His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a global advocate for compassion, nonviolence, and human rights. Born in northeastern Tibet and recognized in early childhood as the reincarnation of his predecessor, he assumed full political leadership of Tibet before going into exile in India in 1959. A prolific author and speaker, he has published widely on ethics, meditation, secular compassion, and Buddhist philosophy. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent struggle for the liberation of Tibet and for advocating peaceful solutions based on tolerance and mutual respect.