DHARAMSHALA, India (AP) - In a significant statement made on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama, the venerable Tibetan spiritual leader, assured followers that the centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist institution of the Dalai Lama will persist beyond his lifetime. This pronouncement addresses long-standing speculation regarding the future of the role, particularly when the Dalai Lama had hinted in the past at the possibility of being the last to hold this critical position.
During a prayer celebration held in anticipation of his upcoming 90th birthday on Sunday, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate articulated through a recorded message that the identification and recognition of the next Dalai Lama should align with established Buddhist practices. These practices affirm the belief within Tibetan Buddhism that the Dalai Lama has the ability to choose the body into which he will be reincarnated, a cycle that has occurred over 14 distinct instances since the role's inception in 1587.
Tenzin Gyatso, who became the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in 1940, fled Tibet following the suppression of a Tibetan uprising by Chinese troops in Lhasa in 1959. Since then, he has resided in exile in Dharamshala, India. The Dalai Lama has consistently asserted that his successor should be born outside of China. This statement stands in stark contrast to the Chinese government’s claim that it holds the sole authority to identify the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. Beijing regards him as a separatist figure and has imposed strict regulations over Tibetan affairs.
In his recent declaration, the Dalai Lama emphasized that “the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” insisting that the search for a future Dalai Lama must be conducted “in accordance with past tradition.” This statement resonates deeply with the sentiments of Tibetan Buddhists, both within Tibet and in the diaspora, who largely oppose China's stringent control over the region.
The Dalai Lama's firm commitment to the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama indicates a determination to uphold the centuries-old traditions and beliefs of Tibetan Buddhism. As he approaches a significant milestone in his life, his recent comments serve to reassure his followers of the enduring legacy of the Dalai Lama and the importance of its future.
