10 Most Amazing And Inspiring Refugees In History
8. The Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a source of spiritual wisdom and comfort to millions around the world, even beyond his core of Buddhist followers. He is believed to be the reincarnation of the Buddha himself by schools of Tibetan Buddhism and his wise words prove an inspiration to many.
The Dalai Lama has been called “the world's most famous refugee” as he was forced to leave Tibet in 1959. At this time Tibet was being completely overtaken by Chinese communist authorities and Tibetans had not been able to mount a significant resistance.
The Chinese looked at the Buddhist monks of Tibet and the Dalai Lama in particularly as a malign influence and as opposed to the atheistic social dogmas of the Communists. As fighting intensified in the country between Tibetan rebels and Chinese authorities the Dalai Lama made the decision to flee Tibet in fear for his life.
He led a Tibetan government in exile from India, where he resides today along with thousands of Tibet refugees. He recently tied with Barack Obama for the place of most popular world leader in a poll conducted in 2013.