Editing Dalai Lama (section)

=== Avalokiteśvara's "Dalai Lama master plan" ===
According to the [[14th Dalai Lama]], long ago Avalokiteśvara had promised the [[Buddha]] to guide and defend the [[Tibetan people]]. In the late Middle Ages, his master plan to fulfill this promise was the stage-by-stage establishment of the Dalai Lama institution in Tibet.<ref name=Laird138>Laird 2006, p. 138.</ref>

First, Tsongkhapa established three great monasteries around Lhasa in the province of [[Ü (region)|Ü]] before he died in 1419.<ref name=norb216>Norbu 1968, p. 216.</ref> The 1st Dalai Lama soon became Abbot of the greatest one, [[Drepung]], and developed a large popular power base in Ü. He later extended this to cover Tsang,<ref>Mullin 2001, p. 59.</ref> where he constructed a fourth great monastery, [[Tashilhunpo Monastery|Tashi Lhunpo]], at [[Shigatse]].<ref>Mullin 2001, pp. 66–67.</ref> The [[2nd Dalai Lama|2nd]] studied there before returning to Lhasa,<ref name=Laird138 /> where he became Abbot of Drepung.<ref name=TN1>Smith 1997, p. 106.</ref> Having reactivated the 1st's large popular followings in Tsang and Ü,<ref>Laird 2006, p. 138–139.</ref> the 2nd then moved on to southern Tibet and gathered more followers there who helped him construct a new monastery, [[Chokorgyel Monastery|Chokorgyel]].<ref name=shak91>Shakabpa 1984, p. 91.</ref> He established the method by which later Dalai Lama incarnations would be discovered through visions at the "oracle lake", [[Lhamo Lhatso]].<ref name="laird139">Laird 2006, p. 139.</ref>

The [[3rd Dalai Lama|3rd]] built on his predecessors' fame by becoming Abbot of the two great monasteries of Drepung and [[Sera Monastery|Sera]].<ref name="laird139" /> The Mongol leader [[Altan Khan]], first Ming Shunyi King, hearing of his reputation, invited the 3rd to [[Mongolia]] where the 3rd converted the King and his followers to Buddhism, covering a vast tract of central Asia. This brought most of Mongolia into the Dalai Lama's sphere of influence, founding a spiritual empire which largely survives to the modern age.<ref>Laird 2006, pp. 140–145.</ref> After being given the Mongolian name 'Dalai',<ref>MacKay 2003, p. 18.</ref> he returned to Tibet to found the great monasteries of [[Litang County#History|Lithang]] in Kham, eastern Tibet and [[Kumbum Monastery|Kumbum]] in Amdo, north-eastern Tibet.<ref>Laird 2006, p. 146.</ref>

The [[4th Dalai Lama|4th]] was then born in Mongolia as the great-grandson of [[Altan Khan]], cementing strong ties between Central Asia, the Dalai Lamas, the [[Gelugpa]] and [[Tibet]].<ref>Laird 2006, pp. 147–149.</ref> The [[5th Dalai Lama|5th]] in the succession used the vast popular power base of devoted followers built up by his four predecessors. By 1642, with the strategy provided by his ''chagdzo'' (manager) [[Sonam Rapten]] and the military assistance of [[Khoshut]] chieftain [[Gushri Khan]], the 'Great 5th' founded the Dalai Lamas' religious and political reign over Tibet that survived for over 300 years.<ref>Laird 2006, pp. 149–151.</ref>