His Holiness the 14th The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the head of state and spiritual leader of Tibet. Born in 1935 to a humble farming family, at the age of two,he was recognized as the The Dalai Lama.. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisttvas are enlightened beings who choose to renounce their own nirvana and take rebirth in order to serve humanity. Thus we see the sacrifice by the Dalai Lama in this reincarnation. A history of the Dalai Lamas as it relates to tantric Buddhist philosophy has been remarkably captured in the book written by Glenn Mullin entitled Dalai Lamas on Tantra. His Holiness the Dalai Lama began his monastic education at six years old At the age of 23, the Dalai Lama was awarded the highest-level degree equivalent to a doctorate of Buddhist philosphy. We see how the Dalai Lama was prepared to take on his role as protectorate and leader of his people, the Tibetans. 
One year after China’s invasion of Tibet in 1949, at the age of 15 years old, the Dalai Lama assumed the full responsibility of governing his people as head of state. In 1959, at the age of 24, after the brutal suppression of the Tibetans in Lhasa by Chinese troops, the Dalai Lama was forced to escape into exile. The Dalai Lama now resides in Dharmasala, Northern India, the seat of the Tibetan political administraiton in exile. A wonderful,autobiographical book describing his life as an expatriate is Freedom in Exile.
The Dalai Lama has always been a proponent of peace. In 1987 the Dalai Lama proposed a Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet. It was the Dalai Lama’s desire that Tibet would become a sanctuary of peace in the heart of Asia where all sentient beings would co-exist in harmony, and that the delicate environment would be preserved and not be used by China for the abandonment and dumping of nuclear waste. China, of course, did not respond to his five point plan.
In 1989 the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. The Dalai Lama also was recognized for his concern for global environmental problems. Since 1989, the Dalai Lama has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc. for his messages of peace,non-violence and understanding. Dalai Lama’s Little Book of Inner Peace
The Dalai Lama has made three commitments to the Tibetan people on the levels of a human being, a religious practitioner and the state leader of the Tibetan people: His first commitment is to promote human values of compassion,forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-disciplicine. All human wants happiness, and the Dalai Lama calls these values secular ethics to which all beings hopefully subscribe.
Regarding his second commitment as a religious practitioner, it is the desire of the Dalai Lama to promote religious harmony and understanding, and it is therefore important that all traditions respect one another and recognize the value of the other’s tradition. The Dalai Lama, in further pursuance of this truth, feels that several truths and religions are actually necessary.
The Dalai Lama’s Third Commitment is to the fact that he is a Tibetan and carries the name of the Dalai Lama and respects and honors the trust that the Tibetans have placed in him. Therefore, he feels it necessary to act as the spokesperson for the Tibetans. This commitment ceases to exist once a mutually beneficial solution is reached between the Tibetans and Chinese.
Many people look to the Dalai Lama as their spiritual teacher and share their love for him by proclaiming this to others. Wearing this Dalai Lama pendant has great meaning to them.
The Dalai Lama describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk.