达赖 comes from the Mongolian word meaning 'ocean' (of wisdom), and
喇嘛 is the Tibetan word for a Buddhist teacher (lama). The title has been used since the 16th century; the current holder, Tenzin Gyatso, is the 14th Dalai Lama. The institution plays a central role in Tibetan Buddhist tradition and Tibetan national identity. The
嘛 here is the toneless loanword syllable.
