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The Independent
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Who will be the next Dalai Lama and how will they be chosen?
As the Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday this Sunday, the question of his succession looms large. The issue is captivating not only his millions of followers but also drawing significant strategic interest from global powers including China, India, and the United States. The Nobel Peace Laureate is widely regarded as one of the world's most influential figures, with his spiritual and moral authority extending far beyond the confines of Buddhism. Central to Tibetan Buddhist tradition is the belief that the soul of a senior monk is reincarnated after death. This ancient practice was pivotal in identifying the 14th Dalai Lama, born Lhamo Dhondup on July 6, 1935, to a farming family in what is now Qinghai province. He was recognised as the reincarnation of his predecessor at just two years old. According to his official website, a search party dispatched by the Tibetan government made the determination based on several auspicious signs, including a vision revealed to a senior monk. Their conviction was solidified when the young toddler reportedly identified belongings of the 13th Dalai Lama, exclaiming, "It's mine, it's mine." In the winter of 1940, Lhamo Thondup was taken to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of today's Tibet Autonomous Region, and officially installed as the spiritual leader of Tibetans. How will his successor be chosen? The Dalai Lama has announced that he will be reincarnated, and that his successor will be chosen by his closest Tibetan advisers without interference from China. In a statement issued to a gathering of the Tibetan government-in-exile on Wednesday, the 14th Dalai Lama said he had long believed that the future of his role should be decided by the Tibetan people themselves. He said: 'In particular, I have received messages through various channels from Tibetans in Tibet making the same appeal (that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue). In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.' He added: 'The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognised has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.' The statement comes after the Dalai Lama's comments in his book Voice for the Voiceless, released in March 2025, where he said his successor would be born outside China. The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in northern India since 1959, after fleeing a failed uprising against the rule of Mao Zedong's Communists. The Tibetan parliament-in-exile, based in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala, like the Dalai Lama, says a system has been established for the exiled government to continue its work while officers of the Gaden Phodrang Foundation will be charged with finding and recognising his successor. The current Dalai Lama set up the foundation in 2015 to "maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama" with regard to his religious and spiritual duties, it says on its website. Its senior officers include several of his aides. What does China say? China says its leaders have the right to approve the Dalai Lama's successor, as a legacy from imperial times. A selection ritual, in which the names of possible reincarnations are drawn from a golden urn, dates to 1793, during the Qing dynasty. Chinese officials have repeatedly said the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should be decided by following national laws that decree use of the golden urn and the birth of reincarnations within China's borders. But many Tibetans suspect any Chinese role in the selection as being a ploy to exert influence on the community. It is inappropriate for Chinese Communists, who reject religion, "to meddle in the system of reincarnation of lamas, let alone that of the Dalai Lama," the Buddhist leader has said. In his book, he asked Tibetans not to accept "a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People's Republic of China," referring to the country by its official name. Beijing brands the Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for keeping alive the Tibetan cause, as a "separatist" and prohibits displays of his picture or any public show of devotion towards him. In March 2025, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the Dalai Lama was a political exile with "no right to represent the Tibetan people at all". China denies suppressing the rights of the Tibetan people, and says its rule ended serfdom in, and brought prosperity to, a backward region. What role could India and the US play? Apart from the Dalai Lama, India is estimated to be home to more than 100,000 Tibetan Buddhists who are free to study and work there. Many Indians revere him, and international relations experts say his presence in India gives New Delhi some kind of leverage with rival China. The United States, which faces rising competition from China for global dominance, has repeatedly said it is committed to advancing the human rights of Tibetans. U.S. lawmakers have previously said they would not allow China to influence the choice of the Dalai Lama's successor. In 2024, then U.S. President Joe Biden signed a law that presses Beijing to resolve a dispute over Tibet's demands for greater autonomy.
