This authorized biography traces the life and rule of of the 14th Dalai Lama, as well as the history of his predecessors since 1391 when the first incarnate teacher began his rule. The ancient Tibetan way of life, now all but destroyed under the Chinese regime , and the essence of Tibetan Buddhism are described in full so that the life and works of the Dalai Lama may be seen in their proper culture, political and religious context.