Dalai Lama: a life in pictures

The Dalai Lama, backed by the Tibetan flag, addresses Australia's parliament in Canberra in May 2002, thanking supporters backing autonomy in his homeland Photograph: Rick Rycroft/guardian.co.uk

Undated picture of a painting by Kanwal Krishna showing a young Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso, born in 1935), the traditional religious and temporal head of Tibet's Buddhists Photograph: KANWAL KRISHNA/guardian.co.uk

The Dalai Lama as a child before his appointment as the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet in February 1940. He was selected at the age of 5 to lead his people Photograph: guardian.co.uk

The Dalai Lama photographed at Westminster Abbey in July 1981 Photograph: Jane Bown/guardian.co.uk

President Bush greets the Dalai Lama at the White House in May 2001 Photograph: Eric Draper/AP

The Dalai Lama is projected on a large screen during a Washington meditation conference in November 2005 Photograph: Tim Sloan/AFP

The Dalai Lama smiles during a two-day international peace conference in Hiroshima in November 2006 Photograph: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP

The Dalai Lama speaks to the media at the Dynamic Earth venue at the start of a two-day visit to Edinburgh in November 2005 Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/guardian.co.uk

The Dalai Lama taps a cymbal during a prayer service at the Smithsonian Folklife festival in Washington in July 2000 Photograph: Khue Bui/AP

The Dalai Lama greets supporters prior to speaking on the West Lawn of the US Capitol in Washington in 2007 Photograph: Shawn Thew/guardian.co.uk

The Dalai Lama prepares to leave in a helicopter after visiting the Dachang Vajradhara Ling congregation, Aubry, France. The Tibetan spiritual guide flew into Paris for the 12-day visit at the height of the Beijing Olympics, having shelved plans to meet President Nicolas Sarkozy for fear of angering China Photograph: Sipa Press/guardian.co.uk

President Barack Obama with the Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House in 2010 Photograph: Pete Souza/White House/Flickr

The Dalai Lama yawns as he speaks to students, faculty, and guests at Nova Southeastern University in 2010. His talk was called "The Effect of Compassion on the Global Community" Photograph: Carey Wagner/The South Florida Sun-Sentinel/guardian.co.uk

The Dalai Lama delivers his annual address from exile in India, marking the 51st anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in Dharamsla, India Photograph: Ashwini Bhatia/guardian.co.uk

Dalai Lama gives a traditional greeting as he celebrates his 75th birthday at Tsugla Khang Temple in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala, India Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama speaks with Tibetan government-in-exile Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is greeted by people as he walks to watch an exhibition of traditional Tibetan paintings in Dharmsala, India Photograph: Ashwini Bhatia/guardian.co.uk

The Dalai Lama receives a bouquet of flowers from local journalists during his 75th birthday celebrations at Tsuglagkhang temple, Dharamsala, India Photograph: guardian.co.uk

The Dalai Lama poses with a group of children during his 75th birthday celebrations at Tsuglagkhang temple, Dharamsala, India Photograph: guardian.co.uk