The Dalai Lama List of Honours for His Holiness

The Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual and temporal Leader of the Tibetan people. He was born on July 6, 1935, in a small village called Taktser, in north eastern Tibet. Born to a peasant family, His Holiness was recognised at the age of two, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lamas are the manifestations of the Buddha of Compassion who chose to take rebirth for the purpose of serving other human beings. Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom. Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as Yeshe Norbu, the Wish-fulfilling Gem or simply Kundun, meaning The Presence.

When the 13th Dalai Lama had passed away in 1933, the task which confronted the Tibetan Government was not to simply appoint a successor but to seek for and discover a child in whom the Buddha of Compassion would incarnate. It was not necessary that the child should have been born just at the time of the death of His predecessor, or even soon after.

As on former occasions, there would be indications of the directions in which the search should be made, and that the child would be found to possess physical and mental attributes similar to those of his predecessor.

In 1935, the Regent of Tibet went to the sacred lake of Lhamoe Lhatso about 90 miles southeast of Lhasa, Tibet’s capital. The Tibetans have observed that visions of the future can be seen in this lake. The regent saw the vision of three Tibetan letters : “Ah” “Ka” and “Ma” followed by a picture of a monastery with roofs of jade green and gold and a house with turquoise tiles. A detailed description of these visions were written down and kept a strict secret.

In 1937, high lamas and dignitaries, carrying the secrets of the visions, were sent to all parts of Tibet to search for the place which the regent had seen in the waters. The search party which headed east was under the leadership of Lama Kewtsang Rinpoche of Sera Monastery. When they arrived in Amdo, they found a place matching the description of the secret vision. The party went to the house with Kewtsang Rinpoche disguised as a servant and a junior official Lobsang Tsewang disguised as the leader. The Rinpoche was wearing a rosary which belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama, and the little boy recognizing it, demanded that it should be given to him. Kewtsang Rinpoche asked who the leader was and the boy replied that he was Sera Aga, which meant in the local dialect, “a Lama of Sera”. The Rinpoche asked who the leader was and the boy gave his name correctly. He also knew the name of the real servant. This was followed by a series of tests which included choosing of correct articles which belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama. By these tests, they were further convinced that the reincarnation had been found and their conviction was enhanced by the vision of three letters: “Ah” stood for Amdo, name of the province, “Ka” stood for Kumbum, one of the largest monasteries in the neighbourhood or the two letters

“Ka” and “Ma” stood for the monastery of Karma Rolpai Dorjee on the mountain above the village. It was also significant that once the 13th Dalai Lama had stayed at the monastery on His way back from China. In 1940, the new Dalai Lama was enthroned.

He began His education at the age of six and completed the Geshe Lharampa Degree (Doctrate of Buddhist Philosophy) when He was 25. At 24, His Holiness took the preliminary examinations at each of the three monastic universities: Drepung, Sera and Ganden. The final examination was held in the Jokhang, Lhasa, during the annual Monlam Festival of prayer which is held in the first month of each year. In the morning He was examined on logic by 30 scholars turn by turn in congregational discussion. In the afternoon, 15 scholars took part as his opponents in the debate on the Middle Path, and in the evening 35 scholars tested his knowledge of the canon of monastic discipline and the study of metaphysics. His Holiness passed the examination with honors.

In 1950, when He was only 16, He was called upon to assume full political power when Tibet was threatened by the might of China. In 1954, His Holiness went to Peking to talk peace with Mao Tsetung and other Chinese leaders including Chou En-lai and Deng Xiaoping. In 1956, His Holiness visited India to attend the 2500th Buddha Jayanti Anniversary. While in India, His Holiness had a series of meetings with Prime Minister Nehru and Premier Chou En-lai about deteriorating conditions in Tibet.

In 1959, His Holiness was forced into exile in India after the Chinese military occupation of Tibet. Since that time, His Holiness has been residing in Dharamsala, North India. The seat of the Tibetan Government in exile.

