalai Lama shakes hands with Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong in 1954. Up until 1959, the Dalai Lama participated in unsuccessful peace talks with Chinese officials in Beijing.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama shakes hands with Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong in 1954. Up until 1959, the Dalai Lama participated in unsuccessful peace talks with Chinese officials in Beijing.
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Tibetans gather during an armed uprising against Chinese rule on March 10, 1959, in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
Tibetans gather during an armed uprising against Chinese rule on March 10, 1959, in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa.
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Fearing for his life, the Dalai Lama (sixth from left) flees Tibet in March 1959 and heads across the Himalayas to India disguised as a soldier. The Dalai Lama has long denied China's assertion that he's seeking Tibetan independence. He says he wants only enough autonomy to protect its traditional Buddhist culture. Beijing rejects accusations of oppression, saying that under its rule, living standards have greatly improved for the Tibetan people. It makes centuries-old historical claims on the region.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
Fearing for his life, the Dalai Lama (sixth from left) flees Tibet in March 1959 and heads across the Himalayas to India disguised as a soldier. The Dalai Lama has long denied China's assertion that he's seeking Tibetan independence. He says he wants only enough autonomy to protect its traditional Buddhist culture. Beijing rejects accusations of oppression, saying that under its rule, living standards have greatly improved for the Tibetan people. It makes centuries-old historical claims on the region.
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The spiritual leader has been living in India since his arrival in 1959.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The spiritual leader has been living in India since his arrival in 1959.
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Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visits the Dalai Lama in 1959 at the Birla House in Mussoorie, India. In 1960, the Dalai Lama moved to Dharamsala, where he established the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visits the Dalai Lama in 1959 at the Birla House in Mussoorie, India. In 1960, the Dalai Lama moved to Dharamsala, where he established the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile.
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The Dalai Lama officiates at a Tibetan Buddhist ceremony circa 1960 in Bodh Gaya, India, the site where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama officiates at a Tibetan Buddhist ceremony circa 1960 in Bodh Gaya, India, the site where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.
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In 1973, the Dalai Lama meets with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican, the first-ever meeting of a pope and a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. In 1977, the Chinese government makes the Dalai Lama a conditional offer, the opportunity to return to Tibet after acceptance of Chinese rule over Tibet. The offer is rejected.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
In 1973, the Dalai Lama meets with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican, the first-ever meeting of a pope and a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. In 1977, the Chinese government makes the Dalai Lama a conditional offer, the opportunity to return to Tibet after acceptance of Chinese rule over Tibet. The offer is rejected.
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TV talk show host Tom Snyder shares a joke with the Dalai Lama in 1979 during a taping of NBC's "Tomorrow." The Dalai Lama was in New York during a 49-day tour of the United States.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
TV talk show host Tom Snyder shares a joke with the Dalai Lama in 1979 during a taping of NBC's "Tomorrow." The Dalai Lama was in New York during a 49-day tour of the United States.
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The Dalai Lama arrives at Heathrow Airport in London in 1981.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama arrives at Heathrow Airport in London in 1981.
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In 1986,<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/02/world/pope-john-paul-ii-fast-facts/index.html"> Pope John Paul II</a> prays with representatives of 12 world religions, including the Dalai Lama. The World Day of Prayer for Peace was held at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs in Assisi, Italy.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
In 1986, Pope John Paul II prays with representatives of 12 world religions, including the Dalai Lama. The World Day of Prayer for Peace was held at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs in Assisi, Italy.
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Egil Aarvik, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, presents the Dalai Lama with the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize for his dedication to the nonviolent liberation of Tibet.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
Egil Aarvik, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, presents the Dalai Lama with the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize for his dedication to the nonviolent liberation of Tibet.
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In 1996, the Dalai Lama meets with <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2013/03/28/africa/gallery/nelson-mandela/index.html" target="_blank">Nelson Mandela</a>, the prisoner-turned president who reconciled South Africa after the end of apartheid.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
In 1996, the Dalai Lama meets with Nelson Mandela, the prisoner-turned president who reconciled South Africa after the end of apartheid.
