Dalai Lama says he will be reincarnated despite China's opposition

Euronews

3 days ago

The Dalai Lama announced on Wednesday that the centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist institution will continue after his death and that he will be reincarnated, putting an end to years of speculation that he might be the last to hold the title.
Speaking during prayer celebrations ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate stated that his reincarnation should be sought and recognised in accordance with past tradition, firmly rejecting any interference from China in the succession process.
The spiritual leader's declaration is both politically and religiously significant. For Tibetans resisting Beijing's tight grip on the region, the Dalai Lama represents the core of their identity. Tibetan Buddhists also revere him as the human embodiment of Chenrezig, the god of compassion.
Beijing, however, has long asserted that it alone holds the authority to approve the next Dalai Lama, demanding that any reincarnation be discovered within Chinese-administered Tibetan areas.
Many anticipate rival claimants in the future: one endorsed by China, the other backed by Tibetan clerics loyal to the current Dalai Lama.
'No one else has authority to interfere'
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, assumed his role in 1940. He fled Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule and has since lived in India's Dharamshala, where he helped establish a democratic government-in-exile while advocating for Tibetan autonomy.
In a pre-recorded video aired at a religious gathering in Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama stated that the responsibility for identifying his successor lies solely with the Gaden Phodrang Trust—a foundation he established in 2015 to oversee matters related to his role.
'No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,' he said, reiterating that the process must follow long-standing traditions. In previous statements, he indicated that his successor would be born outside of China.
The announcement comes as a response to a global appeal from Tibetan communities urging the continuation of the Dalai Lama's spiritual lineage.
Penpa Tsering, president of the Tibetan government-in-exile, said at a press briefing that the Dalai Lama had accepted this request with "infinite compassion."
Tsering also issued a stern warning to Beijing: 'We not only strongly condemn the People's Republic of China's usage of reincarnation subject for their political gain, and will never accept it.'
Traditionally, the search for a reincarnated Dalai Lama begins after the incumbent's death, led by senior monks through spiritual signs and visions. The process can span years, with the chosen child eventually trained for the role.