Last updated on: 8/24/2007 | Author: ProCon.org

Dalai Lama, PhD Biography

Title:
14th Dalai Lama, Tibetan Head of State and spiritual leader
Position:
Pro to the question "Should Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legal?"
Reasoning:

“In the event a person is definitely going to die and he is either in great pain or has virtually become a vegetable, and prolonging his existence is only going to cause difficulties and suffering for others, the termination of his life may be permitted according to Mahayana Buddhist ethics.”

Dalai Lama in a letter to Asiaweek, 1985
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
    Experts
Individuals with MDs, JDs, PhDs, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to end-of-life issues. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to end-of-life.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • 14th Dalai Lama, Head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet (in exile since 1959)
  • Order of the White Lotus, Republic of Kalmykia, Russian Federation, Kalmykia, Dec. 10, 2006
  • Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Rome 3, Rome, Italy, October 14, 2006
  • Honorary Citizenship, Canada, Sep. 9, 2006
  • Inspiration & Compassion Award, American Himalayan Foundation, San Francisco, U.S.A., Nov. 6, 2005
  • Human Right Award, International League for Human Rights, New York, U.S.A., Sep. 19, 2003
  • Peace Award 2000, UN Association of Australia, Australia, May 21, 2002
  • Life Time Achievement Award, Hadassah Women’s Zionist, Israel, Nov. 24, 1999
  • Boddhi Award, American Buddhist Congress, U.S.A., October 12, 1999
  • Doctor of International Diplomatic Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy, Sep. 11, 1997
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt, Freedom Medal, Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, U.S.A., June 4, 1994
  • International Valiant for Freedom Award, The Freedom Coalition, Melbourne, Australia, Mar. 14, 1993
  • Peace and Unity Award, National Peace Conference, Delhi, India, Aug. 23, 1991
  • Laureate, Nobel Peace Prize, 1989
  • Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award, Human Behavior Award, U.S.A., Sep. 28, 1987
Education:
  • PhD, Geshe Lharampa Degree (Doctorate of Buddhist Philosophy), 1949
Other:
  • Since 1959 The Dalai Lama has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, etc., in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion
  • Authored more than 72 books
  • Describes himself as “a simple Buddhist monk”