Dalai Lama to meet senior Buddhist monks before likely reincarnation statement
Tibetan Buddhists believe that enlightened monks are reborn to continue their spiritual legacy. The 14th Dalai Lama will turn 90 on Sunday and has long been expected to use the occasion to share possible clues on where his successor, a boy or a girl, could be found following his death.
Beijing views the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist and says it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama has said his successor will be born outside China and has urged his followers to reject anyone chosen by Beijing.
The northern Indian town of Dharamshala, where the Dalai Lama is based with thousands of other Tibetans, has already seen the arrival of the heads of various sects of Buddhism ahead of a Wednesday-Friday religious conference that precedes the birthday celebrations on the weekend.
"All the religious heads are here and they are going to talk to His Holiness, which may relate to reincarnation issues," said Tenzin Lekshay, spokesperson for the exiled government in Dharamshala, as mists and rains cloaked the Himalayan hills.
On the first day of the conference, more than 100 religious figures including the senior monks will issue a declaration of gratitude to the Dalai Lama and discuss the way ahead, he said.
The Dalai Lama will address them in Tibetan in a pre-recorded message but is unlikely to refer to reincarnation in that message, Lekshay said.
The issue will "most probably" be covered in a written statement to be issued by the Dalai Lama late morning, he said.
Another official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the written statement would refer to his reincarnation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
an hour ago
- ITV News
Dalai Lama announces he will have a successor: How is a new Buddhist spiritual leader chosen?
The Dalai Lama has said he will reincarnate into a successor after his death, ensuring the centuries-old Buddhist spiritual institution will continue. Speaking ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual leader laid out his succession plan in a recorded statement that was televised at a religious gathering of Buddhist monks in Dharamshala, India, where he has lived in exile since 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. The succession of the Dalai Lama is a source of ongoing tension between Tibet and the Chinese Communist Party. Tibetans oppose China's tight control of the territory, while China claims only it has the authority to approve the next Dalai Lama. Tenzin Gyatso became the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in 1940. He had previously said he would consult Tibetan Buddhist leaders when he turned 90 about whether the role should continue after his death. He had previously said the role would end with him. Why is the role so contentious? China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and insists it alone has the authority to appoint a new Dalai Lama, putting them in direct conflict with exiled Tibetan leaders, who believe the choice is theirs. Were both parties to insist on their pick, there could be two rival Lamas, one with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party, the other chosen by Tibetan Buddhists. In his memoir, published in March, the Dalai Lama said his next reincarnation would be born in the "free world," urging his followers to reject any candidate chosen by Beijing. China insists the reincarnated figure must be found in China's Tibetan areas, giving Communist authorities power over the choice. Asked about the Dalai Lama's announcement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday that "the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must adhere to the principles of domestic search in China" and "approval by the central government". Mao said the process must "follow religious rituals and historical settings, and be handled in accordance with national laws and regulations." Penpa Tsering, the president of the government-in-exile, said Tibetans from around the world made "an earnest request with single-minded devotion" that the position of the Dalai Lama should continue "for the benefit of all sentient beings in general and Buddhists in particular." The search for a Dalai Lama's reincarnation begins only upon the incumbent's death. What's the role of the Panchen Lama? Previously, the Dalai Lama's reincarnation was found by the appointed Panchen Lama, a senior spiritual figure second only to the Dalai Lama. Buddhists believe the Panchen Lama to be the reincarnation of Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of Boundless Light. But three days after the current Dalai Lama recognised the six-year-old, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the next Panchen Lama he was abducted by the Chinese Communist Party. Beijing then appointed its pick, Gyaincain Norbu, as Panchen Lama. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima has not been seen since his abduction, and multiple UN cases remain open calling for his release. China has maintained that the original Panchen Lama's selection was done without authorisation and remains an illegal and invalid appointment. In a statement in 2020, authorities said Gedhun Choekyi Nyima had received an education, now had a "normal" job and neither he nor his family "wishes to be disturbed in their current normal lives'. Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama can choose the body into which he is reincarnated and does not necessarily have to be a man, although all 14 Dalai Lamas to date have been.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Ageing Dalai Lama sets up chilling clash with enemy China as he reveals succession plan in defiance of communist regime
