Dalai Lama says he will have a successor after his death

BBC News

4 days ago

Update:
Date: 06:05 BST
Title: Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebrations began earlier this week
Content: Grand celebrations are underway in Dharamshala in northern India as the Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism, turns 90 this week. Celebrations began on Monday - the Dalai Lama's birthday according to the Tibetan lunar calendar. Visuals from earlier this week show hundreds gathered to seek his blessings. Famous Hollywood actor and long-time followers, Richard Gere, was among those present.
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Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebrations began earlier this week
Update:
Date: 06:02 BST
Title: Who is the Dalai Lama?
Content: Portrait of the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso wearing a consecrated suit
Born as Lhamo Dhondup in 1935 to a farming family, the 14th Dalai Lama was just two years old when he was identified as the reincarnation of the Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama.
In 1940, he was moved from his home, a small hamlet in northeastern Tibet, to the Potala Palace - which was once the seat of the Dalai Lama - and declared the spiritual leader of Tibetans. He was also given a new name: Tenzin Gyatso.
There began his monastic education. His curriculum covered a range of topics and subjects, such as logic, Sanskrit grammar, medicine – and most importantly, Buddhist philosophy.
In 1959, at the age of 23, he fled to India with thousands of other Tibetans after a failed anti-Chinese uprising, and has lived in exile in Dharamshala ever since.
In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his "nonviolent struggle to protect Tibetan identity'.
Today, he is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the world, his following extending far beyond Buddhism.
On his website, he describes himself as 'a simple Buddhist monk'.
Update:
Date: 05:59 BST
Title: What is the Dalai Lama's role, and what does it mean to Tibetans?
Content: Tessa WongAsia Digital Reporter
As the foremost leader in Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is considered to be the living manifestation of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the patron saint of Tibet.
The role of the Dalai Lama is ancient – there have been 14 Dalai Lamas since at least the 15th Century.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that when the Dalai Lama dies, his soul is reincarnated in another person and an elaborate process is followed to identify this successor.
Since 1642, the Dalai Lama has acted as both the political and spiritual leader of Tibetans.
But this has changed with the current Dalai Lama, who chose to divest his political leadership duties to a democratically-elected Tibetan government-in-exile.
Still, he remains an important figurehead, not just as a spiritual leader but also a living symbol of exiled Tibetans' hope of reclaiming their homeland one day.
Update:
Date: 05:50 BST
Title: Welcome to the BBC's live coverage
Content: We've just heard from the Dalai Lama, who in a much-awaited video message, has said that the centuries-old institution will continue.
In his message, he says he has received requests from Tibetans worldwide who wanted the institution of the Dalai Lama should not end after his death.
' In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,' he says.
He also reiterated that the process of finding and recognising his reincarnation would exclusively lie with the Gaden Phodrang Foundation - an organisation he founded in 2015 to maintain and support the Dalai Lama's religious and spiritual duties.
'No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,' he adds.
In his book Voice for the Voiceless, which released in March, the Dalai Lama had suggested that this might happen, also stating that the successor will be born outside China.
But this is the first time that the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism has said so clearly that the tradition of choosing a successor will continue.