The Sixth Dalai Lama

Tsangyang Gyatso (1683-1706), was the Sixth Dalai Lama, and the most controversial of all the Dalai Lamas. He was born on March 1, 1683 in the remote Tibetan region of Mon (Tawang), the son of Rigdzin Tashi and mother Tsewang Lhamo, under mystical circumstances, as his parents were members of a Tantric sect of Buddhism. His identity remained hidden until 1698, when Desi Sangay finally decided it was time to announce the death of Lobzang Gyatso, the Fifth Dalai Lama, and reveal the identity of the new Dalai Lama.

Now fifteen years old, Tsangyang had grown to be a handsome, intelligent young man who loved archery and roaming about the countryside. He showed little interest in scholarly or spiritual pursuits, preferring the carefree life to the rigors of his office. When Tsangyang Gyatso reached the age of 20, instead of completing his vows and entering into full monkhood, he renounced his original novice vows and became a layman once again. Nowhere was it written that the Dalai Lama had to be a monk. Therefore, he continued to live at the palace, maintaining his role as Dalai Lama by day, and living the life of a dandy, a gadabout, and a sexual roué by night, all the while, composing some of the most subtle romantic poetry the world has ever known. Dressing in blue silk brocade, wearing his hair long, and practicing archery with his friends, he continued living the carefree life he so enjoyed. In the evenings, he would visit the brothels and chang taverns of Shol-town at the foot of Red Hill, where he gambled, drank barley beer, caroused with the common folk and indulged in the carnal pleasures of a different woman every night. Sometimes he would venture a little farther afield into Lhasa, where he drank wine and mingled with the daughters of the aristocracy.

Meanwhile, political unrest was brewing between Tibet and the Mongol empire. After much political and military subterfuge, the Mongol Qosot tribe, led by Lhazang Kahn, lay siege to the city of Lhasa and Desi Sangay was forced to submit to unconditional surrender. On September 6, 1707, Desi Sangay was captured and executed at Tolung Nangtse, near Kyomulung monastery. Lhazang also declared Tsangyang Gyatso unfit for the title of Dalai Lama and ordered him to leave the Potala Palace and relocate to a Mongol camp at Lhalu Garden near Lhasa.

When the people of Tibet learned of Tsangyang's exile, they gathered in anger outside the Lhalu camp, where they overthrew the guard and transported Tsangyang Gyatso to the Drepung monastery. The monastery was soon surrounded by Lhazang's Qosot Mongol troops, and in the face of a brutal massacre, Tsangyang Gyatso appeared before the crowd and surrendered to the Qosot. He was carried off toward China, however, at Gunga-nor, a small lake to the south of Kokonor, on November 14, 1706, at the age of 23, the Sixth Dalai Lama vanished. Some say he was murdered. Others say he was taken ill and died, while still others believe that he escaped, and continued to wander about Tibet, India and Nepal for many years thereafter.