1. Tibetan tradition

2. Statements by 14th Dalai Lama

3. Statements by Chinese government

4. Further analysis

5. See also

6. References

The question of the succession of 14th Dalai Lama in a lineage of Dalai Lamas will be decided by Tibetan Buddhist hierarchs based on the doctrine of reincarnation.^[1] The selection process may prove controversial, as the officially atheist Chinese government has expressed unusual interest in choosing the next Dalai Lama and claims it has the right to do so,^[2] something heavily contested by Tibetan Buddhist religious authorities.^[1][3] Based on history, on January 26, 1940, the Regent Reting Rinpoche requested the Central Government to exempt Tenzin Gyatso from lot-drawing process using Golden Urn to become the 14th Dalai Lama.^[4][5] The request was approved by the Central Government.^[6]

Tibetan tradition

Following the Buddhist belief in the principle of reincarnation, the current Dalai Lama is believed to be able to choose the body into which he is reincarnated. That person, when found, will then become the next Dalai Lama. According to Buddhist scholars it is the responsibility of the High Lamas of the Gelgupa tradition and the Tibetan government to seek out and find the next Dalai Lama following the death of the incumbent. The process can take a long time. It took four years to find the 14th (current) Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The search is generally limited to Tibet, although the current Dalai Lama has said that there is a chance that he will not be reborn, and that if he is, it would not be in a country under Chinese rule. To help them in their search, the High Lamas may have visions or dreams, and try to find signs. For example, if the previous Dalai Lama was cremated, they can watch the direction of the smoke to suggest where the rebirth will take place. When these signs have been interpreted and a successor found, there are a series of tests to ensure that they are the genuine reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. They assess the candidate against a set of criteria, and will present the child with various objects to see if they can identify those which belonged to the previous Dalai Lama. If a single candidate has been identified, the High Lamas will report their findings to eminent individuals and then to the Government. If more than one candidate is identified, the true successor is found by officials and monks drawing lots in a public ceremony. Once identified, the successful candidate and his family are taken to Lhasa (or Dharamsala) where the child will study the Buddhist scriptures in order to prepare for spiritual leadership.^[7]

Statements by 14th Dalai Lama

In a 2004 interview with Time, the current Dalai Lama stated:

The Dalai Lama stated in 2007 that the next Dalai Lama could possibly be a woman, remarking, "If a woman reveals herself as more useful the lama could very well be reincarnated in this form".^[9] In 2010 he stated that "twenty or thirty years ago", when discussing whether a woman could be a Dalai Lama in the future, he said yes but "I also said half-jokingly that if the Dalai Lama's reincarnation is female, she must be very attractive. The reason is so that she will have more influence on others.”^[10] On 24 September 2011, the Dalai Lama issued a statement concerning his reincarnation giving exact signs on how the next one should be chosen, the place of rebirth and that the Chinese appointed Dalai Lama should not be trusted.^[11]

Statements by Chinese government

In 2015, the Tibet regional governor Padma Choling (白玛赤林) said:

Choling's statement disregards that indeed the Dalai Lama can decide whether to reincarnate or not as that is essential part of the Bodhisattva concept. The apparent contradiction that an atheist government is involved in the afterlife and re-incarnation did not go unnoticed.^[13] As joked by Jonathan Kaiman for the Los Angeles Times:"In China, it's not easy to become a “living Buddha.” First come the years of meditation and discipline. Then comes the bureaucracy. (...) Although the ruling Communist Party is an officially atheist organization – officials are barred from practicing religion – it is perennially uncomfortable with forces outside of its control, and has for years demanded the power to regulate the supernatural affairs of Tibetan Buddhist figures, determining who can and cannot be reincarnated."^[14]

On August 3, 2007, State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No. 5 was issued by China which states that all the reincarnations of tulkus of Tibetan Buddhism must get government approval, otherwise they are "illegal or invalid".^[15]

Further analysis

Several analysts have stated that even if China picks a future Dalai Lama, it will lack the legitimacy and popular support needed to be functional, as Tibetan Buddhists all over the world would not recognize it,^[16] similar to how the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama lacks any international recognition or support from Buddhist organizations.^[16][17] According to Tibetan scholar Robert Barnett "This is one of the chief indicators that China has failed in Tibet. It's failed to find consistent leadership in Tibet by any Tibetan lama who is really respected by Tibetan people, and who at the same time endorses Communist Party rule."^[16] Lobsang Sangay, Sikyong (prime minister) of the Tibetan government-in-exile, said:"It's like Fidel Castro saying, 'I will select the next Pope and all the Catholics should follow'".^[18]

See also

• Central Tibetan Administration
• History of Tibet
• State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No. 5
• Tibet Autonomous Region
• Tibetan Buddhism

References

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