Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama gestures during an event at his residence in McLeod Ganj, India, on 24 October 2018. File photo/Ti
PTI
LHASA, China, 14 July 2019
The successor of the Dalai Lama has to be decided within China and any interference by India on the issue will impact bilateral ties, Chinese authorities have said.
In first clear assertion on the sensitive issue, senior Chinese officials and experts said the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must be approved by the Chinese government and the selection should take place within the country based on an over 200 year-old process.
“The reincarnation of Dalai Lama is a historical, religious and political issue. There are established historical institutions and formalities for the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama,” Wang Neng Sheng, an official in the rank of vice minister in Tibet, told a group of Indian journalists in Lhasa.
“The Dalai Lama’s reincarnation is not decided by his personal wish or by some group of people living in other countries,” he added.
Mr Wang, the director general at the government of Tibet Autonomous Region, said the current Dalai Lama was recognised by Beijing and his successor must be found through the “draw of lots in golden urn process” within China.
Echoing Mr Wang’s views, Zha Luo, director at Beijing-based China Tibetology Research Centre, a government-run influential think tank, said any refusal by India to recognise the next Dalai Lama to be chosen within China will impact bilateral ties.
“It will be a major political difference that would impact bilateral relations and any wise political leader wouldn’t do that,” said Mr Zha whose team advises central government on policy issues for Tibet. He was asked what will happen if India refuses to recognise the next Dalai Lama chosen by China.
“Since the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama is an important issue for China any friendly country or friend of China would not interfere or meddle on the issue,” he added.
“Government of India’s position on His Holiness the Dalai Lama is clear and consistent. He is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India. There is no change in that position. His Holiness is accorded all freedom to carry out his religious activities in India,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson had said in March last year.
Mr Wang said the process of selecting the next Dalai Lama must follow two clear steps: “It must go to draw of lots in the golden urn and the reincarnation must be recognised by the central government”.
He said the “centrality” of the central government must be recognised and that any personal move by the current Dalai Lama on the issue is not going to be recognised by Chinese government or religious followers in Tibet.
“It was with the central government’s recognition that the Dalai Lama became 14th Dalai Lama. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been in that position,” said Mr Wang.
He alleged that the Dalai Lama has been “inciting” and “misguiding” young Tibetan people for his political motives.
Asked about the Dalai Lama’s comments that he was ready to accept Tibet as part of China, Mr Wang said he has been resorting to political rhetoric without taking any action.
“He still believes that Tibet is an independent country. Without any concrete moves from his side, his words do not mean anything,” he added.
Hi Everybody,
Looks like everybody is wrong here. HH Dalai Lama said numerous, often mutually incommensurable things about how 15th Dalai Lama will be decided. Himself, or Tibetan People, and also that it is ‘none of his business’.
1) Dalai Lama says his reincarnation will be decided by ‘himself’
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” …”My reincarnation is to be decided by myself, nobody has the right to decide about that,” he often said in his remarks. ”
Read more at:
//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/70227667.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
2. HH Dalai Lama says he will play no role in issues surrounding his reincarnation. he said, ” In an interview, he said this should be decided through an international conference after his natural death and that it is “not his business” to decide on his successor through either reincarnation or emanation. He admitted the dialogue process for reincarnation had not even started.
Talking exclusively to Hindustan Times, the Dalai Lama said that his anointed 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje “most probably” would return to India.
But that, he said, was a concern of the Karma Kagyu school head and the Indian government as he had no role to play in the matter.”
3. HHDL said an adult successor could be chosen, a claim further solidified by Kaydor Aukutsang in May 2019. Quote”… In an interview with Nikkei and other news organizations, the 83-year-old said his successor will be “a high lama or high scholar,” or a person “around 20 years old.” https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Dalai-Lama-says-high-priests-to-discuss-adult-successor
4. TAWANG, India (Reuters) – Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said on Saturday the Tibetan people should decide if they wanted to…
Why the bs?
The Dalai Lama is in charge of his choice. The Reincarnation will not violate Tibetan people’s aspirations and history. All in the context of Buddha Dharma, religious harmony and preservation of Tibetan identity.
China’s proposed disrespect of the profound religious sentiment of Tibetan Buddhist faith is a criminal violation of human right and communal peace. Hopefully legal preparations are being put in place.
HH The Dalai Lama has always said that whether there should be a reincarnation of the 14th is in the hands of the Tibetan people. He has been consistent in his statement. He has never said, He will decide about his incarnation. Some people seem to be confused about what He said about his own position as the political leader of Tibet. He said that as far as devolution of political power. He alone has the right to abdicate the leadership position of the Tibetan people and hand it over to an elected leader. As the reincarnation of successive Dalai Lamas, He has the right to abdicate power and he is doing it voluntarily and joyously. In 2011, the elected Sikyong bequeathed the political power that was passed down to successive Dalai Lamas to the present one. Facts are sacred and must not be twisted either maliciously or through sheer ignorance. Raking up unsubstantiated and non-existent historical events to smear other traditions smack of ulterior and mischievous motivation and should be avoided if one is a genuine and patrioticTibetan. The present Dalai Lama was never endorsed or recognized by China. The Chinese claims are a total lie. HH The 13th Dalai Lama proclaimed Tibet’s Independence by abrogating the priest and patron relationship between Manchu rulers of China and Tibet on 13th February 1913. The process of using the so called golden urn was discarded long before Tibet’s Declaration of Independence. The Chinese communists continue to fabricate and lie but who is surprised? They have their own agenda but if a Tibetan (if he/she is) mouths lies that is peddled by the CCP, you have to wonder what is his agenda? The urn was used two or three times perhaps when Tibet and Manchu China were in their most cordial relationship but was discarded when relations soured.