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<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2013/02/01/us/bill-clinton-fast-facts/index.html">US President Bill Clinton </a>meets with the Dalai Lama at the White House in 1998. The Dalai Lama requested assistance in opening official negotiations with China regarding the future of Tibet.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
US President Bill Clinton meets with the Dalai Lama at the White House in 1998. The Dalai Lama requested assistance in opening official negotiations with China regarding the future of Tibet.
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A crowd gathers at New York's Central Park to listen to the Dalai Lama speak in 1999. In 2002, he speaks out against China, stating that China should embrace democracy if the country is to be a major world power in the coming years. He also criticizes the United States-led war on terrorism, saying that the use of force to override terrorists overlooks the underlying problems that lead to terrorism.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
A crowd gathers at New York's Central Park to listen to the Dalai Lama speak in 1999. In 2002, he speaks out against China, stating that China should embrace democracy if the country is to be a major world power in the coming years. He also criticizes the United States-led war on terrorism, saying that the use of force to override terrorists overlooks the underlying problems that lead to terrorism.
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<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/07/us/george-w-bush-fast-facts/index.html">United States President George W. Bush</a> presents the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
United States President George W. Bush presents the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
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The Dalai Lama speaks with journalists at his hotel in London in 2008. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/07/world/gordon-brown-fast-facts/index.html">British Prime Minister Gordon Brown</a> met with him and pledged Britain's full support of reconciliation between Tibet and China.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama speaks with journalists at his hotel in London in 2008. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met with him and pledged Britain's full support of reconciliation between Tibet and China.
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The Dalai Lama leaves the French senate in Paris after a meeting with lawmakers at the height of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Tibet-related protests disrupted several stages of the worldwide Olympic torch relay in the run-up to the Games.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama leaves the French senate in Paris after a meeting with lawmakers at the height of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Tibet-related protests disrupted several stages of the worldwide Olympic torch relay in the run-up to the Games.
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The Dalai Lama blesses gifts during a ceremony in September 2009 to comfort victims of Typhoon Morakot in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama blesses gifts during a ceremony in September 2009 to comfort victims of Typhoon Morakot in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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United States House of Representatives <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2013/03/01/us/nancy-pelosi-fast-facts/index.html">Speaker Nancy Pelosi </a>awards the inaugural Lantos Human Rights Prize to the Dalai Lama in October 2009, honoring his commitment to ending global injustices.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi awards the inaugural Lantos Human Rights Prize to the Dalai Lama in October 2009, honoring his commitment to ending global injustices.
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The Dalai Lama leads a prayer session marking the beginning of the Tibetan New Year in Dharmsala, India, on February 14, 2010.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama leads a prayer session marking the beginning of the Tibetan New Year in Dharmsala, India, on February 14, 2010.
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United States <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2012/12/26/us/barack-obama---fast-facts/index.html">President Barack Obama</a> meets with the Dalai Lama at the White House on February 18, 2010.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
United States President Barack Obama meets with the Dalai Lama at the White House on February 18, 2010.
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A man takes a picture of the Dalai Lama upon his arrival at the airport in Blagnac, France, on August 12, 2011. That same year, the leader approves amendments to the exiled constitution, formally removing his political and administrative responsibilities.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
A man takes a picture of the Dalai Lama upon his arrival at the airport in Blagnac, France, on August 12, 2011. That same year, the leader approves amendments to the exiled constitution, formally removing his political and administrative responsibilities.
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The Dalai Lama embraces John Templeton after receiving the Templeton Prize during a ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on May 14, 2012. The award honors "outstanding individuals who have devoted their talents to expanding our vision of human purpose and ultimate reality."
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama embraces John Templeton after receiving the Templeton Prize during a ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on May 14, 2012. The award honors "outstanding individuals who have devoted their talents to expanding our vision of human purpose and ultimate reality."
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A Tibetan man in Katmandu, Nepal, carries a portrait of the Dalai Lama on April 25, 2012, during an event marking the 23rd birthday of Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the second-highest Tibetan religious leader.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
A Tibetan man in Katmandu, Nepal, carries a portrait of the Dalai Lama on April 25, 2012, during an event marking the 23rd birthday of Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the second-highest Tibetan religious leader.
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Dave Matthews greets the Dalai Lama on stage at the One World Concert at Syracuse University in New York on October 9, 2012.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
Dave Matthews greets the Dalai Lama on stage at the One World Concert at Syracuse University in New York on October 9, 2012.