While in exile, His Holiness appealed to the United Nations on the guestion of Tibet, resulting in three resolutions being adopted by the General Assembly in 1959, 1961 and 1965. His Holiness has set up educational, cultural and religious institutions which have contributed significantly towards the preservation of the Tibetan identity and its rich heritage. In 1963, His Holiness promulgated a draft constitution of Tibet which assures a democratic form of government.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been working tirelessly for the Tibetan Nation ever since his been in exile since 1959 and try to find a peaceful solution with China over the status of Tibet.

In a landmark address to the United States Congressional Human Rights Caucus, delivered in Washington DC, on September 21st 1987. His Holiness offered Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet, in order to open a dialogue with Beijing.

On June 15th 1988 His Holiness the Dalai Lama elaborated on his earlier Five Point Peace

Plan for Tibet in an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This is to be known as The Strasbourg Proposal. There was no response to the proposals herein from Beijing and commitment to them was withdrawn on September 2nd. 1991.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless work for Tibet. In awarding its 1989 Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Norwegian Nobel Committee cited his consistent opposition to violence and “forward looking proposal for the solution of international conflicts, human rights issue and global environment problems”. His Holiness accepted the Prize in Oslo on 10th December 1989

Unlike his predecessors, His Holiness has traveled to North and South America, Czechoslovakia, Europe, the United Kingdom, Japan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Russia, Mongolia, Taiwan and met with Political and religious leaders of these countries. In fact there are not many places that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has not been.

During his travels abroad, His Holiness has spoken strongly for better understanding and respect among the different faiths of the world. Towards this end, His Holiness has made numerous appearances in interfaith services, imparting the message of universal responsibility, love, compassion and kindness. “The need for simple human to human relationship is becoming increasingly urgent…. Today the world is smaller and more interdependent. One nation’s problems can no longer be solved by itself completely. Thus, without a sense of universal responsibility, our very survival becomes threatened. Basically, universal responsibility is feeling for other people’s suffering just as we feel our own. It is the realization that even our enemy is entirely motivated by the guest for happiness. We must recognize that all beings want the same thing that we want. This is the way to achieve a true understanding, unfettered by artificial consideration”.

Although the Chinese Government still refuses to Dialogue with His Holiness and His Representatives. His Holiness has always stated that the door to Dailogue with China is still open and to that end His Holiness hopes that the UN or some friendly Government will be able to persuade the Chinese Government in to a Dailogue with His Holiness and His Representative to find a Peaceful Solution for Tibet without any preconditions.

