Latest news with #15thTibetanReligiousConference
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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
More than compassion: How India's backing of Dalai Lama shapes Himalayan geopolitics
Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama speaks in a video broadcast at the start of the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference, a meeting of religious leaders in McLeod Ganj, near Dharamsala on July 2, 2025. AFP The morning of July 6, 2025, was rainy and foggy in McLeodganj, Dharamshala, buzzing with an air of celebration. The small town was gearing up to honour the 90th birth anniversary of the Dalai Lama. Prime Minister Narendra Modi heartily congratulated the Dalai Lama, while senior government officials were said to be part of the festivities. This incident seems to have gotten under the skin of the Chinese, with their Foreign Ministry issuing a sharp rebuke to India, saying that India must stop 'meddling' in their internal affairs and acknowledge the 'anti-China separatist' nature of the Dalai Lama. But why should we? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Buddhism's roots in India date back 2,500 years—ancient spiritual and cultural ties that transcend borders and eras. Tibet's embrace of these ideals created a relationship grounded in far more than mere geography. In 1959, when the 14th Dalai Lama fled Chinese annexation and walked into India through Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, it wasn't just a refugee crisis—it was a reaffirmation of this timeless bond. Yes, Nehru's decision to grant asylum was controversial, but wise. India framed it as a humanitarian act on its soil. As C.V. Ranganathan, who welcomed the Dalai Lama, later said, 'He has no support from the Indian government in any political activity aimed against China.' Undoubtedly though, this did provide India a soft power anchor in the Himalayas. Hosting the Dalai Lama empowers India to stand tall as a champion of religious freedom and cultural pluralism—two ancient pillars of the Indian ethos. This moral authority shores up our global reputation. In the tense lead-up to his 90th birthday, there were indications from foreign powers that highlighted this soft power. The US restored $6.8 million in Tibetan aid, emphasising international solidarity. The Bharat-Tibet Sahayog movement in Nagpur strongly rejected China's attempt to 'unilaterally decide' the Dalai Lama's successor. Far from being just ceremonial acts, these events declare: India stands for voice and choice, even while powerful neighbours press vocally against them. Tibet also remains a strategic buffer between India and China. By supporting this historic bond, New Delhi retains leverage amid rocky diplomatic terrain. The Dalai Lama's recent assertion that his foundation—not Beijing—will choose his successor is a direct challenge to Chinese claims. Kiren Rijiju's endorsement drew a stinging response from Beijing: 'Choose words carefully,' they warned. This riposte matters. It means India's voice is being heard—and heard loudly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Of course, the Dalai Lama's flight to India accelerated a timeline by making the Chinese more paranoid of Indian intentions. Delhi is, of course, playing humanitarian host—but also displaying strategic depth. Post-2020 border skirmishes in Galwan and Ladakh exposed China's will to test India's defences. In that context, supporting the Dalai Lama sends India's border communities a powerful message: India won't back down from symbolic or spiritual stakes near that frontier. The resurgence of Tibetan identity in Dharamshala—monasteries reopened, schools reorganized—is cultural revival. But it has also become a geopolitical statement projected from India's hill states. And when Washington's bipartisan delegation meets with the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, that too echoes across Indian foreign policy. There is the burning impending question: who will follow the current Dalai Lama? China has invoked the 'Golden Urn'—a Qing-era procedure—to claim legal authority. Yet, the Dalai Lama's office has made it clear: traditional monks, not Beijing officials, will choose the next incarnation. India's support of that position adds institutional weight. In case a Beijing-approved 'false Dalai Lama' emerges, India becomes the host and promoter of the genuine lineage in the eyes of many Buddhists and nations alike. That religious legitimacy is a potent form of influence—far beyond conventional diplomacy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India's embrace of Tibetan culture boosts its Buddhist soft power. The Dalai Lama is a global icon of peace and mindfulness, and his presence anchors India within that narrative. Institutions like the Central University of Tibetan Studies in Varanasi, co-founded by Nehru and the Dalai Lama, advance academic and spiritual scholarship on Indo-Tibet traditions. Dharamshala continues to serve as a pilgrimage magnet, attracting students, historians, monks, and tourists—synergising cultural heritage with diplomatic outreach. India is home to around 85,000 Tibetan exiles, across states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Karnataka. New Delhi's consistent funding of refugee schools, legal status, and cultural preservation further cements friendship and loyalty among these communities. This integration breeds loyalty, not resentment. During a time when India prudently restricts Chinese influence across local supply chains and infrastructure projects, a Tibetan presence rooted in