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The Dalai Lama visits the Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath, India, on January 11, 2013. The area is said to mark the spot where Buddha first addressed disciples after attaining enlightenment. In 2013, a senior Chinese official said, "The Dalai Lama has long been engaged in secessionist activities, which run against both the common interests of people of various ethnic groups and the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism."
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama visits the Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath, India, on January 11, 2013. The area is said to mark the spot where Buddha first addressed disciples after attaining enlightenment. In 2013, a senior Chinese official said, "The Dalai Lama has long been engaged in secessionist activities, which run against both the common interests of people of various ethnic groups and the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism."
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Blogger Alek Boyd takes a selfie with the Dalai Lama at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington during a break between panel discussions on "Happiness, Free Enterprise, and Human Flourishing" on February 20, 2014.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
Blogger Alek Boyd takes a selfie with the Dalai Lama at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington during a break between panel discussions on "Happiness, Free Enterprise, and Human Flourishing" on February 20, 2014.
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A Tibetan activist lights a candle in front of a poster of the Dalai Lama during a protest rally in Hyderabad, India, in March 2016. The rally marked the 57th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
A Tibetan activist lights a candle in front of a poster of the Dalai Lama during a protest rally in Hyderabad, India, in March 2016. The rally marked the 57th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising.
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The Dalai Lama attends graduation ceremonies at the University of California-San Diego, where he delivered the commencement address in June 2017.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama attends graduation ceremonies at the University of California-San Diego, where he delivered the commencement address in June 2017.
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The Dalai Lama gives a public talk in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in September 2017.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama gives a public talk in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in September 2017.
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The Dalai Lama arrives for a visit in Palermo, Italy, in September 2017.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama arrives for a visit in Palermo, Italy, in September 2017.
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Buddhist followers gather to hear the Dalai Lama in Dirang, India, in April 2017.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
Buddhist followers gather to hear the Dalai Lama in Dirang, India, in April 2017.
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The Dalai Lama speaks to students in Mumbai, India, in December 2017.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama speaks to students in Mumbai, India, in December 2017.
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The Dalai Lama speaks at an event in Dharamshala, India, in June 2018.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama speaks at an event in Dharamshala, India, in June 2018.
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The Dalai Lama delivers a speech at the parliament building in Tokyo in November 2018.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
The Dalai Lama delivers a speech at the parliament building in Tokyo in November 2018.
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A scuplture of the Dalai Lama, by artist Chen Weiming, is unveiled in Los Angeles during a protest in front of the Consulate General of China in March 2019.
Photos: The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader
A scuplture of the Dalai Lama, by artist Chen Weiming, is unveiled in Los Angeles during a protest in front of the Consulate General of China in March 2019.
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Here is a look at the life of his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, Buddhist spiritual leader of the people of Tibet.

Personal

Birth date: July 6, 1935
    Birth place: Taktser, Amdo, Eastern Tibet
      Birth name: Lhamo Dhondup
      Read More
      Father: Choekyong Tsering
      Mother: Dekyi Tsering
        Education: Geshe Lharampa Degree (Doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy), 1959

        Other Facts

        The Dalai Lamas are considered the manifestations of the Bodhisattva (Buddha) of Compassion, who chose to reincarnate to serve the people.
        This Dalai Lama, the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatsois, is the 74th manifestation of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, the enlightened Buddha of compassion.
        Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as Yeshe Norbu, the Wishfulfilling Gem, or simply Kundun -- The Presence.
        Has traveled to numerous countries with a message of religious and cultural tolerance and peace.
        Awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.

        Timeline

        1938 - Is taken from his family in Taktser to the Kumbum monastery after a delegation of monks looking for the new Dalai Lama find him.
        February 22, 1940 - Enthronement ceremony takes place in Lhasa, Tibet. His birth name is forfeited and he assumes the name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso.
        November 8, 1950 - Chinese soldiers of the People's Liberation Army invade Tibet at Lhasa.
        November 17, 1950 - The Dalai Lama assumes full political power as Tibetan Head of State and Government ahead of schedule. Investiture is moved up from his 18th birthday as a result of China's invasion of Tibet.
