Who is the Dalai Lama

kapaha

Do you capitalise the 'lama'?

I heard somewhere that the Dali Lama is the current incarnation of something. First off, I thought the Dali Lama was supposed to be enlightened, and I thought by buddhist teachings that once you became enlightened your 'energy' (that which makes you) is able to dissipate and you were no more. So how can the Dali Lama be the current incarnation of anything if he is enlightened?

Furthermore, I heard he was the incarnation of some almost godly figure with four arms (or represented as having four arms, not literally having them, but in the same way as Hindu deities are drawn with many arms, which makes SOME sense considering buddhisms origins) But I didn't think Buddhism allowed belief in dieties. I thought it asked people to go forth and ask questions for themselves, not to seek them from some other person/god/religion.

Someone has got to tell me where I'm tripping up... Sad

Thanks to anyone that can help me clear up this mess. I'm sure I've been misinformed somewhere...

EDIT: wait, is there an 'a' in "Dali Lama" (Dalai Lama)?

The Conspirator

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dali_Lama
http://www.tibet.com/DL/index.html
http://www.dalailama.com/

kapaha

These things certainly do help clear up the Dalai Lama's history and background, but it doesn't help any to clear up the conflicting ideas I have about Buddhism.

I still can't see how they fit together.

My issue is that the existance of the Lamas seems to contradict everything the Buddha said. I'm no expert on the Buddha, though, what I need is some way of understanding how the Lamas fit in with the general picture of Buddhism without completely circumventing the rules.

EDIT: By "rules" I mean governing principles, not stricly 'rules' as this word has conotations that go against Buddhism (i.e. The idea of finding out on your own).

The Conspirator

I say an interview with the Dali Lama where he said that those who are close to enlightenment can remember there past lives, he said he doesn't remember his.

saiyeek

C'mon he is not Dali Lama, He is Dalai Lama. Change the topic of your post.

mike1reynolds

The Dalai Lama is a still incarnating member of Avalokitasvara AKA Chenrezig, the last oversoul to awaken. The awakening of the oversoul is different from enlightenment, it is a higher goal.

kapaha

Actually, I found reference to him spelled both ways. That is why I didn't change it.

So there <pokes out tongue> Smile

Thanks everyone for clearnig things up. I was a little confused about some of the misinformation I had been fed, but some of that clears it up. Thanks again!

otiscom

One Dalai Lama passed away and when re-incarnated the first words he uttered as a baby ...................... Now, what was I saying?