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Will Dalai Lama name his successor today? Senior Indian ministers attend his birthday celebrations
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets devotees as he arrives at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharmsala, India, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. (Photo: AP)
Ahead of his birthday later this week, the Dalai Lama is expected to provide clarity on the question of his succession.
The Dalai Lama will turn 90 on Sunday. The Tibetan community is currently holding multi-day celebrations in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, where he has stayed for decades. The Tibetan movement runs a government-in-exile in Dharamshala.
The Dalai Lama will deliver a speech at around 9:30 am and a press statement is expected at around 11 am.
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The question of the Dalai Lama's succession is politically sensitive as China has labelled him as a separatist. China has maintained for years that any successor anointed in exile would not be recognised. In recent years, and particularly in recent months, the Dalai Lama has suggested that his successor would not be from Tibet from the exiled Tibetan community — likely in India.
In recent years, as India-China relationship hit a new low following Chinese aggression in 2020, the Narendra Modi government has renewed engagement with the Tibetan movement. During ongoing birthday celebrations, senior Indian politicians, such as Union minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, have been present.
China invaded and occupied Tibet in 1949-50. The Dalai Lama has been living in India in exile since 1959 when he arrived in the country after an uprising against Chinese occupation failed.
In a book published this year, the Dalai Lama said that his successor would be born in the 'free world'. This meant that the successor would be from outside of China-occupied Tibet.
'Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama —that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people— will continue,' writes the Dalai Lama in the book.
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Earlier this week, the Dalai Lama said that there will be some kind of a framework for the continuation of the institution after his death.
'The rest of my life I will dedicate for the benefit of others, as much as possible, as extensive as possible. There will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lamas,' the Dalai Lama said.
The Dalai Lama is the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists. Every Dalai Lama is considered to be the reincarnation of the previous one. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th in line.
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