List of Honours for His Holiness from 1957 – 2009

1957	Doctor of Letters, Benaras Hindu University	India
August 31, 1959	Ramon Magaysay Award for Community Leadership, Ramon Magaysay Committee	Philippines
September 16, 1959	The Admiral Richard E. Byrd Memorial, International Rescue Committee	USA
January 23, 1963	Lincoln Award, Research Institute of America	USA
1969	Lakett Award, Norwegian Refugee Council	Norway
June 17, 1979	Special Medal, Asian Buddhist Council for Peace	Mongolia
September 17, 1979	Doctor of Divinity, Carol College, Waukesh	USA
September 27, 1979	Doctor of Buddhist Philosophy, University of Oriental Studies	USA
October 4, 1979	Doctor of Humanities,	USA
October 19, 1979	Liberty Torch, Gilbert Di Luchia Friends of Tibet	USA
January 16, 1984	Honorary Doctor Degree, University of Paris	France
September 28, 1987	Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award, Human Behavior Foundation	USA
June 16, 1988	Leopold Lucas Award, University of Tuebingen	W. Germany
June 21, 1989	Raoul Wallenberg Congressional Human Rights Award, Human Rights Foundation
September 23, 1989	Recognition of Perseverance of Times of Adversity,World Management Council	U.S.A.
December 4, 1989	Prix de la Memoire, Foundation Danielle Mitterrand, Paris	France
December 10, 1989	The Nobel Peace Prize, Norwegian Nobel Committee	Norway
January 14, 1990	Doctor of Divinity, Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath	India
December 8, 1990	Doctor Honoris Causa, Karnataka University	India
March 25, 1991	Shiromani Award 1991, Shiromani Institute, Delhi	India
April 6, 1991	Distinguished Peace Leadership Award 91, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation	U.S.A
April 17, 1991	Advancing Human Liberty Award, Freedom House, New York	U.S.A.
August 23, 1991	Peace and Unity Award, National Peace Conference, Delhi	India
October 10, 1991	Wheel of Life Award, Temple of Understanding, New York	U.S.A.
October 10, 1991	United Earth Prize, Klaus Nobel United Earth	U.S.A.
February 16, 1992	Doctor of Sacred Philosophy, Lafayette University, Aurora	U.S.A.
May 5, 1992	Doctor of Laws, University of Melbourne	Australia
June 6, 1992	Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Rio de Janeiro	Brazil
September 11, 1992	Honorary Professor, Kalmyak State University	Kalmyk
September 17, 1992	Honorary Professor, Novosibirsk State University	Buriat
November 26, 1992	Doctor Honoris Causa, Jain Vishva Bharati University, Ladnun	India /td>
March 14, 1993	International Valiant for Freedom Award, The Freedom Coalition, Melbourne	Australia
March 20, 1994	Fellow of University, Hebrew University, Jerusalem	Israel
April 25, 1994	Doctor of Humane Letters, Berea College, Berea	U.S.A.
April 26, 1994	Doctor of Humane Arts & Letters, Columbia University	U.S.A.
April 27, 1994	World Security Annual Peace Award, New York Lawyer’s Alliance	U.S.A.
June 4, 1994	Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom Medal, Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute	U.S.A.
January 2, 1995	Doctor of Letters, Nagpur University	India
April 5, 1995	Doctor of Buddhist Philosophy, Rissho University, Tokyo	Japan
July 26, 1996	The President’s Medal for Excellence, Indiana University, Bloomington	U.S.A.
March 23, 1997	Doctor of Honoris Causa, Chu San University, Kaohsiung	Taiwan
May 31, 1997	Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Colorado, Boulder	U.S.A.
June 1, 1997	Doctor Honoris Causa, Regis, university, Denver	U.S.A
September 11, 1997	Doctor of International Diplomatic Science, University of Trieste	Italy
November 25, 1997	Paulos Mar Gregorious Award, Paulos Mar Gregorious Committee	India
May 8, 1998	Doctor of Humane Letters, Brandeis University, Boston	U.S.A.
May 8, 1998	Juliet Hollister Award, Juliet Hollister Foundation, New York	U.S.A.
May 11, 1998	Doctor of Divinity, Emory University, Atlanta	U.S.A.
May 15, 1998	Doctor of Laws, University of Wisconsin, Madison	U.S.A.
November 11, 1998	Doctor Honoris Causa, Seton Hill College, Greensburg	U.S.A.
April 7, 1999	Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Brasilla	Brazil
April 9, 1999	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Buenos Aires	Argentina
April 16, 1999	Doctor of Theology Florida International University	U.S.A.
October 12, 1999	Boddhi Award American Buddhist Congress	U.S.A.
November 24, 1999	Life Time Achievement Award Hadassah Women’s Zionist	Israel
December 12, 1999	Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Award for International Peace & Harmony Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Charitable Trust	India
October 16, 2000	Doctor Honoris Causa Comenius University, Bratislava	Slovakia
June 10, 2001	Ecce homo Order Kancelaria Kapituly Orderu	Poland
