By Nirmal John
In a significant move both for Tibetan Buddhism and for global geopolitics, Tibet’s spiritual leader Dalai Lama announced today that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue. In a written statement to the Press, the Dalai Lama said that “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.”This move quells years of speculation around the future of the institution of the Dalai Lama after the passing of the current occupant, the 14th spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. It also moves to reject any moves by China to influence the process on who succeeds the 14th Dalai Lama.ALSO READ: Will China be stumped by Dalai Lama on Sunday? The statement was delivered after he met with 11 spiritual leaders of Tibetan Buddhism in McLeod Ganj in India, and ahead of his 90th birthday celebrations on July 6.Live EventsThe current Dalai Lama – born Tenzin Gyatso in 1935 – has lived in exile in the country since 1959 after fleeing Chinese aggression after an uprising in Lhasa failed to overthrow the invaders, who had attacked Tibet in 1950. This announcement brings to end decades of speculation on whether the Dalai Lama would reincarnate, emanate or wind 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 cued earlier that he could choose not to reincarnate, and be the last of the Tibetan spiritual leaders. He had also cued 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 as China considers the current Dalai Lama to be a political dissident. Beijing also argues that the next spiritual leader of Tibet must be selected using a method called the Golden Urn. Its position is that the Qing Emperor Qianlong had codified procedures for recognising Dalai Lama’s reincarnations in 1793, which involves selecting from an urn full of potential candidates, with the selected name to be ratified by the Chinese.The Dalai Lama and Tibet’s government in exile – the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) – argues that its traditional method which gives prominence to certain signs including that of senior monks experiencing a vision and being guided to a toddler being identified as the Dalai Lama is the correct one.The first Dalai Lama is believed to have been born in 1391. In 1578 the title ‘Dalai Lama’ was first bestowed by Mongol ruler Altan Khan on Sonam Gyatso (who is considered the 3rd Dalai Lama). The title means Ocean of Wisdom.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
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