The 14th Dalai Lama said the institution will continue beyond his death and rejects China’s involvement in the succession search

The Dalai Lama puts an end to concerns over the institution’s survival by stating that his reincarnation should adhere to Tibetan Buddhist traditions rather than Chinese regulations.

As he approaches his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama has affirmed that the centuries-old institution of the Tibetan spiritual leader will endure after his passing, stating that his reincarnation must be recognized in accordance with traditional Buddhist rituals rather than by Chinese authorities.

After years of uncertainty over whether he might be the last spiritual leader of his kind, the Dalai Lama has confirmed that the Tibetan Buddhist organization he leads will survive his death. Ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday, the exiled Tibetan leader spoke at a religious event in Dharamshala and emphasized that the hunt for his reincarnation must adhere to traditional Buddhist customs rather than Chinese government directives.

“Only the Gaden Phodrang Trust has the responsibility to locate and identify the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation,” he stated in a taped statement played during the event. “No one else is authorized to meddle in this matter.”

The Nobel Peace Prize winner’s comments coincide with growing worries that China would try to impose its own candidate for the next Dalai Lama in an effort to increase political influence over Tibet’s religious establishments. Beijing has stated time and time again that the reincarnation must occur in Tibet and be authorized by the national government.

Nonetheless, Tibetan Buddhists hold that the Dalai Lama has the ability to select the body into which he is reborn, a spiritual process that has taken place 14 times since the establishment of the institution in 1587. Tenzin Gyatso, the current Dalai Lama, was recognized as the 14th incarnation in 1940 and left Tibet in 1959 after an unsuccessful rebellion against Chinese control. 

Since then, he has lived in exile in India, where he has pushed for Tibetans to have more autonomy.

The Dalai Lama cautioned his supporters against accepting any successor chosen by Beijing while reiterating the institution’s continuity. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the government-in-exile he formerly oversaw until resigning from political office in 2011, supports his stance.

Tibetans worldwide have begged the Dalai Lama to permit the succession to proceed, according to CTA President Penpa Tsering. Tsering stated at a press conference, “His Holiness has shown infinite compassion and finally agreed to accept our appeal in response to this overwhelming supplication.”

Additionally, he cautioned China of exploiting the rebirth process for political ends. He declared, “This is a distinctive Tibetan Buddhist tradition.” “We vehemently oppose the attempt by the People’s Republic of China to politicize it, and we will never recognize any Beijing-appointed successor.”

But on Wednesday, China restated its stance. During a news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must conform to Chinese laws and regulations, as well as the principles of internal search in China.

Beijing’s position has drawn criticism from human rights organizations. Sarah Brooks, director of Amnesty International’s China office, described Chinese attempts to sabotage the procedure as a “direct assault on the right to freedom of religion.”

“Like any other community, the Tibetan Buddhist community must have the freedom to choose its spiritual leaders free from political meddling or coercion,” Brooks stated.

It is customary to start looking for a new Dalai Lama only after the current passes away. Before preparing the heir to assume the spiritual mantle, elder monks search for indications of the reincarnated child, a process that can take years.

In spite of China’s assertions, the Dalai Lama has said time and again that his reincarnation will probably occur outside of Chinese territory, paving the way for the emergence of competing Dalai Lamas in the future—one designated by Beijing and one selected by top Tibetan monks.