Dalai Lama affirms institution will continue, rules out China's role in reincarnation

In a major development for the Tibetan community, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, on Wednesday announced that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue, affirming that the traditional lineage will not end with him.

Advertisement

He also reiterated that China would have no role in identifying the next Dalai Lama, emphasising that the Gaden Phodrang Trust —the office of the Dalai Lama—holds the sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation.

“No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” a statement from his office declared.

The announcement came on the opening day of a three-day international Buddhist conference underway in McLeodganj, Himachal Pradesh, attended by scholars and monks from around the world.

“I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” said the 14th Dalai Lama in his official statement.

The decision on continuing with the institution of the Dalai Lama was made following requests from various Buddhist bodies from around the world.

The Dalai Lama added that he has had no public discussions on this issue over the last 14 years—since September 2011—but had received messages through various channels from Tibetans in Tibet and from those around the world, appealing for the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama.

The decision on the future continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama was to be made when the present Dalai Lama turned 90 years of age. As per the Gregorian calendar, the 14th Dalai Lama turns 90 on July 6; however, he attained that age on June 30 as per the Tibetan calendar.

He had said in the past, “When I am about ninety I will consult the high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public, and other concerned people who follow Tibetan Buddhism, to re-evaluate whether or not the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue.”

He also reiterated the norms for finding the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, stating that the process has been clearly established in the September 24, 2011 statement.

It says, “Responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”

They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas.

They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition, the statement said, adding that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has the sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.

The original statement on September 24, 2011 had mentioned, “No recognition or acceptance should be given to a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People’s Republic of China.”

India and the US also wanted to keep China out. Tibet has been occupied by China since 1949.

The statement cited history, saying that in 1969, the Dalai Lama made clear that concerned people should decide whether the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations should continue in the future.

Among those who requested the continuation of the institution of the next Dalai Lama were members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, participants in a Special General Body Meeting, members of the Central Tibetan Administration, NGOs, Buddhists from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, Buddhist republics of the Russian Federation, and Buddhists in Asia including mainland China.