Indian soil acts as a perfect counterbalance. Of course, critics are in their own way correct to say that India's economic ties with China are vital. India cannot alienate Beijing while supporting the Dalai Lama. However, India's policy does not reject business—it only seeks to safeguard sovereignty. Not an exclusion, but a calibration, if one can think of it that way. China can be successfully countered in the Himalayas and in the Indian Ocean while trading with China at the same time. India's playbook will naturally seek to blend strategic resilience with economic pragmatism—balancing soft power influence with trade realities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India's support for the Dalai Lama is far beyond any act of sentimentalism or nostalgia. It is also sophisticated statecraft. It preserves a civilisational legacy, strengthens moral leverage, secures Himalayan strategy, and signals to the world that India will not shrink from symbolic stakes. Yes, Beijing pushes back. Yes, economic costs exist. However, India continues to choose principles backed by strategic calculus. It hosts the spiritual as a bulwark for the geopolitical. Each prayer in Dharamshala, while nurturing the Buddhist nucleus, also echoes across policy circles in New Delhi, Beijing, Tokyo, and Washington. Support for the Dalai Lama affirms India's commitment to values and its enduring resolve in geopolitics. This is not simply wishful idealism, but also a way of redrawing influence in the Himalayas. The author is a freelance journalist and features writer based out of Delhi. Her main areas of focus are politics, social issues, climate change and lifestyle-related topics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Nikkei Asia
2 days ago
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
Through the Lens: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama turns 90
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama turned 90 on July 6, after a week of celebrations by followers during which he angered China again and spoke of his hope to live beyond age 130 and reincarnate after dying. A man walks by a banner on July 2 announcing celebrations for the 90th birthday of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, India. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) The Dalai Lama speaks via video link at the inaugural session of the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference at the Dalai Lama Library and Archive near Tsuglagkhang, also known as the Dalai Lama's Temple complex, in Dharamshala, India, on July 2. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) Tibetan monks pray during the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference at the Dalai Lama Library and Archive near Tsuglagkhang, also known as the Dalai Lama's Temple complex, in Dharamshala, India, on July 2. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) A devotee holds prayer beads while praying at the Dalai Lama's Temple complex in Dharamshala, India, on July 5. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) Tibetan nuns pray as they walk clockwise around Tsuglagkhang, also known as the Dalai Lama's Temple complex in Dharamshala, India, on July 4. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) A view of of Dharamshala, India, on July 1. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) Tibetan men and women take part in the Lhakar Gorshey, a Tibetan circle dance performed on Wednesdays, considered a day of cultural significance, near Tsuglagkhang, also known as the Dalai Lama's Temple complex in Dharamshala, India, on July 2. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) Children and devotees wait for the arrival of the Dalai Lama during a meeting held to pray for for his long life at the Dalai Lama's Temple complex in Dharamshala, India, on July 5. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) A monk talks to a police officer at Tsuglagkhang, the Dalai Lama's Temple complex, on July 5, in Dharamsala, India. The Dalai Lama celebrated his 90th birthday this month. The occasion was marked by festivities and special prayer ceremonies in Dharamshala and in Tibetan communities worldwide. The Dalai Lama is revered among the Tibetan diaspora as a spiritual leader and advocate for peace. His 90th birthday also serves as a moment for reflection on the future of Tibetan culture and the preservation of the ethnic group's unique identity. (Photo by) A photo of the Dalai Lama is displayed near Tsuglagkhang, also known as Dalai Lama's Temple complex, in Dharamshala, India, on July 1. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) A participant holds the medal she received on the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, at the Tsuglakhang, also known as the Dalai Lama's Temple complex, in Dharamshala, India, on July 6. (Photo by Reuters) Monks donate food for a meeting to pray for the long life of the Dalai Lama at Tsuglagkhang, the Dalai Lama's Temple complex, on July 5, in Dharamsala, India. (Photo by) A Tibetan monk prays as he walks clockwise around Tsuglagkhang, also known as the Dalai Lama's Temple complex, in Dharamshala, India, on July 4. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) A child holds up a placard depicting the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday at Tsuglagkhang, also known as the Dalai Lama's Temple complex, in Dharamshala, India, on July 6. