1. Since the 5th Dalai Lama's reign in the 17th century, when he embodied Buddhist principles and traditions, his persona has always been a symbol of Tibet's unification.
2. The Dalai Lama was a significant member of the Geluk lineage, which dominated Central Tibet politically and numerically, but his influence in Buddhism transcended beyond lines.
3. Although he played no official or institutional function in any of the religious traditions, which were led by their own high lamas, he served as the universal symbol of the Tibetan state, standing in preference to any particular school for Buddhist principles and traditions.
4. The 14th dalai lama has taken up the traditional functions of dalai lama as an ecumenical figure.
5. Dalai lama has become a symbol of Tibetan nationhood for Tibetans both in Tibet and in exile.