November 26, 2001	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Lusiada Porto	Portugal
December 5, 2001	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Tromso	Norway
May 21, 2002	Peace Award 2000 UN Association of Australia	Australia
July 6, 2002	Man of the Year Croatian Academic Society	Croatia
October 14, 2002	Human Rights Prize University of Graz	Austria
November 7, 2002	Doctor Honoris Causa National University of Mongolia	Mongolia
November 7, 2002	Doctor Honoris Causa Mongolian University of Science & Technology	Mongolia
December 5, 2002	Basavashree Award Basavakendra, Sri Murugha Math, Chitradurga	India
June 3, 2003	Manfred Bjorkquist Medal Sigtuna Foundation, Stockholm	Sweden
September 5, 2003	Doctor Honoris Causa University of San Francisco	U.S.A.
September 19, 2003	Human Right Award International League for Human Rights, New York	U.S.A.
October 9, 2003	Award for Promotion of Human Rights Foundation Jaime Brunet, Madrid	Spain
April 16, 2004	2nd Citizens Peace Building Award University of California, Irvine	U.S.A
April 19, 2004	Doctor Honoris Causa Univerisity Of British Columbia, Vancouver	Canada
April 20, 2004	Doctor Honoris Causa Simon Fraser University, Vancouver	Canada
April 27, 2004	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Toronto	Canada
April 27, 2004	International Acharya Sushil Kumar Peace Award University of Toronto,	Canada
May 28, 2004	Humphreys Memorial Award for Services to Buddhism Buddhist Society of U.K.
September 18, 2004	Doctor Honoris Causa Nova Southeastern University, Miami	U.S.A.
September 23, 2004	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Miami	U.S.A.
September 24, 2004	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Puerto Rico, San Juan Puerto Rico	U.S.A
September 27, 2004	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Costa Rica, San Jose	Costa Rica
October 5, 2004	The Gold Medal National University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City	Mexico
October 7, 2004	Doctor Honoris Causa Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City	Mexico
July 27, 2005	Hessian Peace Prize,Parliament of Hesse, Wiesbaden	Germany
August 12, 2005	Manhae Peace Prize, Manhae Foundation	South Korea
September 25, 2005	Doctor Honoris Causa, Rutgers University, New Jersy	U.S.A
November 6, 2005	Inspiration & Compassion Award American Himalayan Foundation,	U.S.A.
February 16, 2006	Ben Gurion Negev Award Ben Gurion University, Be’er Sheva	Israel
May 4, 2006	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Santiago, Santiago	Chile
September 9, 2006	Honorary Citizenship Canada	Canada
September 19, 2006	Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Buffalo, New York	U.S.A.
October 14, 2006	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Rome 3, Rome	Italy
December 10, 2006	Order of the White Lotus Republic of Kalmykia, Russian Federation	Kalmykia
May 9, 2007	Doctor Honoris Causa Smith College, Northampton	U.S.A.
May 12, 2007	BILD Award, BILD Magazine, Germany	Germany
June 8, 2007	Doctor Honoris Causa, Southern Cross University, Melbourne	Australia
September 20, 2007	Doctor Honoris Causa,University of Muenster, Muenster	Germany
October 8, 2007	Ahimsa Award, Institute of Jainology, London	U.K.
October 17, 2007	U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, U.S. Congress, Washington	U.S.A.
Oct. 22, 2007	Presidential Distinguished Professor, Emory University, Atlanta	U.S.A.
April 14, 2008	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Washington, Seattle	U.S.A.
July 13, 2008	Doctor Honoris Causa Lehigh University, Bethlehem	U.S.A.
December 8, 2008	Doctor Honoris Causa Jagiellonian University, Krakow	Poland
February 9, 2009	Honorary Citizenship City of Rome, Rome	Italy
February 10, 2009	Honorary Citizenship City of Venice, Venice	Italy
February 10, 2009	German Media Prize Editors of Germany, Baden Baden	Germany
June 7, 2009	Honorary Citizenship City of Paris, Paris	France
July 29, 2009	Honorary Citizenship City of Warsaw, Warsaw	Poland
August 3, 2009	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Marburg, Marburg	Germany
September 23, 2009	International Freedom Award National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis	U.S.A.
September 27, 2009	Prize for Love and Forgiveness Fetzer Institute, Vancouver	U.S.A.
February 19, 2010	Democracy Service Medal National Endowment for Democracy, Washington	U.S.A.
February 23, 2010	Baccalaureate Honoris Causa Broward College, Davie	U.S.A.
March 18, 2010	Nirmala Deshpande Memorial Award for Peace and Global Harmony Gandhi Ashram Reconstruction Trust	India
May 23, 2010	President’s Medal Hunter College, New York	U.S.A.
May 18, 2010	Doctor Honoris Causa University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls	U.S.A.

Posted in: Dalai Lama