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) A devotee looks at a layer cake at an event held to celebrate the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday in Dharamshala, India, on July 6. (Photo by Ashwini Bhatia/AP) American actor Richard Gere kisses the hand of Dalai Lama during his 90th birthday celebration at Tsuglagkhang, also known as the Dalai Lama's Temple complex, in Dharamshala, India, on July 6. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) Devotees kneel as the Dalai Lama, leaves following his 90th birthday celebration at Tsuglagkhang, also known as the Dalai Lama's Temple complex, in Dharamshala, India, on July 6. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) People stand in front of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin holding signs reading, "Tibet is not a Part of China," and a picture of the Dalai Lama. Members of several human rights groups protested in front of the ministry, where German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met with his Chinese counterpart, Minister Yi. on July 3. (Photo by: Katharina Kausche/AP) A Tibetan devotee sits inside the Dalai Lama's Temple complex in Dharamshala, India, on July 5. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated on July 2 that the government had to approve the identity of the Dalai Lama's successor, and that the designation had to take place in China. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters) The Dalai Lama attends a prayer meeting held for his long life at the Dalai Lama's Temple complex in Dharamshala, India, on July 5. (Photo by Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters)
First Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Golden urn or Chinese political tool? The future of the Dalai Lama institution
It is indeed ironic that an atheist State believes in 'religious rituals' and has suddenly become knowledgeable in an esoteric issue such as the soul migration read more Advertisement Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama speaks in a video broadcast at the start of the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference, a meeting of religious leaders in McLeod Ganj, near Dharamsala on July 2, 2025. (Photo: Sanjay Baid/AFP) A lot has recently been written since the Dalai Lama's statement of July 2; as promised in November 2011, a press release of the Tibetan leader reaffirms that the Institution of the Dalai Lamas will continue. The Tibetan leader also reiterated, '…responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama'; it will be 'the sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.' It was a clear message to China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Beijing was quick to react; The Global Times asserted, '[The Dalai Lama's] intention remains the same—to deny the traditional religious rituals and historical conventions that have governed the Dalai Lama reincarnation system for centuries, and to manipulate the reincarnation process for his own purposes.' It is indeed ironic that an atheist State believes in 'religious rituals' and has suddenly become knowledgeable in an esoteric issue such as the soul migration. Apart from the statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing and the Chinese Ambassador in Delhi, other groups in China have put their views forth. On July 3, the Buddhist Association of China reacted to the Dalai Lama's announcement: 'The central government has the right to make the final decision on the reincarnation, which is by no means subject to the 14th Dalai Lama's individual discretion.' The Association added, 'Throughout the historical process of the searches for the spiritual successors of Dalai Lamas, a complete set of traditional religious rituals and historical conventions has been developed.' The Golden Urn The statement put forward Communist China's favourite ritual, the Golden Urn: 'Since the establishment of the lot-drawing ceremony from the golden urn, the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has required adherence to the drawing of lots from the golden urn procedure, with the selected candidate subject to approval by China's central government. This process is the only way for the candidate to earn public credibility and religious authority.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Buddhist Association only forgot to mention that the Golden Urn has seldom been used in Tibet. It was only when the Tibetan State was weak during the 19th century that the Chinese Amban, representing the Manchu Court in Lhasa, imposed it on the Tibetans for the 8th and 9th Panchen Lamas and the 10th Dalai Lama. That does not add up to much… Retrospectively, Beijing admitted that in 1940 Lhamo Dhondup, the present Dalai Lama, had been 'exempted' from the ritual that Beijing wants now to impose on his successor. In January 2021, The Global Times published a long article dealing with the ritual; the article starts by saying, 'It is well-known that the reincarnation of the living Buddhas is by no means a purely religious affair.' Then, it explained how the Communist Party sees the process: 'Due to the prominent and leading role of the influential living Buddhas, various political and religious forces in Tibetan society vied for dominant power and control over the reincarnation of the living Buddhas.