Gelup Lineage

The head of the Gelup Lineage - His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet.  At the age of two the child, who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. 

Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.

List of the previous His Holiness the Dalai Lama

No.	Name	Birth Place
1.	Gedun Drupa (1391-1474)	Shabtod (U-tsang)
2.	Gedun Gyatso (1475-1542)	Tanag Segme (U-tsang)
3.	Sonam Gyatso (1543-1588)	Tolung (U-tsang)
4.	Yonten Gyatso (1589-1617)	Mongolia
5.	Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682)	Chingwar Taktse (U-tsang)
6.	Tsangyang Gyatso (1682-1706)	Mon Tawang
7.	Kelsang Gyatso (1708-1757)	Lithang (Kham)
8.	Jamphel Gyatso (1758-1804)	Thobgyal (U-tsang)
9.	Lungtok Gyatso (1805-1815)	Dan Chokhor (Kham)
10.	Tsultrim Gyatso (1816-1837)	Lithang (Kham
11.	Khedrup Gyatso (1838-1856)	Gathar (Kham)
12.	Trinley Gyatso (1856-1875)	Lhoka (U-tsang)
13.	Thup Gyatso (1876-1933)	Thakpo Langdun (U-tsang)
14.	Tenzin Gyatso (1935- ) Dedication of merits May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.	Taktser, Kumbum (Amdo)