Dalai

Dalai is a Tibetan word meaning "ocean" and is used in the title Dalai Lama, literally translating to "Ocean of Wisdom." The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism and, historically, the de facto head of the Tibetan government until the 1950s.

The title was bestowed in 1578 by Altan Khan, a Mongol ruler, to Sonam Gyatso, who became the 3rd Dalai Lama. Subsequent Dalai Lamas are considered reincarnations of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion, and have served as successive leaders of Tibetan religious life. The lineage began with Gedun Drupa (1391–1474), recognized posthumously as the first Dalai Lama; the numbering continues to the present.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (born 1935), is the current holder. He was recognized at a young age and has lived in exile in India since 1959 following the Tibetan uprising. He is widely known for his advocacy of Tibetan rights, cultural preservation, and nonviolent approaches to political issues; he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. The term Dalai, though most closely associated with the Dalai Lama, appears in broader discussions of Tibetan Buddhism and its leadership, where it remains a central symbol of Tibetan religious and cultural identity.