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It concluded that the reincarnation system 'gradually lost its original meaning and caused great harm to the Dharma as well as endangering social stability and national security. Therefore, the then central government adopted the system of lot-drawing from a golden urn in 1793 to improve the reincarnation order of the living Buddhas.' It explained further: 'The current Dalai Lama was enthroned in the Potala Palace on February 22, 1940, during a ceremony presided over by Wu Zhongxin, minister of the Commission for Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs …the boy with the reincarnated soul of the 13th Dalai Lama [was enthroned] without the requirement of carrying out the established method of drawing a lot from the golden urn.' The report that Wu Zhongxin presided is simply untrue; he was merely an invitee to the ceremony and had nothing to do with the 'recognition' of the 14th Dalai Lama. The Practice Having seen the theory of the 'Golden Urn', it is necessary to study the facts of this rarely used ritual. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We have a trustworthy record of a Tibetan Lama, Arjia Rinpoche, who attended the ceremony (one could call it a farce) for the selection of the 11th Panchen Lama. Was it a rehearsal for the recognition of the 15th Dalai Lama? In his book 'Surviving the Dragon: A Tibetan Lama's Account of 40 Years under Chinese Rule', Arjia Rinpoche, then Abbot of the Kumbum monastery in today's Qinghai Province and also a member of the 'selection committee' for the Panchen Lama, recounted what happened after the Tenth Panchen Lama passed away, under mysterious circumstances, while on a visit to Tibet. The Chinese government formed a 'search team' under Gyayak Rinpoche, the Panchen Lama's dharma teacher. Chadrel Rinpoche, abbot of the Panchen Lama's Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, and Arjia Rinpoche were to assist the old Lama. Arjia noted, 'The Chinese government trusted Chadrel Rinpoche to do their bidding … asking only that he report frequently to the central government on his progress.' Chadrel Rinpoche was clear that it was Tashi Lhunpo monastery's responsibility to discover the newly born Lama. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The problem started after Gyayak's demise, when Beijing discovered that Chadrel Rinpoche had secretly been in contact with the Dalai Lama to find a 'consensus' candidate: 'The Tibetans clearly wanted the Fourteenth Dalai Lama to be the final voice,' noted Arjia, who further recalled, 'On May 14, 1995, I was stunned by the news that, in India, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama had announced the name of the reincarnated Eleventh Panchen Lama. My immediate fear was that the Chinese government would not accept his decision. … And I was right.' Beijing was furious that the Dalai Lama had 'unilaterally' decided on the new incarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. At that time, observed Arjia, 'The Tibetans clearly wanted the Fourteenth Dalai Lama to be the final arbiter of the identity of the true reincarnation of the Panchen Lama.' Events started to heat up in early November 1995, when an emergency meeting was called in Beijing to 'clarify' the Communist Party's position. According to the former Abbot of Kumbum, 'This was when I learnt that Chadrel Rinpoche had been arrested. …[then], we were bombarded with statements like 'We must not allow the Dalai's separatist clique to interfere in the Golden Urn Ceremony.'' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Three points were on the meeting's agenda. Eliminating from contention the boy selected by the Dalai Lama (Gedun Choekyi Nyima, who since then has been under house arrest); Denouncing and removing Chadrel Rinpoche from his official position on the search team; and Mandating a Golden Urn Ceremony. The rinpoches present had no choice but to accept Beijing's diktat. The Communist officials told the lamas, 'The Golden Urn Ceremony will take place tonight, so please be prepared. … If a separatist clique [followers of the Dalai Lama] attempts any disruption of the ceremony, everyone will be protected [by the police].' The ceremony was held on November 29, 1995, at 2 am: 'We were called together and ushered into vehicles bound for Jokhang Temple. Although the night was dark, again we could see soldiers in their heavy bulletproof vests every few steps along the deserted streets. … As we walked toward the statue of the Buddha [the famous Jowo], we saw undercover policemen standing in every corner and shadow.' Arjia Rinpoche continued the narration of the dramatic event: 'In front of the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha was a large table covered with a yellow silk cloth. Alone on the table stood a golden urn about 15 inches high, surrounded by seated high officials.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Luo Gan, a State Counsellor (and later, a member of the Politburo's Standing Committee), and Gyaltsen Norbu (the TAR governor) were present. Then the ceremony began: 'Inside the gold urn was a small case, which contained three ivory lots, an inch wide and seven or eight inches long, with cloud scrolls etched at one end. The names of the three candidates were written on three separate pieces of paper and pasted to the ivory sticks, each of which was then slipped into a tightly fitted pouch of yellow silk. … The three ivory lots were placed into the Golden Urn.' Bumi Rinpoche, who had been appointed Ganden Tripa (throne holder of the Yellow School) by Beijing, drew the lot. The name of the 'selected' candidate was Gyaltsen Norbu, like the governor. Arjia remembered: 'When we made our selection, we left nothing to chance. In the silk pouches of the ivory pieces, we put a bit of cotton at the bottom of one of them so it would be a little higher than the others and the right candidate would be chosen.' The pedigree of Norbu was considered the best. That was it. Nothing could be done: 'Jamyang Shepa Rinpoche and I kept silent, our heads lowered,' wrote Arjia. Years later Arjia managed to escape to the US. After three decades, Gedun Choekyi Nyima, selected by the Dalai Lama as the Panchen Lama, is still under house arrest somewhere in China. A tragic farce, indeed—and a rehearsal for the 15th Dalai Lama. The writer is Distinguished Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Delhi). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
