The Life of My Teacher

In The Life of My Teacher, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama pays heartfelt tribute to one of the most influential figures in his early life—Kyabjé Ling Rinpoché, his senior tutor and one of the greatest Tibetan Buddhist masters of the 20th century. This meticulously detailed biography, translated by Gavin Kilty with an introduction by Thupten Jinpa, provides rare insight into the teacher-student relationship that shaped the Dalai Lama’s spiritual and intellectual development.

The book offers a portrait not just of Ling Rinpoché’s outer life—his scholarly mastery, deep compassion, and monastic achievements—but also of his profound inner spiritual attainments. Drawing on the Dalai Lama’s own recollections, oral histories, and historical records, the biography also paints a broader picture of Tibetan society, religious traditions, and the challenges posed by political upheaval during a critical era in Tibetan history.

Why read this book

• Offers a deeply personal look at the Dalai Lama’s spiritual formation through the lens of his revered teacher.

• Chronicles the life of a highly accomplished Tibetan master, whose legacy influenced generations of Buddhist scholars and practitioners.

• Combines memoir, history, and spiritual biography, making it valuable for both academic and devotional readers.

• Provides rare insight into Tibetan Buddhist educational traditions, particularly within the Gelug school.

• Enriched by Thupten Jinpa’s introduction, contextualizing the importance of this teacher-student bond in Buddhist thought.

About the Author

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a global symbol of peace, compassion, and nonviolence. Born in 1935 in northeastern Tibet, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama and assumed full political power at the age of 15. Following the Chinese occupation of Tibet, he went into exile in 1959. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and has written extensively on compassion, ethics, science, and spirituality.