Tenzin Gyatso was born as Lhama Dhöndup in 1935 in Tibet. He is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. When Gyatso was three years old, he was noted as a reincarnation of Buddha. Gyatso became a monk and studied scriptures in monastery schools. When relations in Asia changed after World War II, he faced a tougher life. In 1950, the still young Dalai Lama was encouraged to assume political responsibilities for the country and people. China had cruelly ended Tibet's self-government and basic freedoms. As a spiritual guide, Gyatso was asked to become politically active, as he had always spoken out of peacefulness and compassion.

In 1959, Chinese occupation forces brutally and bloodily crushed the uprising of unarmed Tibetans. When the generals reported to Mao, he asked if they had also captured the Dalai Lama. The latter had escaped. Meanwhile, the struggle against the oppression of the Tibetan people continued. In 1959, the Dalai Lama was exiled to Dharamsala in India.

The world, including the powerful People's Republic of China, recognized someone who defended stolen autonomy in the Dalai Lama. In response, Mao tightened his chokehold. In 1985, the Dalai Lama presented his Peace Plan in Washington, United States. The Peace Plan described Tibet as a peace zone, a restoration of fundamental rights and restoration of the heavily polluted environment. The Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his tireless commitment to human rights.