Forms of Address
How to address the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist religious titles
The Dalai Lama is addressed as "His Holiness the Dalai Lama" on the envelope, with "Your Holiness" as the salutation, the same honorific tier as the Pope. A Geshe, a Tibetan Buddhist academic title roughly equivalent to a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy, is addressed as "Geshe [Name]," used directly before the name rather than as a separate honorific.
Checked September 10, 2026/5 min read
Written by Claire PostReviewed against USPS Publication 28
What is on this page6 sections
Buddhism spans far more distinct traditions and teacher titles than most single-page reference can fully capture, so this page focuses on the two forms most likely to come up: the Dalai Lama, whose honorific is fixed and widely recognized, and Geshe, a specific academic title that follows a familiar name-substitution pattern.
For any other Buddhist teacher title, the safest approach is confirming the specific tradition own convention directly rather than assuming one form transfers across schools that, in practice, developed their titles independently of each other.
Step by step
Address the Dalai Lama as His Holiness
"His Holiness the Dalai Lama" on the envelope, the full formal address for the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. "Your Holiness" is the correct salutation and spoken form.
HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMAOFFICE OF HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMATHEKCHEN CHOLINGDHARAMSHALA HP 176215 INDIACorrectStandard envelope format for the Dalai Lama, sent through his official office. Use Geshe directly before the name for that specific title
Geshe functions similarly to Rabbi or Pastor, replacing a general courtesy title rather than being added to it: "Geshe [Full Name]," with "Dear Geshe [Name]:" as the salutation.
Address other Buddhist teachers by their tradition-specific title
Titles vary significantly across Buddhist traditions and schools, Zen, Tibetan, Theravada, and others each have their own teacher titles (Roshi, Rinpoche, Sayadaw, among others). Use the specific title the teacher own tradition and community use, rather than assuming one Buddhist title applies universally.
Quick reference
| Title | Envelope | Salutation |
|---|---|---|
| Dalai Lama | His Holiness the Dalai Lama | Your Holiness |
| Geshe | Geshe [Full Name] | Dear Geshe [Name]: |
| Rinpoche (Tibetan) | Rinpoche [Name] or [Name] Rinpoche | Dear Rinpoche: |
| Roshi (Zen) | [Name] Roshi | Dear Roshi [Name]: |
Special cases
The rule above covers most people. Here is what changes for the rest.
Is Rinpoche a name or a title?
It is a title, meaning "precious one," used for a recognized reincarnate teacher or highly respected master in Tibetan Buddhism. It can appear before or after the personal name depending on the specific individual and community convention.
Does every Buddhist teacher use a formal honorific?
No, usage varies significantly by tradition and by the individual teacher own preference. Many Buddhist teachers, especially in Western convert communities, prefer to be addressed by name alone or with a simple "Teacher," without a formal honorific.
Key terms on this page
- Geshe
- An academic title in Tibetan Buddhism roughly equivalent to a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy, earned through many years of monastic study.
- Rinpoche
- A Tibetan honorific meaning "precious one," used for a recognized reincarnate teacher or highly respected Buddhist master.