His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso in Sydney

Dalai Lama is a Mongolian title meaning 'ocean of wisdom'. Tibetans believe that the Dalai Lama is an enlightened being, who has chosen rebirth as a way to be of benefit to all living beings.

The Dalai Lama was born to a peasant family on 6 July 1935 in the small village of Takster in the north-east province of Amdo. At the age of two, he was recognised as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, and at the age of six, began his monastic education in Lhasa. In early March 1959, in front of 20,000 scholars, the Dalai Lama passed his final examination to qualify as a Geshe, or Doctor of Buddhist Philosophy, with honours.

In 1950, the Chinese army invaded Tibet. Although he was only 15 years old at the time, the Dalai Lama was called upon by the Tibetan Government to take full political responsibility as Head of State and Government of Tibet.
The Dalai Lama and his immediate family escaped Tibet and crossed the border into India on 30 March 1959, where he was granted asylum.

The Dalai Lama did not travel outside India until 1967, when he visited Japan and Thailand. Since then, he has visited more than 45 countries, giving Buddhist teachings and talks on a wide variety of spiritual and ethical topics and urging world leaders to assist him in bringing about a peaceful resolution to the Tibetan situation.

On 6th of June The Dalai Lama arrived in Perth and has spread his message of love, compassion and tolerance all over Australia.

The Dalai Lama gave his last public address in Australia this morning in Sydney’s Domain, and despite threatening skies, the sun shone and around 12 000 people (including us) came to hear one of the great leaders and thinkers of our time. Funny enough, only few minutes after His Holiness' speach had ended, all of the sudden, heavy rain started to pour down. It's been raining on and off all day. It was raining all night yesterday as well. Coincidence?!?