達 賴喇嘛十四世，丹增嘉措是西藏政治及精神的領袖。他於193５年七月六日出生於西藏东北部之安多塔泽村（青海省湟中县祈家川）的一戶農民家庭，這位原名叫 拉莫顿珠的幼童兩歲時，被認定为達賴喇嘛十三世图登嘉措的轉世。達賴喇嘛每一世向來都被視為觀世音菩萨之化身，而觀世音菩薩是代表慈悲的菩薩，也是守護西 藏的菩薩。所謂菩薩指的是那些已經證悟卻不入涅槃，而選擇轉世以拯救人類的聖者。
在西藏接受的教育
達賴喇嘛於六歲即開始接受僧侶的教育。其課程包括五大科及五小科。五大科是邏輯、西藏藝術及文化、梵文、醫藥及佛學。佛學又細分為五類──般若波羅蜜多 (大智慧)，madhyamika (中觀)，vinaya (律儀)，阿毗達摩﹝玄學﹞，pramana﹝邏輯及認識論﹞。五小科是詩歌、音樂與戲劇，占星術、修辭(motre and phrasing)、同義字研究(synonyms)。 1959年，他二十三歲，在一年一度的Molam (prayer)节期間，於拉薩的大昭寺(Jokhang Temple)经过考试，以優異獲頒（拉仁巴）格西頭銜，相當於佛學博士的最高學位。
担负执政职责
1949年中共军队入侵西藏的次年（1950），应西藏僧俗的要求法王正式繼位，从此担负起了西藏的政教重任。1954年，他前往北京與毛澤東．邓小平． 周恩來等其他中國領導人并舉行会談。但是，到了1959年，拉薩的西藏民族抗暴运动受到中國軍隊的殘酷鎮壓，法王被迫流亡。從此，他一直旅居印度北部的達 蘭沙拉。達蘭沙拉成為西藏流亡政府的所在地。
中共入侵之後，法王不斷呼籲聯合國關切西藏問題。安理會也分別於1959，1961，1965年，分別提出三次解決方案。
民主化之路
1963年，法王提出一份西藏民主憲法草案，接著又进行了一系列的民主化改革。改革結果頒布了新的民主憲法，名為「流亡藏人憲章」。憲章规定人们拥有言論、信仰、以及集會運動的自由。其中也详细描述了涉及人民利益的許多有關流亡政府的工作指导方针。
１９９０年５月，根据法王的要求，为了在西藏流亡社会真正实现民主政府而施行了急紧的改革，由达赖喇嘛任命的西藏流亡政府内阁和第十届议会同时辞职，同 年，分布在印度次大陆和其他３３个国家的流亡藏人通过一人一票的民主程序选举产生了被扩大的第十一届议会，议会议员人数增加到４６人。并经议会选举产生的 政府部长（内阁）成员组成了新一届的内阁。
1992年，法王頒布了未來自由西藏的憲法綱領(guidelines)。其中他宣布：当西藏获得自由时，首先应该建立一個过渡政府。此政府將負責推動選 出一個立憲代表會，來籌議出西藏的民主憲法。一當过渡政府成立，法王將其原有的全部歷史及政治的职權，移交給臨時總統，从而自己成為一介平民。法王同時聲 明他希望未来西藏将由传统的卫藏（U-Tsang）、安多(Amdo)及康(Kham)三区所組成和將成為聯邦式及民主式的政治實體。
2001年九月，在法王劝导下，议会修改宪章，从而使流亡藏人直接选举产生了西藏流亡政府的首席部长（噶伦赤巴）(Kalon Tripa)，然后再由噶伦赤巴向议会提出其他內閣成員的候选名單，經议會通过後正式任命之。這是西藏漫長歷史以來，第一次由人民選舉產生的噶伦赤巴及新 一届的噶厦（内阁）。
和平的呼籲
1987年九月，法王提出五點西藏和平計畫，做為和平解決不斷惡化的西藏情勢的第一步。他計畫西藏成為一個和平地帶，亞洲中央的一個聖殿。所有的有情眾生在這裡，皆能和平相處；脆弱的環境也受到保護。可是到目前為止，法王所提出的各項和平方案，都得不到中共積極的回應。
五點和平計畫:
1987年九月二十一日，法王在華盛頓對美國國會發表演說，提出一項和平計畫，其中包括以下五個基本要點：
1. 將整個西藏轉變成一個和平區。
2. 中國應停止其移民政策，此一政策正直接威脅到西藏做為一個民族的生存。
3. 尊重西藏人民的基本人權及民主自由。
4. 恢復及保護西藏的自然環境；中國應停止以西藏做為核子武器的生產基地以及核廢棄物的堆積場。
5. 中國及西藏應著手就西藏未來地位以及兩個民族之間的關係進行積極的磋商。
史特拉斯堡提議
一九八八年六月十五日，法王於史特拉斯堡，對歐洲議會發表演說。法王針對前述五點和平計畫的最後一點，提出詳盡的闡述。他提議中國及西藏人民之間的和談， 以達成協議，促成西藏所有三個省區成立一個自治的，民主的政治實體。此一實體將保持與中華人民共和國之間的關係，並將其外交及國防政策繼續交由中國政府負 責。
一生的使命
法王一生中有三個使命。
第一個使命是有關全人類的。他致力提昇諸如慈悲、寬恕、包容、知足及自律，這些人類的價值。所有的人都是一樣的。我們都希求快樂，遠離痛苦。即使沒有宗教 信仰的人也認同這些人類價值在追求幸福上的重要性。法王認為這些價值是非常重要的世間道德。他一直努力宣揚並與每一個人分享這些價值。
第二，是有關宗教信仰者的。法王的第二使命是促進世界主要宗教傳統之間的和諧及相互了解。儘管不同的宗教有其哲學差異，但是所有主要的宗教都有同樣的能力 來創造出優秀的人類。因此所有的宗教都必須相互尊重，並瞭解彼此不同的傳承價值。一個真理或一個宗教就個人來說，意義重大；然而就團體而言，不同的幾個真 理或不同的宗教卻是必要的。
第三，法王是一個西藏人，而且具有達賴喇嘛的名號，身負所有西藏人的信賴。因此他的第三個使命有關於西藏問題。法王有一個責任，那就是要扮演西藏人民爭取公義的代言人。就這一點而言，只要西藏人和中國人之間的雙贏策略實現，此一使命就算完成。
然而，法王對前兩項使命的努力，則將終其一生，永不停歇。
全世界的認同
法王達賴喇嘛是一位致力和平的人。一九八九年，達賴喇嘛因其非暴力的爭取西藏自由，而獲頒諾貝爾和平獎。他長期以來不斷宣揚非暴力政策，即使面臨殘酷的侵略亦不改變。他也是第一位關心全球環保問題的諾貝爾獎得主。
法王的蹤跡已超過六十二國，含蓋六大洲。他曾會晤重要國家的總統、首相及國王。他也與不同宗教的領袖及許多知名的科學家進行過交談。
一九五九年以來，他已經獲頒超過八十四項不同的獎章、榮譽學位、獎賞等。他的和平訊息，非暴力，宗教的相互瞭解，全球共同的環保責任，以及慈悲心為他贏得了這許多肯定。此外，法王所著的書籍，也超過了七十二種。
法王則自认是「一名普通的佛教僧侶」。
备注——转自圣尊官方网站
