The Face of Kindness
How many incarnations of service and how many lives of mental discipline does it take to create a human being like this? This is the face of a Tulku, a reincarnated spiritual leader who is acknowledged as having returned to serve among the people of Tibet lifetime after lifetime. As is the case with the Dalai Lama, many Tibetans draw strength and hope from his presence among them.
This is also the face of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche ( Rinpoche is a Tibetan term for revered teacher; it's literal meaning is "precious") who, along with his attendant Lobsang Dhondup*, are sentenced to be executed. They only have until the 12th of December,2002 to appeal for their lives to reverse a sentence which is no more than an absurdity.
2005
Lobsang Dhondup was executed in January of 2003. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche's sentence was changed to life in prison where he, in poor health, remains in spite of continuing efforts to gain his release.
* the photograph of Tenzin Rinpoche is courtesy of the ICT website. I haven't seen a photograph of Lobsang there yet.