The Dalai Lama occupies a singular spot in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, serving as both the foremost spiritual guide and the most visible face of its centuries-old reformist lineage. While the Ganden Tripa technically holds the throne as the head of Gelug doctrinal affairs—upholding Tsongkhapa’s detailed Vinaya and philosophical curriculum—the Dalai Lama doubles as a living embodiment of those teachings, a reincarnate lama (tulku) whose very existence underscores the tradition’s commitment to compassionate service.

Every Dalai Lama undergoes rigorous training in logic debates, tantric rituals and monastic discipline, emerging as a master of both sutra and tantra. Yet these scholarly achievements are only part of the picture. From the 5th Dalai Lama onward, this lineage stepped into temporal leadership, uniting Tibet under a theocratic government. Although the modern Central Tibetan Administration in exile has shifted governmental duties to a democratically elected leadership, the Dalai Lama remains the moral compass for millions, championing human rights, interfaith dialogue and environmental stewardship. His presence at recent COP conferences and virtual addresses during the global pandemic illustrates a knack for marrying ancient wisdom with pressing 21st-century challenges.

Inside Gelug monasteries, the Dalai Lama’s teachings set the tone for practice cycles, festival rituals and the annual Tantric Assembly. Monks and nuns alike regard his commentary on Tsongkhapa’s six-volume “Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path” as an indispensable guide. When it’s time to recognize the next Dalai Lama, a search committee follows protocols laid down centuries ago—combined with modern technologies like pedigree testing—to ensure authenticity, reflecting a blend of timeless ritual and contemporary scrutiny.

Watching the Dalai Lama interact with world leaders or join online mindfulness sessions, it’s clear that this figure isn’t content to be a relic of the past. Efforts to train the 15th Dalai Lama have already begun, even as Beijing insists on approving reincarnations—an ongoing tug-of-war that spotlights the broader struggle for Tibetan identity. In short, the Dalai Lama serves as Gelug’s beating heart: a scholar-saint, a strategist for cultural survival and a beacon of hope whenever storms of political or ecological upheaval loom large.