Dalai Lama, head of the dominant Dge-lugs-pa (Yellow Hat) order of Tibetan Buddhists and, until 1959, both spiritual and temporal ruler of Tibet. (Read the Dalai Lama’s Britannica essay on compassion.) The first of the line was Dge-’dun-grub-pa (1391–1475), founder and abbot of Tashilhunpo monastery (central Tibet).

The Dalai Lama highlighted the absurdity of the party's stance earlier this year when he recognised an eight-year-old Mongolian boy as the 10th Jetsun Dampa, the most influential reincarnation.