The Dalai Lama has said he is open to a successor who isn't a child or a man - breaking a centuries old tradition HOLY WAR Ageing Dalai Lama sets up chilling clash with enemy China as he reveals succession plan in defiance of communist regime Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Dalai Lama has reignited a long-standing feud with the Chinese government after he confirmed he will appoint his own successor. Xi Jinping's communist regime has warned only they will get the final say over who takes over as the next Buddhist leader. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The Dalai Lama has reignited a long-standing feud with the Chinese government after he confirmed he will appoint his own successor Credit: AFP 5 The announcement from the Dalai Lama came via a video message Credit: Reuters 5 The ageing Buddhist leader has suffered from several health complications in recent years Credit: AFP The announcement from the Dalai Lama on Wednesday put an end to decades of uncertainty over the future of the Tibetan spiritual religion. In recent years, speculation had grown that the 14th Dalai Lama currently in power could be the final one. Just four days before his 90th birthday, the head of the religion announced: "I am affirming that the institution will continue." Tibetan tradition holds that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated in the body of a child upon his death. It often takes years to identify the child who is said to be the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. His recorded video message also appeared to take aim at China as he said: "No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter." The Chinese have tried to muscle their way into conversations around the Dalai Lama across the past few decades. Beijing sees the spiritual leader as a 'separatist' who is seeking independence from Tibet - therefore weakening China's grip on the region. The Chinese army first invaded Tibet to bring them under the control of the Communist Party in 1959. Since then, the 14th Dalai Lama, born Tenzin Gyatso, has been living in exile in Dharamsala, a Himalayan town in Himachal Pradesh in northern India. Dalai Lama explains how to train your mind to tackle destructive emotions in India The Nobel Peace Prize-winning Buddhist leader has traveled the world to advocate for nonviolence and the 'true' autonomy and cultural and religious freedom of Tibetans. Angered by the Dalai Lama's comments, China has been trying to bring elements of the Tibetan religious institution under state control. They also want to absorb the people into one nation around the Communist Party. The Chinese government has reportedly assumed they will select the next Dalai Lama. Beijing insists the next Dalai Lama needs government approval before being declared with the best way of deciding being through a lot-drawing system. But Beijing's hopes appear to have been dashed as the sitting leader gathered senior Tibetan Buddhist monks in Dharamsala today and said his office has the 'sole authority' over the next reincarnation. He said he consulted with the heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions and other religious leaders to search for and recognize a successor as per the traditions. He has said in the past that his successor would be born in a 'free country', indicating that the next spiritual head could come from Tibetan exiles. How is the Dalai Lama chosen? APPOINTING the Dalai Lama has been a centuries-old tradition upheld by Tibetan buddhists. Believers say the next leader is always reincarnated once the previous one passes away. Senior monks are tasked with discovering who the holy successor is by searching for them far and wide. Many believe the chosen one harbours the soul of his predecessor. The current Dalai Lama, the 14th ever, was identified when he was just two years old. The sitting Dalai Lama has set up the Gaden Phodrang Foundation to help maintain and support all religious duties - including his successor. The group's senior officers, which include his aides, will carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition, according to his website. The successor has always been a male child from Tibet but in recent years speculation has grown that the future pick could not be male. The Dalai Lama himself has even admitted his successor will not be from Tibet or China due to the growing number of believers living outside of the region. Of the 140,000 Tibetan exiles, half live in India. He has also expressed being open to a successor who isn't a child, or not a man, in a break with centuries of tradition. The Dalai Lama was born Lhamo Dhondup in 1935 to a family of buckwheat and barley farmers in what is now the northwestern Chinese province of Qinghai. At the age of two, he was deemed by a search party to be the 14th reincarnation of Tibet's spiritual and temporal leader after identifying several of his predecessor's possessions. Nine years after he assumed his position, fears grew that the Dalai Lama could be kidnapped by Beijing. A subsequent crackdown by the Chinese army forced him to escape disguised as a common soldier from the palace in Lhasa, where his predecessors had held absolute power. In 2011, he announced he would relinquish his political role, handing over those responsibilities to an elected leader for the Tibetan government-in-exile. Penpa Tsering was appointed as he said today Tibetans from around the world made an earnest request with single-minded devotion that the position of the Dalai Lama should continue for the "benefit of all sentient beings in general and Buddhist in particular." He said in a statement: "In response to this overwhelming supplication, His Holiness has shown infinite compassion and finally agreed to accept our appeal on this special occasion of his 90th birthday." Tsering also warned China not to meddle in the decision-making process of the successor due to it being a unique Tibetan Buddhist tradition. "We strongly condemn the Peoples Republic of China's usage of reincarnation subject for their political gain, and will never accept it," he added. 5 King Charles with the Dalai Lama back in 2012 during a visit to London Credit: AFP