They were very humble and respectful. They not only respect all the elders but also used to give ample of love, care and respect to juniors too. That family in Norbulingka was very popular in the locality for their praise-worthy nature. Their fourth child was Chemi who had completed her B.A. from Delhi University. She always aspired to work and help her parents in their family’s livelihood. Fortunately, she saw one advertisement from the office of Tibetan Beauty Pageant Committee and there was one lakh reward to the winner. Therefore, she was so much impressed with that advertisement and soon got permission from her parents to take part in the contest. She prepared well for the Beauty Pageant Contest and the final day came. The contest was to be held at Mcleodganj and she was coming from Norbulingka towards the decided venue of the contest. People in Mcleodganj were busy going here and there and the market was filled with tourists, vehicles, local people, etc. In that hassle bustle area, one old lady was lying down, wounded, bleeding and asking people for help, but none came forward to help that wounded old granny. Among the people, there were three participants of the Beauty Pageant Contest, but they were extremely busy walking towards the venue in their chosen fine attire. They apologized the old granny for not able to help her. So the old lady was left unattended on the street for long hours. She was so disheartened with the attitude of people of that area and was completely discouraged to ask for help. She was very tired and suffering great pain so she was waiting for someone to help her voluntarily. She bowed her face down and lying silently. After sometime, she heard a soft voice and gentle touch on shoulder. When she lifted her face up, she saw a beautiful girl in a very beautiful dress, saying something to her and that girl was none other than Chemi, who reached Mcleodganj for the great evening contest of Miss Tibet. The old granny didn’t hope that the beautiful girl would help her, but to her surprise, without asking for aid, the girl impressed the old lady in this way. Chemi said, “Oh grandma! What happened? How did you fell down? How you are left all alone here? Oh you are bleeding also! Let me take you to the hospital. Come on! Stand up! Taxi: Come here!” The old grandma said, “How nice of you! You are given good lesson at home. You are very beautiful and also very kind-hearted. Tell me, where were you going?” The girl replied, “Actually I am supposed to go to TIPA to participate in one contest.” “Oh! You may get late to reach there then. What contest is going to hold there? If you are getting late then you better go there. If you ask the taxi driver to help me to reach hospital then from there, I’ll manage by myself.” Said grandma. The girl immediately responded, “Oh that is just a beauty pageant contest and