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Who will be the next Dalai Lama? Key questions answered as leader turns 90
As the Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday this Sunday, the question of his succession looms large. The issue is captivating not only his millions of followers but also drawing significant strategic interest from global powers including China, India, and the United States. The Nobel Peace Laureate is widely regarded as one of the world's most influential figures, with his spiritual and moral authority extending far beyond the confines of Buddhism. Central to Tibetan Buddhist tradition is the belief that the soul of a senior monk is reincarnated after death. This ancient practice was pivotal in identifying the 14th Dalai Lama, born Lhamo Dhondup on July 6, 1935, to a farming family in what is now Qinghai province. He was recognised as the reincarnation of his predecessor at just two years old. According to his official website, a search party dispatched by the Tibetan government made the determination based on several auspicious signs, including a vision revealed to a senior monk. Their conviction was solidified when the young toddler reportedly identified belongings of the 13th Dalai Lama, exclaiming, "It's mine, it's mine." In the winter of 1940, Lhamo Thondup was taken to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of today's Tibet Autonomous Region, and officially installed as the spiritual leader of Tibetans. How will his successor be chosen? In his book Voice for the Voiceless, released in March 2025, the Dalai Lama said his successor would be born outside China. The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in northern India since 1959, after fleeing a failed uprising against the rule of Mao Zedong's Communists. He wrote that he would release details about his succession around the time of his 90th birthday. On Monday, addressing a gathering in Dharamshala, he said: "There will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lamas". He did not elaborate. The Tibetan parliament-in-exile, based in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala, like the Dalai Lama, says a system has been established for the exiled government to continue its work while officers of the Gaden Phodrang Foundation will be charged with finding and recognising his successor. The current Dalai Lama set up the foundation in 2015 to "maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama" with regard to his religious and spiritual duties, it says on its website. Its senior officers include several of his aides. What does China say? China says its leaders have the right to approve the Dalai Lama's successor, as a legacy from imperial times. A selection ritual, in which the names of possible reincarnations are drawn from a golden urn, dates to 1793, during the Qing dynasty. Chinese officials have repeatedly said the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should be decided by following national laws that decree use of the golden urn and the birth of reincarnations within China's borders. But many Tibetans suspect any Chinese role in the selection as being a ploy to exert influence on the community. It is inappropriate for Chinese Communists, who reject religion, "to meddle in the system of reincarnation of lamas, let alone that of the Dalai Lama," the Buddhist leader has said. In his book, he asked Tibetans not to accept "a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People's Republic of China," referring to the country by its official name. Beijing brands the Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for keeping alive the Tibetan cause, as a "separatist" and prohibits displays of his picture or any public show of devotion towards him. In March 2025, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the Dalai Lama was a political exile with "no right to represent the Tibetan people at all". China denies suppressing the rights of the Tibetan people, and says its rule ended serfdom in, and brought prosperity to, a backward region. What role could India and the US play? Apart from the Dalai Lama, India is estimated to be home to more than 100,000 Tibetan Buddhists who are free to study and work there. Many Indians revere him, and international relations experts say his presence in India gives New Delhi some kind of leverage with rival China. The United States, which faces rising competition from China for global dominance, has repeatedly said it is committed to advancing the human rights of Tibetans. U.S. lawmakers have previously said they would not allow China to influence the choice of the Dalai Lama's successor. In 2024, then U.S. President Joe Biden signed a law that presses Beijing to resolve a dispute over Tibet's demands for greater autonomy.
New Paper
05-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
June 6 South Africa (Fairview) form analysis
Race 1 (1,200m) An interesting start to the day. (2) CASINO KING has made the trip from the Western Cape. He should be a big player in this race. (11) YOU'RE SO SPECIAL showed promise on her debut and she should be winning her first race soon enough. Keep an eye on the betting as there are newcomers that are well bred. (9) STAR OF ELENA has run well in all three of her starts and can fight out the finish. (1) BUFFALO BILL looks all right among the first timers. Keep safe. Race 2 (1,000m) (6) NORTH STAR is an Erik The Red filly and she may well be ready to score on debut. (3) HAZE AND SMOKE is a Potala Palace filly who represents a trainer who can win on debut. (4) IVY showed improvement with blinkers on last time and is probably the best of the raced runners. (2) FOCAL POINT can be included in the exotics. Race 3 (1,000m) (3) ARTICUNO is knocking hard at the door and looks ready to score. (4) INDEBE MAYIBUYE is improving and can score again. (1) BASINGSTOKE needed her run on the Polytrack and should strip fitter this time and could surprise. (2) SWEETIE DARLING is not reliable but she is also not out of it. Race 4 (1,200m) (3) SONG OF MYSELF has had only five starts and she ran some promising races in the Western Cape. She sets the standard on her local debut. (1) ABOUND is better than his last run would suggest and is distance-suited, so should be included in all bets. (2) MASKED VIGILANTE is probably at his very best on the Polytrack but is also capable of winning on the turf. (9) GUARDING THE WALL is not reliabe but does also have a winning chance. Race 5 (1,400m) (2) MIDNIGHT MUSIC is improving and could go one better. (3) UMZOLOZOLO makes her local debut and should contest the finish. (7) PENNY'S WORLD is not out of this. (8) DANCING IN WINTER is in good form and can make the frame again. Race 6 (1,400m) (5) IGUGULETHU has won his last two starts but goes up in the weights. (6) FINAL TRY ran well on local debut and should be very competitive this time. (10) RUN THE WORLD showed some improvement last time and should have something to offer, having made the trip from Cape Town. (4) ONE SCOTCH makes his local debut and can surprise. Race 7 (2,000m) (1) MY BEST SHOT continues his impressive winning streak. He was a facile winner of the East Cape Derby last time and can win again. He is, however, out at the weights with his stable companion, (3) JOY AND PEACE. That filly won last year's East Cape Derby, so it is an interesting class. Joy And Peace seemed to find the distance too far for her last time and is at her very best around this distance. (2) ZATARA MAGIC is at the top of his game and will not go down without a fight. (5) GLOBAL ALLY is consistent and can earn some more money. Race 8 (2,400m) (4) FIRST WISH had stable companion (3) LOTUS ISLAND behind her when they met in the East Cape Derby and that form does look the pick of the race. First Wish has got better with each increase in distance and she should score. (6) GREENLITEALLTHEWAY will appreciate it back on the grass and could be a danger trying this longer distance. (2) WOMAN'S WORLD has not been at her best of late but could threaten if left alone up front. Race 9 (1,600m) (2) LADY SILVANO is probably at her very best over further but gets a narrow vote to score. (1) LUNA HALO has let her supporters down lately but could bounce back to win over a course and distance that suits her. (5) HONORABLE MEMBER found the distance a bit much last time and should be a threat to these rivals. (9) GRANDIOSA boasts two wins over the trip and should improve second-up.