@ no.3 Tsering: What you had written is all mishmash of baloney, replete with absurdity if not kookiness, to say the least.
Your statement the 14th Dalai Lama himself was recognized by China does not hold any water. Some propaganda had brazenly uttered about it, which was diplomatically and debtly refuted by Ngabo Ngawang Jigme.
During the holy war period in the 17th century much bloodshed was carried out mainly by the Mongols in Tibet. The intense squable between Tulku Paksam Wangpo and Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal resulted the latter to flee into exile to Bhutan in 1616. Both of them were of Kagyu sect vying for a reincarnation at the time. Depa Tsangpa who had driven Shabdrung into exile was in turn murdered by the Mongols in the Shigatse Zong, thus ending the Tsangpa reign.
Why is China concerned about reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama when it could very well study the art of reincarnation from us Tibetans, and search for the reincarnation of Xi Jinping who wants to perpetuate his reign? And we’ll recognize Xi’s reincarnation. Viola, problem solved.
China’s willingness to insult Tibetans and the religious sentiments of Buddhists shows that the Chinese government represents Evil forces seeking to corrupt Buddhism from within. Their touted Chinese Buddhist leader was outed not too long ago but they want to do the same in Tibet!
Dear Tsering la,
I disagree with your statement and wish to clarify that His Holiness the Dalai lama has never issued two different views with regards to his reincarnation. I think you are either misinformed or you could not fully understood what was said by the His Holiness. What He actually declared was that His reincarnation will be born in a free democratic country, but not in totalitarian state, where people’s rights are curtailed to the extreme limit.
Yes, I agree with you that it was not an easy task to locate and identify the true/right incarnation of His Holiness due to the interference by the hostile power. Otherwise, the Tibetans are fully united today in one voice when it comes to the finding of His Holiness’ reincarnation. How come Tsering la gives an exact data about the number of people killed in clashes between the two major sects in that period? We need to be careful with our words as it could create unnecessary problems in society.
Dalai Lama said two contradictory things regarding his reincarnation. first he said 15th dalai lama would be decided by the Tibetan people. next, he changed it, and said ‘ no actually, 15th dalai lama will be decided by myself, not the Tibetan people.’
gyalwang drukpa has said ‘ Tibetan people’ is problematic if Dalai Lama meant the diaspora population of only 150K heads. 6 million still lives in Tibet under china.
But then, reincarnations have always been mired in intrigue and sectarian maneovering for hirarchical supremacy within Tibetan lamaism. 4 major sects have taken turns to rule Tibet with brutality equaling modern-day China. Gelugpa sects have killed over 10,000 Kagyu clergies during holy war for power. Karmapa lama was banished to Tsurphu Valley, forever to be condemned. 14th Dalai lama himself was recognized by China.
India doesn’t have a lot of benefit to support Dalai Lama at the expense of irking China. Looks like india will keep a non-cooperative stance. India might neither vocally support the 15th Dalai Lama born in India, nor will it condemn the one in China.
In that way, with brute force, international travel by the 15th Dalai Lama from India can be curtailed during his teenage years by Chinese pressure on foreign governments. This is likely to hit the free country candidate pretty hard.
The CCP wolves are gravely concerned about the reincarnation of HH The Dalai Lama. This goes to demonstrate that they have no legitimacy in Tibet without the Dalai Lama and that is why they will do anything in order to install a puppet Dalai Lama to use him as a proxy to win the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people. Without the Dalai Lama’s blessing, the Chinese are occupiers not “liberators” as the CCP touted the invasion. The Dalai Lama’s recent interview with Vijay Kranti for the Guardian made it perfectly clear that His reincarnation will not fall into Chinese hands. He has been saying this all along but the Chinese now feel compelled to make a move to make their claims in order to pressure India not to in anyway support such a move. This is in light of the US Congress which has made it clear that it will not recognize any candidate of the Dalai Lama by atheist CCP. It also brought to light the crucial role India plays concerning Tibet. China is DEPENDENT on India to legitimize its future candidate without which no other nation would willingly endorse a Chinese candidate. India has the moral authority because it has been the foundation head of Tibet’s cultural and religious tradition. Besides, since 1959, India and its people held the Dalai Lama in great esteem and therefore India has the moral authority concerning Tibet and Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. There is no way India can afford to favour Chinese claims and ignore the spiritual sensibilities of the people of Tibet and the Indian Himalayan region who are devout followers of the Dalai Lama. If India made another Himalayan blunder like it did in the 1950s, sacrificing its own national security by endorsing Chinese claims in order to placate China, It will jeopardize the loyalty of the whole Himalayan people.