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Ageing Dalai Lama sets up chilling clash with enemy China as he reveals succession plan in defiance of communist regime
THE Dalai Lama has reignited a long-standing feud with the Chinese government after he confirmed he will appoint his own successor. Xi Jinping's communist regime has warned only they will get the final say over who takes over as the next Buddhist leader. 5 5 5 The announcement from the Dalai Lama on Wednesday put an end to decades of uncertainty over the future of the Tibetan spiritual religion. In recent years, speculation had grown that the 14th Dalai Lama currently in power could be the final one. Just four days before his 90th birthday, the head of the religion announced: "I am affirming that the institution will continue." Tibetan tradition holds that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated in the body of a child upon his death. It often takes years to identify the child who is said to be the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. His recorded video message also appeared to take aim at China as he said: "No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter." The Chinese have tried to muscle their way into conversations around the Dalai Lama across the past few decades. Beijing sees the spiritual leader as a 'separatist' who is seeking independence from Tibet - therefore weakening China's grip on the region. The Chinese army first invaded Tibet to bring them under the control of the Communist Party in 1959. Since then, the 14th Dalai Lama, born Tenzin Gyatso, has been living in exile in Dharamsala, a Himalayan town in Himachal Pradesh in northern India. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning Buddhist leader has traveled the world to advocate for nonviolence and the 'true' autonomy and cultural and religious freedom of Tibetans. Angered by the Dalai Lama's comments, China has been trying to bring elements of the Tibetan religious institution under state control. They also want to absorb the people into one nation around the Communist Party. The Chinese government has reportedly assumed they will select the next Dalai Lama. Beijing insists the next Dalai Lama needs government approval before being declared with the best way of deciding being through a lot-drawing system. But Beijing's hopes appear to have been dashed as the sitting leader gathered senior Tibetan Buddhist monks in Dharamsala today and said his office has the 'sole authority' over the next reincarnation. He said he consulted with the heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions and other religious leaders to search for and recognize a successor as per the traditions. He has said in the past that his successor would be born in a 'free country', indicating that the next spiritual head could come from Tibetan exiles. How is the Dalai Lama chosen? APPOINTING the Dalai Lama has been a centuries-old tradition upheld by Tibetan buddhists. Believers say the next leader is always reincarnated once the previous one passes away. Senior monks are tasked with discovering who the holy successor is by searching for them far and wide. Many believe the chosen one harbours the soul of his predecessor. The current Dalai Lama, the 14th ever, was identified when he was just two years old. The sitting Dalai Lama has set up the Gaden Phodrang Foundation to help maintain and support all religious duties - including his successor. The group's senior officers, which include his aides, will carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition, according to his website. The successor has always been a male child from Tibet but in recent years speculation has grown that the future pick could not be male. The Dalai Lama himself has even admitted his successor will not be from Tibet or China due to the growing number of believers living outside of the region. Of the 140,000 Tibetan exiles, half live in India. He has also expressed being open to a successor who isn't a child, or not a man, in a break with centuries of tradition. The Dalai Lama was born Lhamo Dhondup in 1935 to a family of buckwheat and barley farmers in what is now the northwestern Chinese province of Qinghai. At the age of two, he was deemed by a search party to be the 14th reincarnation of Tibet's spiritual and temporal leader after identifying several of his predecessor's possessions. Nine years after he assumed his position, fears grew that the Dalai Lama could be kidnapped by Beijing. A subsequent crackdown by the Chinese army forced him to escape disguised as a common soldier from the palace in Lhasa, where his predecessors had held absolute power. In 2011, he announced he would relinquish his political role, handing over those responsibilities to an elected leader for the Tibetan government-in-exile. Penpa Tsering was appointed as he said today Tibetans from around the world made an earnest request with single-minded devotion that the position of the Dalai Lama should continue for the "benefit of all sentient beings in general and Buddhist in particular." He said in a statement: "In response to this overwhelming supplication, His Holiness has shown infinite compassion and finally agreed to accept our appeal on this special occasion of his 90th birthday." Tsering also warned China not to meddle in the decision-making process of the successor due to it being a unique Tibetan Buddhist tradition. "We strongly condemn the Peoples Republic of China's usage of reincarnation subject for their political gain, and will never accept it," he added. 5 5
