In Dharamsala, India, senior Tibetan Buddhist monks gathered this week to discuss the future leadership of the Dalai Lama’s spiritual office amid growing pressure from China. The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile for over 60 years, delivered a recorded video message asserting that his office possesses “sole authority” in recognizing his reincarnation, to guard against any external influence.
Fleeing Tibet following the Chinese invasion in 1959, the Dalai Lama has since advocated for cultural and religious freedom for the Tibetan people while cultivating a democratic structure within the Tibetan exile community. Beijing views him as a separatist and has made efforts to exert state control over Tibetan religious practices.
Traditionally, the process for identifying a new Dalai Lama begins only after the current leader’s death and can span years before finding and preparing the reincarnated child for leadership. The Dalai Lama has expressed concern that China aims to exploit the inevitable power vacuum following his demise to undermine Tibetan autonomy.
He relinquished political leadership of the Tibetan government-in-exile in 2011 to bolster democracy within the movement, shifting power to Tibetan refugees who now elect their leaders directly. In light of the possible future, he has previously indicated that his successor may not conform to tradition; he has suggested that the next Dalai Lama could emerge from Tibetan exile, and that this successor might not even be a child or a male.
The Dalai Lama has pledged to clarify the future of his institution and succession plans around his upcoming 90th birthday, celebrated in Dharamsala this week. This strategy aims to fortify the Tibetan spiritual institution against any maneuvers by the Chinese government following his passing.
Fleeing Tibet following the Chinese invasion in 1959, the Dalai Lama has since advocated for cultural and religious freedom for the Tibetan people while cultivating a democratic structure within the Tibetan exile community. Beijing views him as a separatist and has made efforts to exert state control over Tibetan religious practices.
Traditionally, the process for identifying a new Dalai Lama begins only after the current leader’s death and can span years before finding and preparing the reincarnated child for leadership. The Dalai Lama has expressed concern that China aims to exploit the inevitable power vacuum following his demise to undermine Tibetan autonomy.
He relinquished political leadership of the Tibetan government-in-exile in 2011 to bolster democracy within the movement, shifting power to Tibetan refugees who now elect their leaders directly. In light of the possible future, he has previously indicated that his successor may not conform to tradition; he has suggested that the next Dalai Lama could emerge from Tibetan exile, and that this successor might not even be a child or a male.
The Dalai Lama has pledged to clarify the future of his institution and succession plans around his upcoming 90th birthday, celebrated in Dharamsala this week. This strategy aims to fortify the Tibetan spiritual institution against any maneuvers by the Chinese government following his passing.
