As China watches, the Dalai Lama suggests institution of Tibetan spiritual leader will continue
The Dalai Lama, who will turn 90 on July 6, hinted Monday that the institution of the Tibetan spiritual leader will continue, and there will be 'some kind of a framework'.
The week-long birthday celebrations to mark the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday kicked off Monday. A Buddhist religious conference will take place from July 2 to July 4 in McLeodganj in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala. The religious conference is being held for the first time since 2019.
Over 100 Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders will attend the conference, and the Dalai Lama will also release a video statement. Hollywood actor Richard Gere, an ardent follower of Tibetan Buddhism, is also likely to attend this conference.
It is widely speculated that the Dalai Lama might announce his successor in the coming days, and whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue following the old procedures of reincarnation. The Dalai Lama has said his successor will be born outside of China in a 'free world'.
In his first public address, on the day his birthday celebrations began, the Dalai Lama said, 'There will be some kind of framework within which we can talk about the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lamas'.
'On this 90th birthday, though I am 90 years old, I am physically very healthy. Throughout all these years, for the good of the Tibetans, Dharma, and other people and I have had a great relationship with people around the world… It has been really fruitful for me so far in my life,' said the spiritual leader.
'I have been to other countries, East, West, North, South, where I have found so many people who admire me. So, this human life that I have now has been of quite a benefit to the people of the world. So, the rest of my life I would dedicate to the benefit of others as much as possible, as extensively as possible,' he added.
Dalai Lama will also address the people on his birthday.
Thupten Ngodup, Tibet's chief state oracle, said, 'Typically, such discussions on the reincarnation do not take place when a monk is still alive, but things are different now, mainly because the Chinese government is interfering'.
In March this year, Beijing said the Dalai Lama was a political exile who had 'no right to represent the Tibetan people at all'.
Speaking at Monday's event, Dolma Tsering Teykhang, the deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile in Dharamshala, said, 'It was important for the world to hear directly from the Dalai Lama on the issue because while China tries to vilify him at every chance. It [China] is trying to frame rules and regulations on how to have the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in their hand'.
'China is trying to grab this institution for its political purpose. We want the incarnation of the Dalai Lama to be born not only for the survival of Tibet as a distinct culture, religion and nation, but also for the well-being of the whole humanity,' Dolma said.
On July 6, the day Dalai Lama turns 90, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Sikkim's Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang; Tashi Gyalson, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, and Karnataka's Home Minister Gangadharaiah Parameshwara will also attend the celebration event in McLeodganj. They will also address the gathering.
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