that is not more important than your life. Let me help you to hospital. You just don’t worry about me, ok.” Then the two hired a taxi and went to Delek hospital where the doctor and nurses generously attended the wounded old lady. They treated her with great respect and special attention which confused Chemi. After granny was well attended by doctor and nurses, Chemi asked granny permission to leave. The granny wished her good luck and she thanked accordingly. She went back to Mcleodganj and she was already late for the contest. But she was curious to see the contest and the winners, so she just went there as a spectator. But she was surprised to see the contest was not yet started. She was very much willing to go to participate, but her dress was all messed up with soil and blood. Therefore, she didn’t dare to go on the stage so she remained silently in the audience. After an hour, the much awaited event was started with loud noise of clapping and whistling and convener came out on the stage with the mike in his hand. He welcomed everybody and apologized for the delay to the contest. He said that the chief judge was unable to reach the venue due to a small accident. The judges took their respective seats and Chemi was surprised to see the wounded old granny among the panel of judges. Simultaneously, the other three participants of the contest were also shocked and got scared that they didn’t help the old lady when she was in trouble. Anyway, the contest was about to start, but the chief judge stood up and spoke in mike, “Good evening everybody. As we are gathered here to see who is the most beautiful girl among them, right? But I don’t see anyone here beautiful, so I can’t give any marks to them. As I am given the power to judge and decide the most beautiful girl, so I’ve already chosen the most beautiful girl some hours back and she is there in the public.” Everyone was surprised to hear that. They were equally eager to know and see the lucky girl. Soon the chief judge pointed towards the girl and called her on the stage. The girl was quite nervous and shy, but she slowly came up on the stage in her soiled dress. And the girl was none other than Chemi. The chief judge explained in this way, “The real beauty lies within the heart. In order to win the respectable crown of Miss Tibet, along with the beautiful face and body, there must be a beautiful heart and fortunately, I came across the girl who is composed of all these qualities, and here is the most beautiful girl: Chemi. Do you agree with my decision?” “Yes! Absolutely! Your choice is our choice.” Replied public in loud voice. Actually, the judgment of that year’s Beauty Pageant Contest was strange and unusual, but it was the best choice ever.