In this article, I touch upon the complex and largely ignored controversy surrounding the Tibet question. Casting a critical eye on the "official" or dominant stature of the Dalai Lama in the West, I examine the socio-cultural construction of the common view of him. Specifically, I explore the question: what social discourses have contributed to the making of the master narrative about Tibet in the USA? I also discuss the "Tibet question" in education and offer some suggestions for educators to consider.