        1954-1959 - Participates in unsuccessful peace talks in Beijing with Chinese leaders including Mao Tse-Tung, Chou En-lai and Deng Xiaoping. In 1959, the talks end when the Chinese army forces 80,000 Tibetan refugees into exile.
        March 17, 1959 - Goes into exile; leaves Lhasa for India dressed as a soldier.
        April 21, 1959 - Officially takes up residence in exile in Mussoorie, India.
        1960 - Dharamsala, India, becomes home to the Dalai Lama and headquarters of the government-in-exile of Tibet.
        1963 - Enacts a new Tibetan democratic constitution based on Buddhist principles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
        September 30, 1973 - Meets with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican, the first ever meeting of a pope and a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists.
        May 1977 - The Chinese government makes the Dalai Lama a conditional offer, the opportunity to return to Tibet after acceptance of Chinese rule over Tibet. The offer is rejected.
        August 3, 1979 - Arrives in the United States for a 49-day tour.
        February 2, 1986 - Meets with Pope John Paul II in New Delhi.
        September 1987 - Attends the Congressional Human rights Caucus in Washington, DC, and proposes a Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet's future.
        1989 - Wins the Nobel Peace Prize for his dedication to the nonviolent liberation of Tibet.
        President Barack Obama meets with Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House in July 2011.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President Barack Obama meets with Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House in July 2011.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President Barack Obama meets with Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House in July 2011.
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        President Barack Obama meets with the Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House in February 2010.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President Barack Obama meets with the Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House in February 2010.
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        President George W. Bush meets with the Dalai Lama before the Tibetan spiritual leader received the Congressional Gold Medal in October 2007.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President George W. Bush meets with the Dalai Lama before the Tibetan spiritual leader received the Congressional Gold Medal in October 2007.
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        President George W. Bush, wears a scarf that was presented to him by the Dalai Lama at the White House in November 2005.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President George W. Bush, wears a scarf that was presented to him by the Dalai Lama at the White House in November 2005.
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        President George W. Bush meets the Dalai Lama at the White House in September 2003.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President George W. Bush meets the Dalai Lama at the White House in September 2003.
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        President George W. Bush meets with the Dalai Lama in the Oval Office in May 2001.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President George W. Bush meets with the Dalai Lama in the Oval Office in May 2001.
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        President Bill Clinton meets with the Dalai Lama at the White House in June 2000.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President Bill Clinton meets with the Dalai Lama at the White House in June 2000.
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        President Bill Clinton listens to the Dalai Lama during a meeting in November 1998 at the White House.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President Bill Clinton listens to the Dalai Lama during a meeting in November 1998 at the White House.
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        The Dalai Lama meets with President Bill Clinton at the White House.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        The Dalai Lama meets with President Bill Clinton at the White House.
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        President Bill Clinton talks with the Dalai Lama as Vice President Al Gore looks on during a meeting at the White House in April 1994.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President Bill Clinton talks with the Dalai Lama as Vice President Al Gore looks on during a meeting at the White House in April 1994.
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        President George H. W. Bush meets with the Dalai Lama at the White House in April 1991. It was the first-ever meeting between the Tibetan spiritual leader and a U.S. president.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President George H. W. Bush meets with the Dalai Lama at the White House in April 1991. It was the first-ever meeting between the Tibetan spiritual leader and a U.S. president.
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        President Barack Obama meets with the Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House in February 2010.
        Photos: The Dalai Lama with U.S. presidents
        President Barack Obama meets with the Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House in February 2010.
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        April 16, 1991 - White House meeting with US President George H. W. Bush, the first ever between the spiritual leader and a president of the United States.
        May 6, 1993 - Meets with US President Bill Clinton and US Vice President Al Gore at the White House.
        September 1995 - Tours the United States urging government involvement with talks with China over Tibetan autonomy.
        March 27, 1997 - Meets with President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan in Taipei.
        December 25, 1997 - Disney, through Touchstone Pictures, releases the biopic "Kundun," directed by Martin Scorsese.
        November 10, 1998 - Requests assistance in opening official negotiations with China regarding the future of Tibet at a meeting of senior government officials in Washington, DC, that includes Clinton. The Dalai Lama says that the distrust between himself and China is too great to re-open the talks.
