 "Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends an event celebrating his 90th birthday according to a Tibetan calendar at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, Monday, June 30, 2025, ahead of his birthday according to the Gregorian calendar on July 6. AP")
The Dalai Lama has confirmed that he will have a successor, ensuring the continuation of the centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist institution. The Tibetan spiritual leader has ended years of speculation that the sacred tradition may end with him.
The announcement comes just ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday (July 6). The Dalai Lama also emphasised that his successor should be found and identified as per Buddhist traditions, in a message to China not to interfere.
This is set to annoy the Asian giant, which wants to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama. On the Tibetan spiritual leader’s declaration, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing on Wednesday (July 2) that “the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must adhere to the principles of domestic search in China” and “approval by the central government.”
Mao added the process must “follow religious rituals and historical settings, and be handled in accordance with national laws and regulations.”
But how is the Dalai Lama chosen? We explain the process through graphics.