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Glite Dictionary
Grand Lama

Grand Lama

1 8.4
The main Buddhist leader of Tibet who was once its political ruler, often the Dalai Lama
  • noun
  • /ɡrænd ˈlɑːmə/
  • Archaic
translation icon : Gran Lama
  • Many people respect the Grand Lama for his teachings.

Examples

  • As the Grand Lama, he plays a crucial role in Tibetan Buddhism and culture.

  • Historically, the Grand Lama was revered as a living embodiment of Buddhist wisdom.

  • Many pilgrims traveled great distances to seek the blessing of the Grand Lama.

  • The Grand Lama played a crucial role in both the spiritual and political life of Tibet.

  • The Grand Lama visited India last year.

  • The Grand Lama is revered as a spiritual leader by many in Tibet.

  • During his visit, the Grand Lama shared teachings about compassion and mindfulness.

Synonyms

Dalai Lama
vsGrand Lama
24 7.0

A spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism believed to be the reborn teacher and formerly Tibet's political leader

emphasizes chief role and former political leadership rather than spiritual lineage

Surface Forms

Grand Lama singular
Grand Lamas plural

Morphology

grand + lama

A B1 learner who knows 'grand' (suggesting great/important) and 'lama' (a Tibetan spiritual teacher) can reasonably infer this refers to a high‑ranking or important lama, so part of the meaning is recoverable from the parts. However, the precise institutional/political sense (the Dalai Lama as chief ruler of Tibet) and the historical connotations are culturally specific and not fully predictable from the constituents alone.

Etymology

Grand Lama may come from early European visitors who put the word grand meaning 'very important' before lama, the Tibetan word for a Buddhist teacher. That's why Grand Lama came to mean the top 'spiritual leader' of Tibet, like the Dalai Lama.