The public announcement by the 14th Dalai Lama on the eve of his 90th birthday that the institution of the Dalai Lama would continue even after his passing away and the choice of his reincarnation would be made by his Gaden Phodrang Trust following the traditional religious norms of Tibetan Buddhism have been welcomed all over the world; leaving China livid.
According to reports trickling in from Tibet, the Chinese authorities have ramped up security in the plateau and have turned to the 11th Panchen Lama Gyaltsen Norbu for help; asking him to ensure that the choice of the reincarnation of the present Dalai Lama is controlled by China.
At a meeting of the heads of Tibetan spiritual traditions in September 2011, the Dalai Lama said: “When I will be about ninety I will consult the high lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public, and other concerned people who follow Tibetan Buddhism to re-evaluate whether or not the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue.”
Setting at rest the anxiety of the Buddhist world and other followers, he affirmed in McLeodganj on July 2 that “the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue” and “the Gaden Phodrang Trust has the sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation. No one else has any authority to interfere in this matter.”
China reacted swiftly. Rejecting his succession plan as announced, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the same evening: “The Dalai Lama’s reincarnation must follow the principles of domestic recognition, the ‘Golden Urn’ process, and approved by the central government in line with religious traditions and laws.”
The plenary session of the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference on July 4, attended by high lamas of Tibetan Buddhism, adopted a unanimous resolution, extending support to the Dalai Lama’s statement. “Reincarnation is a religious matter. China is using this for political ends, which we will not accept,” it said. In his statement, the Dalai Lama has made it clear that while recognizing his reincarnation members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust “will consult heads of various Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma protectors linked to the lineage of the Dalai Lama. They should carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with the tradition;” thus rejecting the ‘golden urn’ procedure as dictated by the Chinese authorities.
On July 4, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the head of the Central Tibetan Administration, too rejected the ‘golden urn’ procedure as the traditional way of recognizing a Dalai Lama; pointing out that the introduction of the ‘golden urn’ was interference from the Qing dynasty of China in Tibet. “Even after the introduction, it was hardly used by the Tibetans because Tibetans don’t trust in that. It is not the traditional method,” he said. The ‘golden urn’ method was introduced in 1793 when the Qing dynasty had some influence over the plateau of Tibet. Before that eight Dalai Lamas had been selected, using the traditional method. In fact, only two of the 14 Dalai Lamas had been selected using the method of the ‘golden urn,’ the 11th and the 12th.
Under the traditional method of selection of the reincarnation of a Dalai Lama, senior lamas get divine inspiration on where to conduct the search from the vision they get in the waters of Lake Lhamo La-tso. In the next stage, the shortlisted children are asked to identify some objects of daily use of the Dalai Lama who has passed away. The child who can readily and correctly do the identification is chosen as the reincarnation and taken to Lhasa. The golden urn method, on the other hand, is essentially a lottery. Names of candidates are placed in a golden container and the one whose name is chosen in the draw is declared the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. Tibetans argue that in the method of the golden urn the religious leaders of Tibetan Buddhism play no role in the choice of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. It is easier for the Chinese authorities to influence the process.
The assertion of the 14th Dalai Lama that he would be reborn outside China — “in the free world” — made in a new book titled “Voice for the Voiceless” has unnerved China more. There are precedents. The sixth Dalai was born in the Indian territory of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing wants the 15th Dalai Lama to be born in Chinese-controlled territories so he can be abducted and a puppet Dalai can be foisted on the people of Tibet, the way the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nima was abducted in his childhood and a puppet Panchen was installed by Beijing. The puppet Panchen has already kowtowed to President of China Xi Jinping and asserted Beijing’s right to choose the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama. Beijing hopes with a puppet Dalai Lama in chair it will be easier to stifle the demands for self-rule and independence in Tibet.
Meanwhile, Tibetans in Tibet are bracing up for yet another intensified repression by the Chinese authorities. A 24-member strong team of the Chinese Communist Party, led by Secretary of Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission Chen Wenqing has visited the Amdo province; calling it “a critical region for the stability of both Tibet and Xinjiang.” Emphasizing the need for “resolute confrontation” against “separatist activities” and “national security threats” emerging from Tibetan regions, they have toured security sites, religious institutions and administrative centres and have held closed-door meetings with provincial authorities. Amdo is considered of ‘extreme strategic importance’ for securing Chinese control over Tibet and Xinjiang.
Beijing, of course, has been warned by the U.S., which has in place the Tibet Policy and Support Act, 2020, passed during the first tenure of Donald Trump as President, against Chinese interference in the selection of the 15th Dalai Lama. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 6, the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, issued a statement. “We support efforts to preserve Tibetans’ distinct linguistic, cultural and religious heritage; including their ability to freely choose and venerate religious leaders without interference.” The Bill drawn up in 2019 said: “The Bill requires the State Department to discuss U.S. efforts to promote the human rights of Tibetan people, including the rights to select and venerate their own religious leaders in an existing periodic report on Tibet.”
A clause of the Act, particularly irksome to the Chinese, says: “The Department of State may not authorize any new Chinese consulates in the United States until a U.S. consulate has been established in Lhasa, Tibet.”
Thirty-four members of European Parliament from four major political groups have signed a statement asking China to respect the religious freedom of Tibetan Buddhists and cease all efforts to interfere in the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama.
The Indian government, too, has decided to respect the Dalai Lama’s plan.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
