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A Photo Essay on the XIV Dalai Lama by Suresh Natarajan

"Ocean of Wisdom" — a photo exhibition organised by Friends of Tibet (INDIA) and Kashi Art Café — will flag-off the activities of the Cochin chapter of Friends of Tibet in the city. This four-day long exhibition of 20 rare photographs of the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet — His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama — by the renowned photographer Suresh Natarajan will be held at the Kashi Art Café, Burgher Street, Fort Kochi from April 17-20, 2004 and will be inaugurated by the Honorable Excise Minister for Kerala State Shri KV Thomas on April 17, 2004 (Saturday) at 4pm. There will also be an exhibition of historic photographs from the Tibet Museum, Dharamshala.

Feature/documentary films like "Kundun" (Directed by Martin Scorcece), "Escape from Tibet" (Directed by Nick Grey), "Cry of the Snowlion" (Directed by Tom Peosay) and "The Cup" (Directed by Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche) will be screened for all four days. the "Ocean of Wisdom" exhibition will travel to Trivandrum, Trichur and Calicut and to all state capitals in India.

About Tenzin Gyatso, the XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet: In 1937, a two-year-old Tibetan boy was taken from his parents in the north-eastern reaches of his country to the capital, Lhasa. Tenzin Gyatso earned his first trip to the capital because he was recognised as the reincarnation of His Holiness the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, the supreme spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet. At the age of seven, in the splendour of the 1000-room Potala Palace, Tenzin Gyatso was enthroned as the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. At fifteen, he became the head of state. But to most Tibetans he is 'Yeshi Norbu', 'the holder of the white lotus'. The near and dear call him 'Kundun', meaning 'presence'.

The Fourteenth Dalai Lama was educated primarily at the Teluk-pa school of Tibetan Buddhism and received the Geshe Lharampa, the highest degree awarded by the school. He was also extensively tutored by revered lamas of the Kagyu, Sakya, and Nyingma traditions. As head of state, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama attempted to negotiate with Chinese leaders like Mao Tse-Tung. The purpose was to save his country from the excesses of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), which crushed an uprising by the Tibetan people in Lhasa in March 1959, and forced the Dalai Lama into exile along with over 1,00,000 followers. They were granted political asylum by the Indian government, and the Dalai Lama has headed the Tibetan Government-in-exile ever since at the Himalayan village of Dharamsala.

Apart from his religious discourses with leading practitioners from traditions like Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism, Tenzin Gyatso's long-standing interest in science and technology leads him to discussions with scientists from around the world on topics ranging from cognitive neurology to physics. Applying Buddhist principles to the political crises that have plagued his country for half a century now, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama proposed a Five-point Peace Plan in 1987 in an address to the US Congress. According to his plan, Tibet is to become a de-militarised zone of peace, the Tibetan people would be allowed to practice their religion freely, and negotiations would be held between the Chinese government and the Tibetan government-in-exile. The plan was quickly shot down by Beijing, leading to demonstrations in Lhasa and another crackdown by PLA. But despite the harshness of the Chinese rule in Tibet, the Dalai Lama continues to insist on the need for a non-violent solution; indeed, he constantly proclaims that the proper response toward the Chinese government is not one of anger or hatred, but of heartfelt compassion and love. His unswerving dedication to the cause of his people through peaceful means earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

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