By insisting that the next Dalai Lama will be selected by China, efforts are being made by Beijing to scuttle the 14th Dalai Lama’s plan to announce his next incarnation in 2025. But in the process, is the East Asian country not finding itself in a soup, as neither Tibetans nor the international community is ready to accept anyone other than the 14th Dalai Lama who symbolises resistance to China’s forced annexation of Tibet to decide.
It has also emphasised that policies and regulations for search of the “reincarnated living Buddha” must confirm the approval by the current Panchen Lama, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the country’s top political advisory body.
A decision to this effect was taken at a seminar which was held in Lanzhou, Gansu province in the early week of September, reported www.tibet.cn, an official Beijing-based website.
The seminar, organised by the Beijing-based Tibetan Buddhism College of China, was attended by more than 50 Tibetan Buddhist monks and religious experts belonging to the Buddhist Association of China. The college trains officially recognised Tibetan Buddhist monks.
By insisting that the next Dalai Lama will be selected by China, efforts are being made by Beijing to scuttle the 14th Dalai Lama’s plan to announce his next incarnation in 2025
China in a Hurry
The top leadership of the Communist Party of China seems to be in a hurry over the selection of Beijing-endorsed Dalai Lama much before the present Dalai Lama who has turned 89 in July 2024, announces his successor next year. The Tibetan spiritual leader has indicated that he will address the issue related with his reincarnation when he turns 90.
A large number of Tibetans spread across the world and powerful international community members like the US, Europe and other countries support the 14th Dalai Lama’s decision on the reincarnation issue.
The US’s Tibetan Policy and Support Act, which was unveiled in 2020, maintains that the “wishes of the 14th Dalai Lama, including any written instructions, should play a determinative role in the selection, education, and veneration of a future 15th Dalai Lama.” The Tibetan Policy and Support Act calls for sanctions on Chinese officials who interfere with Tibetan Buddhists’ succession practices.
This has unnerved China. Yet the CPC leadership feels that pre-empting the Tibetan spiritual leader’s decision on reincarnation would allow it to have an upper hand in giving the world a Dalai Lama of its own choice.
However, the Dalai Lama has already made it clear that China should keep itself away from the incarnation issue as it is his prerogative to declare his successor, a tradition which has been followed since 1391, when the first of his incarnations was born. The Dalai Lama has been reincarnated 13 times since 14th century.
The top leadership of the Communist Party of China seems to be in a hurry over the selection of Beijing-endorsed Dalai Lama much before the present Dalai Lama who has turned 89 in July 2024, announces his successor next year
Will Tibetan Buddhists Accept the China-backed Dalai Lama?
Experts feel that even if China moves to pick a new Dalai Lama of its choice, Tibetan Buddhists will not accept it, as the Dalai Lama holds a great significance to them. He is seen as a symbol of their nationalism and identity, say experts. They further maintain that the centuries old Tibetan reincarnation system is built on Tibetan Buddhists’ faith in rebirth.
As per the Tibetan Buddhism tradition, a search for the incarnated Dalai Lama follows a certain process which is based on signs that the existing Dalai Lama conveys to top Buddhist monks before his death. These senior Buddhist monks conduct an elaborate search for a child who is the Dalai Lama’s next incarnation.
As per the Sydney Morning Herald, the search involves consulting oracles, interpreting visions, and reading spiritual signs. Besides, these monks try to find clues from the deceased body of the Dalai Lama. When the body is cremated then smoke emitting out of the pyre is monitored. The direction of the smoke provides clues about the direction of rebirth of the next Dalai Lama.
This apart, dreams are considered to be an important guide in the search for the incarnated Dalai Lama. For example, monks tasked to search for the Dalai Lama often meditate at the central Tibet-based Lhamo La-Tso, which has been revered for centuries by Tibetan Buddhists as an oracle lake. On the bank of this lake, monks meditate till they get a vision or insight into the whereabouts of the Dalai Lama’s rebirth, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The US’s Tibetan Policy and Support Act, which was unveiled in 2020, maintains that the “wishes of the 14th Dalai Lama, including any written instructions, should play a determinative role in the selection, education, and veneration of a future 15th Dalai Lama.”
After a child is found following these visions and signs, a series of tests are carried out to verify the rebirth. The child is presented with items, some of which belonged to the earlier Dalai Lama. If the child identifies which objects belonged to the previous Dalai Lama, it is taken as a sign.
The 14th Dalai Lama was found at the age of two when a senior monk saw his village and house in a vision during meditation at the Lhamo La-Tso, the oracle lake. The boy then named as Lhamo Thondup was able to identify items that belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama, including a drum used for rituals, rosaries, and a walking stick.
The Dalai Lama has already made it clear that China should keep itself away from the incarnation issue as it is his prerogative to declare his successor, a tradition which has been followed since 1391
In his autobiography, My Land and My People, the 14th Dalai Lama said that as a child, he recognised a senior Buddhist monk who had disguised himself to observe the local children, and successfully identified a number of articles that belonged to the previous Dalai Lama.
Belief in Reincarnation
Based on belief in rebirth, not all incarnated Dalai Lamas have been found in Tibet. The fourth Dalai Lama was found in Mongolia, South China Morning Post reported.
However, just opposed to Tibetan Buddhists’ traditions and customs for the search of the reincarnated Dalai Lama, the Communist Party of China follows a tradition which was tried during a Qing dynasty (1644-1911) emperor.
The said Qing dynasty emperor used to carry out a ritual known as the Golden Urn ceremony to identify the reincarnated Dalai Lama. This ritual was launched in the 18th century, but it was disrupted by political upheavals and wars in China in the early 20th century. It was again revived by the CPC and incorporated into official regulations in 2007, the Hong Kong-based English language newspaper said.
As per the Tibetan Buddhism tradition, a search for the incarnated Dalai Lama follows a certain process which is based on signs that the existing Dalai Lama conveys to top Buddhist monks before his death
China and its appointed Buddhists want to follow this ritual in the identification of the reincarnated Dalai Lama. After the death of the Panchen Lama, the second most important spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama, in 1989, the CPC-backed search team had identified a child as his reincarnation through the Golden Urn ritual in 1995. The 14th Dalai Lama and his followers refused to recognise him.
China watchers say if China insists on carrying out the Golden Urn ritual to find out the Dalai Lama of its choice, he may face the same rejection by Tibetan monks and their backers across the world.
Yet, despite this, China appears ready to give the world the Dalai Lama of its choice. It means there will be two Dalai Lamas, one backed by China and other recognised by the followers of the 14th Dalai Lama. However, in the process to win the plot against the 14th Dalai Lama, China has failed to learn lessons from the past.
Experts say that Beijing may have conquered Tibet by force, but it has failed to suppress Tibetan Buddhists physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually
China appointed Panchen Lama is not recognised by Tibetan Buddhists and the world. The same is true with the Karmapa, third most important Tibetan spiritual leader. Tibetan Buddhists and the international community do not recognise the China-appointed Karmapa as the legitimate head of the Karma Kagyu sect.
In the matter of faith and spiritualism, China’s interference will backfire, experts say. They argue that Beijing may have conquered Tibet by force, but it has failed to suppress Tibetan Buddhists physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. They continue to take bold steps while asserting their national identity; they protest against China’s occupation of Tibet, while at the same time defending their tradition, practices and culture.
–The writer is a senior journalist with wide experience in covering international affairs. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
–The writer is a senior journalist with wide experience in covering international affairs. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
