Tibet: Buddhists slams China for Interfering In Dalai Lama’s Succession

The Tibetan spiritual leader is known by the title “Dalai Lama,” not by their respective name. The 14th in line to hold the position of Dalai Lama, Lhamo Thondup, is his original name. The first Dalai Lama is believed to be reincarnated in every Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan Government-in-Exile anticipates the Chinese government to interfere in the succession of the 14th Dalai Lama. To counter the influence, they came up with a plan for the democratic growth of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of Buddhists worldwide. 

The current Dalai Lama has been living in India since 1959 to escape Chinese repression after the Tibetans failed to uprise. The awakening was performed in response to the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1949-50. 

Since the conflict occurred, the Chinese administration has been running Tibet and considers the territory a Chinese province. The Tibetan populace strongly opposed the decision.

In an interview with PTI, CTA President Penpa Tsering drew attention to the identification of a rival, Panchen Lama, in 1995 by the Chinese government while a kid picked by the Dalai Lama as the Lama’sLama’s incarnate was taken away from the public light. He claimed that something similar could be anticipated with the Dalai Lama’s succession.

He told PTI that the Tibetans face significant difficulty when the current Dalai Lama passes away, particularly if the Sino-Tibetan dispute is not settled. China will undoubtedly interfere in the Dalai Lama’s succession plan.  

Tsering demonstrated that a six-point plan had been prepared to equip the world and Tibetans when the current Dalai Lama passes away, adding that the program’s cornerstone is a democratic transition.

According to Tsering, the Chinese government issued diktat in 2007 that it must be involved in the succession of all reincarnate Lamas, who also hold the title of Sikyong.

He emphasised that this was done to utilise religion as a political instrument, even though China and other governments shouldn’t have any part in it. 

Tsering added, “In 1995, the Chinese stepped in and appointed a youngster named Gyancain Norbu as the Panchen Lama. We still don’t know if the boy His Holiness (the Dalai Lama) identified as Panchen Lama is still alive.”

Any independent observer has not seen Nyima since May 17, 1995. While the Chinese administration claims he lives a typical life, Tibetan exiles and human rights groups believe that Nyima is kept at the Chinese gulag as a prisoner of conscience”.

Tsering also clarified that Communist China does not believe in religion but wants to interfere in religious functions. He stressed that if the Chinese government is interested in reincarnation, they must study Tibetan Buddhism first.

What Dalai Lama express on succession?

While China and Tibet are debating the designation of the next Dalai Lama, the current Buddhist spiritual leader illustrated that it’s not essential to appoint Dalai Lama from Chinese-controlled Tibet. According to him, there is already a precedent for it. The 6th Dalai Lama was born in present-day Tawang of India in Arunachal Pradesh. 

The 14th Dalai Lama also expressed that it’s not important to resume the organisation after him. He told his students in 2019 that he would leave a choice for their students to do what they think is necessary before his demise.

In 2019 Dalai Lama said to his writers and followers, “The future of Dalai Lama is totally in my own hands. When my time comes, I will write some will. I think my rebirth will take place somewhere in the Buddhist community. In 1969, I made clear whether the Dalai Lama institution will resume. I left this decision on the shoulders of the Tibetan people. The forecast of Buddha’s teachings is more important than reincarnation. Our main objective is to spread Buddha’s teaching throughout the world”. 

In 2007, Dalai Lama also remarked that if a woman proves herself more useful than a man, the next LamaLama can be reincarnated as a woman. Lama commented that he might choose his successor before his demise if necessary.

Process of Selection of Lama

Dalai Lama is a Tibetan Buddhist monk searching for the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. The active Dalai Lama was found at Taktser village in Tibet’s Amdo province (Age 2). He belonged to a farming family. 

Following the death of the 13th Dalai Lama, a group of monks again set out to discover the new successor. They followed numerous signs as per their beliefs

When the 13th Lama passed away in 1933, his head was pointed south to the northeast. Later, the Dalai Lama’s Regent saw a vision in the waters of the sacred lake named Lhamoi Lhatso.

Lama claims that he saw the Tibetan alphabets, Ah, Ka and Ma, followed by the image of a three-storied monastery with a turquoise & gold roof and a path running from it to a hill.