Lozang Gyatso

Lozang Gyatso (1617 - 1682) still called Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso and called " the Great Fifth " Dalaï Lama (Tibetan was the 5th : ངག ་ དབང ་ བློ ་ བཟང ་ རྒྱ ་ མཚོ ་, Wylie: Blo-bzang Rgya-mtsho).

Biography

The 5th Dalai Lama, “the Great Fifth” was famous for her political direction. It preserved the independence of Tibet against the pressures of the Chinese and Mongolian capacities. In 1640, the Mongolian Emperor Güshi Khan invades the Tibet and places the 5th Dalaï Lama as temporal chief of Tibet in 1642. Tibet extends then from Dartsedo, with the doors of China, to the borders of the Ladakh. Until 1959, the load of the spiritual powers and temporal of Tibet was assumed by the Dalaï Lama S. Lozang Gyatso is also famous to have establishes the capital Tibetan with Lhassa and makes build the Palais of Potala.

The 5th Dalaï Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, was born in 1617 in Lhoka Chingwar Taktse, in the south of Lhassa of Dudul Rabten and Kunga Lhanzi. When Sonam Choephel, the principal intendant of the 4th Dalaï Lama heard of the exceptional capacities of the boy of Chong-Gya, it returned visit to the child and showed him objects having belonged to the preceding Dalaï Lama. The boy immediately recognized the objects, and said that they belonged to him. Sonam Choephel maintained the secrecy on the discovery of the 5th Dalaï Lama because of the agitated political situation of the time. When the things were calmed, the 5th Dalaï Lama was led to the monastery of Drépung where it was ordered monk by the 4th Panchen LAMA, Lobsang Chökyi Gyalsten, which gave him the name Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso.

The 5th Dalaï Lama was thus recognized at one time of political agitation to the Tibet. The Regent Tsangpa Desi had invaded Lhassa at the beginning of the 17th century, wildly attacking the monasteries of Drépung, Séra and Ganden. Güshi Khan, the chief of the Mongolian tribe of Qoshot, wished to overcome Tsangpa Desi because this last had been combined with an enemy of its Mongolian tribe. Moreover, Güshi Khan had intercepted a letter of King de Beri of the East of Tibet addressed to Tsangpa Desi, describing a project aiming at destroying the monasteries Gelugpa. The Mongolian Chief overcame King de Tsang who controlled most of Tibet. However, as the tensions increased, of many letters exchanged themselves between the Dalaï Lama, the Panchen LAMA and the Karmapa. In particular, the Panchen LAMA and the Karmapa tried to alleviate the tensions in the East of Tibet. Because of the bonds of the lines Kagyu and Jonang with King de Tsang, the 10th Karmapa, Chöying Dorje, chief of the school Karma Kagyu, must exhiler during 20 years and the Jonang S are presécutés by the Gelugpa S, but they will subsiteront until our days and will be recognized by the 14th Dalaï Lama.

Güshi Khan put a term at the disorders, and in 1642 the Dalaï Lama was established in the principal hall of Shigatsé as spiritual and political leader of Tibet. Thus, Güshi Khan offered to its spiritual teacher, the 5th Dalaï Lama, the nation of Tibet. In this way, the Mongolian Chief made Tibet his field, and establishes Dalaï Lama like his leader. The Dalaï Lama unified the whole of Tibet, which for centuries had been tormented by wars and internal conflicts. However, the Dalaï Lama was disappointed by Güshi Khan. The Mongolian Chief had invaded Is of Tibet, and it attacked and dépoullait people and the monasteries of this area. The monasteries of Séra, Ganden and Drépung of Lhassa also complained about the brutality of the Mongolian attackers.

Beginning of the construction of the Palate of Potala

In 1645, the Dalaï Lama held a meeting with the high officers of the Gaden Phodrang (Gouvernement Tibetan) on the construction of the Palais of Potala on the Red Hill, where the 33e King of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo, had built a strong red. The same year, construction started and one needed 43 year old meadows to finish it.

In 1649, Shunzhi, the Manchu Emperor , invited the Dalaï Lama with Beijing. When it reaches the Chinese province of Ningxia, it was greeted by the Minister and military commander of the Emperor who came with 3000 riders to escort the leader Tibetan. The Emperor Shunzhi even went on to him a journey 4 days traversing 20 km since Beijing to come to the meeting from the Dalaï Lama in a place called Kothor or Chenlou . In the Chinese capital, the Dalaï Lama remained with the Yellow Palate, builds for him by the Emperor. When the Emperor met the Dalaï Lama officially, the two leaders exchanged honorary titles. In 1653, the Dalaï Lama is turned over to the Tibet.

In 1655, Güshi Khan died, as well as the “Desi” (regent) Sonam Choephel. The Dalaï Lama named Tenzin Dorje, the son of Güshi Khan, new Mongolian king, and Drong Mey-Pa Thinley Gyatso succeeded Sonam Choephel at the station of Desi. When the Emperor Mandchou died in 1662, his/her son, Kangxi, are assembled on the throne Mandchou.

The 5th Dalaï Lama received 10th Karmapa, Chöying Dorje of the school Kagyu, transmission of Mahamudra. The 5th Dalaï Lama was a Tertön. He was a disciple close to the Tertön Urgyen Terdak Lingpa (1646 - 1714), one of the largest Master Nyingmapa. In 1662, the Panchen LAMA died at the 91 years age. In 1665, following a request of the monastery of Tashilhunpo, the Dalaï Lama recognized a boy of the area of Tsang like the reincarnation of the precedent Panchen LAMA and the name of Lobsang Yeshe gave him. The 5th Dalaï Lama initiated the line of reincarnation of the Panchen LAMA to which it allotted the title the emanation of the Buddha Amitabha and offered the monastery of Tashilhunpo.

The 5th Dalaï Lama was a large well-read man, knowing the Sanscrit well. He wrote many books, of which one on poetry. He also established two university institutions, one for the official laic ones and the other for the official monastic ones, where one taught the Mongolian , the Sanscrit, astrology, poetry, and administration. The 5th Dalaï Lama spoke little, but what he said carried the conviction and influenced well leaders beyond the borders of the Tibet. Towards the end of its life, the " Large Cinquième" withdrew itself from the public sight. It spent the years in retirement and entrusted the capacities to its new Regent, Sangyé Gyatso. In 1682, at the 65 years age, it died before finishing the construction of the Palais of Potala. However, he had entrusted the responsibility for construction to Sangyé Gyatso while advising to him to maintain the secrecy of his death for a time. One says that with dead Great Fifth, the regent who was anxious to keep the capacity and to finish work of the palate, hid with the people Tibetan the death of the Dalaï Lama during more than 12 years, until the end of work.

See too

Dalaï Lama
Panchen LAMA
Karmapa
Tibet
History of Tibet

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