Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Dalai Lama

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Dalai Lama made an impact.

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism's Gelug school. The title, meaning "Holiness Knowing Everything Vajradhara Dalai Lama", was bestowed upon Sonam Gyatso in 1578 by Altan Khan, solidifying his leadership within the Gelug tradition. While Sonam Gyatso was the third Dalai Lama, the title was also retroactively applied to the two previous tulkus in his lineage, thus establishing the current lineage. This recognition highlighted his spiritual authority and its importance for the followers of the Gelug school of Buddhism.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

1904: Revocation of Dalai Lama title

In 1904, the Qing Government temporarily revoked Thubten Gyatso's Dalai Lama title.

1908: Qing Government Granting Title

In 1908, the Qing Government granted the title "Sincere Obedient and Praised the Freedom Buddha of the Great Goodness of the Western Paradise (诚顺赞化西天大善自在佛)" to the Dalai Lama.

1912: De facto Tibetan independence

From 1912 to 1950, the 13th Dalai Lama successfully upheld de facto Tibetan independence from China.

1912: End of relationship with China

In 1912, after the Qing dynasty collapsed, the 13th Dalai Lama declared that Tibet's relationship with China had ended and proclaimed independence.

1912: Collapse of the Qing Dynasty

In 1912, the Qing Dynasty collapsed, leading to a reconstituted government in Tibet with the Dalai Lama presiding over a Kashag of four Tibetans, reinvesting him with temporal power.

January 1913: Return from exile and control of foreign relations

In January 1913, after his return from exile in India and Sikkim, the 13th Dalai Lama assumed control of foreign relations, dealing directly with foreign officials.

1913: Tibetan Declaration of Independence

In 1913, the Great Thirteenth Thubten Gyatso published the Tibetan Declaration of Independence for the entirety of Tibet.

1933: Death of the 13th Dalai Lama

The 13th Dalai Lama died in 1933 after instituting measures to modernize Tibet, including curbing excessive demands on peasants, setting up an independent police force, abolishing the death penalty, extending secular education, and providing electricity throughout the city of Lhasa in the 1920s.

February 1940: Approval to become the 14th Dalai Lama

On February 5, 1940, the Central Government approved the request to exempt Lhamo Thondup (Chinese: 拉木登珠) from the lot-drawing process to become the 14th Dalai Lama.

1949: Nepal uses Tibet independence as reference to join UN

In 1949, the Kingdom of Nepal used Tibet as one of its first references regarding its independent status when submitting an application to join the UN.

November 1950: Enthronement of the 14th Dalai Lama

The 14th Dalai Lama was formally enthroned on 17 November 1950, during the Battle of Chamdo with the People's Republic of China.

1950: End of de facto Tibetan independence

From 1912 to 1950, the 13th Dalai Lama successfully upheld de facto Tibetan independence from China.

1955: Nepal recognizes Tibet as part of China

In 1955, Nepal established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and recognized Tibet as a part of China.

1959: Reinstatement of the Kashag and the Tsongdu

Until 1959, the Kashag and the Tsongdu or National Assembly were reinstated, and, presided over by a Dalai Lama or his regent, ruled without further interruption.

1974: Rejection of Tibetan Independence

In 1974, the Dalai Lama rejected calls for Tibetan independence, shifting away from his initial support for the Tibetan independence movement.

2001: Ceding of power to elected parliament

In 2001, the 14th Dalai Lama ceded his partial power over the government to an elected parliament of Tibetan exiles.

2005: Agreement that Tibet is part of China

In 2005, the Dalai Lama publicly agreed that Tibet is part of China and stated that he did not support separatism.

2014: Statement on Tibet being part of China

In 2014, the Dalai Lama said that Tibet wants to be part of China but China should let Tibet preserve its culture and script.

2016: Statement on Tibet being part of China

In 2016, the Dalai Lama said that Tibet wants to be part of China but China should let Tibet preserve its culture and script.

2020: Comments on Tibetan Independence and China

In 2020, the Dalai Lama stated he did not support Tibetan independence and hoped to visit China as a Nobel Prize winner, expressing his preference for a republic within the People's Republic of China where ethnic minorities can live in harmony.