The Dalai Lama, the supreme spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, has recently brought a US-born Mongolian boy into focus by declaring him the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa, the spiritual leader of Mongolia and the head of the Janang tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. This move has reignited debates on the larger issues of the Dalai Lama’s own reincarnation and the ongoing dispute between China and Tibetans over who should control Tibetan Buddhism.
Buddhism Schools in Tibet
By the 9th century AD, Buddhism had become the principal religion in Tibet, manifesting in four major schools: Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug. The relatively less-known Janang school developed as an offshoot of the Sakya school. The Dalai Lama is a member of the Gelug school.
The Concept of Reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism
Buddhism hinges on the belief of the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Although early Buddhism didn’t organize itself around this belief, Tibet’s hierarchical system based on reincarnation seems to have emerged in the 13th century. The Gelug school strengthened this hierarchy by introducing succession through reincarnation, conferring the title of the Dalai Lama to the 5th grand lama.
Tibetan Buddhist tradition asserts that the spirit of a deceased lama is reborn in a child, ensuring a continuous line of succession through successive re-embodiments. Recognizing the ‘Tulkus’ or the reborn ones involves several procedures like seeking guidance from the predecessor about his reincarnation, multiple tests for the prospective child, and consultations with oracles and lamas before making the final proclamation. Disputes, if any, are resolved through divination methods such as the dough-ball method.
India’s Association with the Dalai Lama
India has shared a longstanding relationship with the Dalai Lama, dating back to 1959 when he sought refuge in India after escaping Tibet. Since then, India has been a safe haven for him and the Tibetan government-in-exile, offering them political asylum and backing their cause for autonomy from China. India has adopted a diplomatic approach towards the Tibetan issue, refusing to acknowledge China’s stance on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and maintaining that the matter is a religious one and should be decided by the Tibetan people themselves. Lately, India-China relations have been strained, largely due to the presence of the Dalai Lama in India, proving contentious for China.
About the Dalai Lama
The title Dalai Lama was given by the Tibetan people to the preeminent spiritual leader of the Gelug or “Yellow Hat” school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest of the classical schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lamas are regarded as the manifestations of ‘Avalokiteshvara’ or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings motivated by the desire to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings and have pledged to be reborn in the world to aid humanity. The 14th and current Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso.
Previous Year’s UPSC Civil Services Examination Questions
In the UPSC Civil Services Examination of 2018, one question asked was: With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world? The options were Avalokiteshvara, Lokesvara, Maitreya, and Padmapani. The correct answer was Maitreya.
Another question from the 2017 examination was: The painting of Bodhisattva Padmapani is one of the most famous and oft-illustrated paintings at which site?, with the options being Ajanta, Badami, Bagh, and Ellora. The correct answer was Ajanta.
