By Nirmal John
AgenciesDalai Lama
McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh: The Dalai Lama reiterated on Wednesday that his title will be carried on by his successor, rejecting China’s claim that it will have a final say in recognising any future occupant of the spiritual office. “The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognised has been clearly established in the 24 September, 2011 statement, which states that the responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with the members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” Tibet’s spiritual leader said in a written statement to the media ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6.This sparked an immediate response from the Chinese government, which reiterated that Beijing will decide on his successor. The much-awaited announcement from the Dalai Lama quells years of speculation over the future of the position after the passing of the incumbent, who is the 14th spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. In the cloudy reaches of McLeod Ganj, the statement indicating that the next Dalai Lama will be reincarnated, appears to have galvanised the resolve of the Tibetan community to keep fighting despite plenty of setbacks in the recent past. The community in the hills is in the middle of prayers and celebrations to mark the Dalai Lama’s birthday.Live EventsGolden Urn vs Traditional WaySenior spiritual figures of Tibetan Buddhism as well as young Tibetan leaders from around the world have arrived in McLeod Ganj over the past few days. Hollywood star Richard Gere, a long-time supporter of the Tibetan cause, is also in town.The statement was delivered after the Dalai Lama met 11 spiritual leaders of Tibetan Buddhism in McLeod Ganj.The current Dalai Lama, born Tenzin Gyatso in 1935, has lived in exile in India since 1959 after fleeing Chinese aggression following an uprising in Lhasa. This had failed to overthrow the Chinese, who occupied Tibet in 1950.This announcement also brings to an end decades of speculation on whether the Dalai Lama would reincarnate, emanate or wind up the office altogether. The traditional belief is that the Dalai Lama is reincarnated in a body of his choosing after his death. The Dalai Lama had signalled earlier that he could choose not to reincarnate and be the last of the line. He had also indicated emanation, suggesting that he could pass on the mantle to a person of his choosing during his lifetime — and not reincarnate.The statement and its repercussions will be watched closely by the Xi Jinping government. China considers the current Dalai Lama a political dissident.Beijing argues that the next spiritual leader of Tibet must be selected using the Golden Urn method. Its position is that the Qing Emperor Qianlong had codified procedures for recognising the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations in 1793.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
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