It’s Monday afternoon and like millions of other Iranians in and outside Iran, I am saddened by what Iran and Iranians are going through for so many dark years in our recent history. Surfing the net, I came across his facebook page in which his holiness visiting different countries around the world (amongst them recently, India and Japan) and meeting with thousands if not millions of people around the globe on regular bases. A thought crossed my mind! Why hasn’t he been to Iran? Will he be allowed to visit Iran? What would happen if he travels to Iran and meets with Iranians? Can his message of Compassion, Love and Peace create any hopeful change for our country and people?
In hopes of Freedom for Iran and Iranians…
The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist leader of religious officials of the Gelug or “Yellow Hat” branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word Далай “Dalai” meaning “Ocean” and the Tibetan word བླ་མ ་”Blama” (with a silent b) meaning “chief” or “high priest.”[1] “Lama” is a general term referring to Tibetan Buddhist teachers.
In religious terms, the Dalai Lama is believed by his devotees to be the rebirth of a long line of tulkus who are considered to be manifestations of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteśvara.
Traditionally, the Dalai Lama is thought of as the latest reincarnation
of a series of spiritual leaders who have chosen to be reborn in order
to enlighten others. The Dalai Lama is often thought to be the director
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.
For certain periods of time between the 17th century and 1959, the Dalai Lamas sometimes directed the Tibetan Government, which administered portions of Tibet from Lhasa. From 1959 to 2001, the 14th Dalai Lama controlled the Central Tibetan Administration
(“Tibetan government in exile”). 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.