        May 2001 - Meets with US President George W. Bush, Congressional leaders and US Secretary of State Colin Powell, among others in Washington, DC.
        2002 - Speaks out against China, stating that China should embrace democracy if the country is to be a major world power in the coming years. He also criticizes the United States-led war on terrorism, saying that the use of force to override terrorists overlooks the underlying problems that lead to terrorism.
        September 2003 - Begins a 16-day tour of the United States in San Francisco. Other cities he visits include New York; Boston; Washington, DC; and Bloomington, Indiana, meeting again with Bush and Powell.
        September 19-22, 2004 - Tours South Florida and gives a series of public and private lectures on peace and religious and cultural harmony. Lecture sites include University of Miami and Florida International University.
        November 8, 2005 - Meets with Bush and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, DC.
        September 11, 2006 - Receives honorary Canadian citizenship in a ceremony at Vancouver's GM Place Stadium.
        February 5, 2007 - The Dalai Lama is named a presidential distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta.
        June 22, 2007 - Appears in the documentary, "Ten Questions for the Dalai Lama," a 2001 interview done in India that shows some of the life and teachings of the Dalai Lama.
        October 9-31, 2007 - Visits North America. While in Washington, DC, he is awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by Bush. He later visits Emory University in Atlanta for a conference and installation as a presidential distinguished professor.
        January 2008 - Calls for peaceful protests during the upcoming Beijing Olympics, to highlight the plight of Tibet.
        March 18, 2008 - States during an interview that he would step down as leader of Tibetan exiles if violence in Tibet were to get out of control.
        April 13, 2008 - Arrives in the US for a 10-day tour that makes stops in Seattle, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Hamilton, New York.
        April 21, 2008 - The Dalai Lama is made an "honorary citizen" of Paris, over the objections of French President Nicolas Sarkozy's political party.
        May 23, 2008 - Meets with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London.
        June 12, 2008 - Urges his supporters not to cause trouble when the Olympic torch passes through Tibet; he also reiterates a general plea for his supporters not to target the torch or the Olympic games.
        October 6, 2009 - US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi awards the inaugural Lantos Human Rights Prize to the Dalai Lama, honoring his commitment to ending global injustices.
        February 18, 2010 - Meets with US President Barack Obama at the White House.
        March 10, 2011 - Announces plans to devolve political power to an elected leader of the Tibetan exile movement.
        May 29, 2011 - Approves amendments to the exiled constitution, formally removing his political and administrative responsibilities.
        July 16, 2011 - Meets with Obama at the White House.
        May 14, 2012 - Accepts the Templeton Prize, an award worth £1.1 million ($1.77 million) that honors "outstanding individuals who have devoted their talents to expanding our vision of human purpose and ultimate reality."
        February 21, 2014 - Meets with Obama at the White House.
        September 7, 2014 - The German newspaper Die Welt publishes an interview with the Dalai Lama in which he suggests ending the tradition of choosing a spiritual leader for the Tibetan people. The article sparks discussions about whether the Dalai Lama was declaring that he will not be reincarnated. He later clarifies his comments during an interview with the BBC, saying that it is "up to the Tibetan people" whether another Dalai Lama will arise after his death.
        May 6, 2016 - The New York Times reports the launch of the Atlas of Emotions, a project commissioned by the Dalai Lama. Created by psychologist Paul Ekman for $750,000, it is reportedly a "map of emotions" that aims to help people find inner peace.
        June 15, 2016 - Meets with Obama at the White House, his fourth meeting with the US president.
        December 14, 2017 - Announces the release of the Dalai Lama app.
        March 22, 2018 - Sonam Dagpo, spokesperson for the Central Tibetan Administration announces that the "His Holiness is invited to different countries but he has cut down public engagements because of age. He is exhausted after teaching for a long period of time. Therefore a few commitments have been canceled."
        April 9, 2019 - Aides announce that the Dalai Lama has been hospitalized with a chest infection, but is in stable condition. He is discharged two days later.
          July 6, 2020 - Coinciding with his 85th birthday, the Dalai Lama releases an album of teaching and mantras accompanied by music titled "Inner World."
          April 10, 2023 - Apologizes after a video emerged showing the Dalai Lama kissing a boy on the lips and then asking him to "suck my tongue" at an event in northern India.