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First Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
'Reincarnation not his call': Rattled Chinese envoy clashes with Dalai Lama over succession plan
China's statement came after the 14th Dalai Lama few days back made it clear that a trust — not the Chinese government — will decide on matters of succession read more Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama addresses via a video message at the inaugural session at the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference at the Dalai Lama Library and Archive near Tsuglagkhang, also known as Dalai Lama's Temple complex, in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India. Reuters As the buzz around the succession of the 14th Dalai Lama gains traction on social media on his 90th birthday, a rattled China has asserted that the spiritual leader doesn't hold any authority to decide on matters related to the centuries-old reincarnation system. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong wrote on X on Sunday (July 6) that the 14th Dalai Lama is only 'one part' of the 700-year-old tradition. 'The reincarnation of Dalai Lamas neither began from him nor will end due to him," Feihong wrote. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Facts You Must Know about #DalaiLama Reincarnation: The 14th Dalai Lama has affirmed that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue. In fact, as a unique succession method of Tibetan Buddhism, the practice of Living Buddha reincarnation has continued over 700 years.… — Xu Feihong (@China_Amb_India) July 6, 2025 The envoy described the Living Buddha reincarnation practice as a 'distinctive succession tradition of Tibetan Buddhism,' noting that it remains active and widespread, with over 1,000 reincarnation lineages currently thriving in Xizang (Tibet) and Tibetan communities across Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Qinghai. What triggered Chinese response? China's statement came after the 14th Dalai Lama few days back made it clear that a trust — not the Chinese government — will decide on the matter of succession. The revered spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism clarified his succession plan during a major gathering of Buddhist leaders in Dharamshala to celebrate his 90th birthday. For the first time, he explicitly stated his belief that he will be reincarnated. Speaking at the convention, the Dalai Lama outlined that the process to identify the next Dalai Lama will involve consultations with spiritual leaders, the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, and other key figures. This move asserts his authority over the sacred tradition, directly challenging Beijing's influence. Beijing quickly fired back, insisting that any reincarnation must have its approval, reigniting tensions over the future of Tibetan spiritual leadership. The Chinese government in response pointed to a 2007 regulation passed in Tibet asserting state authority over the recognition of reincarnated lamas — a position rejected by the global Tibetan community. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
US backs Tibetans' right to choose their next religious leader without Chinese interference
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Kashag said that on July 2 the Dalai Lama magnanimously announced the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama, in accordance with the fervent aspirations of the people of Tibet and devoted followers worldwide. 'This announcement represents an unequivocal assurance for the continuity of the religious, cultural, linguistic, and national identity of Tibet and the Tibetan people. On behalf of all the Tibetan people, both in Tibet and in exile, and Tibetan supporters around the world, we express our boundless gratitude to Your Holiness for this immeasurable blessing,' it read. It further stated, 'We also extend our deep appreciation to the religious heads and religious representative-delegates to the 15th Religious Conference for their special resolution expressing gratitude to His Holiness, rejecting the Chinese government's malicious interference in matters of reincarnation, and adopting a unanimous resolution declaring such interference unacceptable." "We earnestly pray that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will continue to remain as the beacon of light for the Tibetan people, and may the fortunate disciples continue to receive His Holiness's uninterrupted blessings throughout all lifetimes,' Meanwhile, Tibetan religious leaders have unanimously supported the Dalai Lama's declaration that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue and reaffirmed that the sole authority to recognise his reincarnation lies with the Gaden Phodrang Trust and the Office of the Dalai Lama. During the penultimate session of the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference held at the Dalai Lama's residence on Friday, the leaders criticised the Chinese government for allegedly interfering in Tibetans' spiritual matters. A resolution passed at the meeting asserted, 'Reincarnation is a religious matter. China is using this for political ends, which we will not accept.'
