With the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, now advanced in age, the question of his reincarnation has sparked controversy between China and India. This controversy centers on the recognition of a future successor. China has publicly urged India to refrain from acknowledging any successor that is not sanctioned by Beijing. China staunchly maintains the stance of rejecting any reincarnation of the Dalai Lama that emerges among Tibetan exiles in India or anywhere else globally.
The Dalai Lama: Who is He?
Dalai Lama is a title bestowed upon the Tibetan people’s leading spiritual guide of the Gelug or “Yellow Hat” school of Tibetan Buddhism. This school is the newest among the classical schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama title is currently held by the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.
The Dalai Lamas are seen as manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Tibet’s patron saint. Bodhisattvas are enlightened individuals motivated by the desire to attain Buddhahood for all sentient beings’ benefit. They have pledged to reincarnate in this world to aid humanity.
Buddhist Reincarnation Principle and the Dalai Lama
The Buddhist belief subscribes to the principle of reincarnation. Following this principle, Buddhists believe that the present Dalai Lama can decide the body into which he will reincarnate. Upon identification, that individual becomes the next Dalai Lama.
Following the incumbent Dalai Lama’s death, it becomes the responsibility of the High Lamas of the Gelugpa tradition and the Tibetan government to seek out the next Dalai Lama. If multiple candidates are identified, a public ceremony is conducted, with officials and monks drawing lots to find the true successor. The chosen candidate and his family are then transported to Lhasa (or Dharamsala) for the child to study Buddhist scriptures in preparation for spiritual leadership.
| Current Dalai Lama | Tenzin Gyatso |
|---|---|
| School of Buddhism | Gelug or “Yellow Hat” school |
| Manifestation of | Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig (Bodhisattva of Compassion) |
| Principle of Reincarnation | Believed to choose body into which he is reincarnated |
The Chinese Perspective on Reincarnation
Despite these traditional methods, the Chinese government holds a different perspective. According to China, the recognition of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation follows a well-established procedure, one of which includes pulling the successor’s name from golden urns housed in the Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace. These two sites are respectively, amongst the most sacred monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism located in Lhasa, and the previous residence of the Dalai Lama before he fled to India in 1959. The second condition asserts the approval of the reincarnation by the Chinese government.
