Who will succeed Dalai Lama? He says free Tibetans will decide 'next incarnation'

The Dalai Lama on Wednesday said that the institution will continue after him and free Tibetans will appoint the successor.

In accordance with requests of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama said that “I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue”.

“I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” the Dalai Lama further said in a statement released on Tuesday.

The statement comes days ahead the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday. He had previously said that he would provide clarity about succession around his 90th birthday.

The Dalai Lama will turn 90 on Sunday. The Tibetan community is currently holding multi-day celebrations in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, where he has stayed for decades. The Tibetan movement runs a government-in-exile in Dharamshala.

More from World

Dalai Lama turns 90, says he is ‘a simple Buddhist monk,’ vows to keep 'promoting harmony' After Dalai Lama asserts succession decision, China says its nod must for next incarnation

China invaded and occupied Tibet in 1949-50. The Dalai Lama has been living in India in exile since 1959 when he arrived in the country after a Tibetan uprising against Chinese occupation failed.

The question of the Dalai Lama’s succession is politically sensitive as China has labelled him as a separatist. China must be watching any announcement carefully and is expected to react strongly. For years, China has maintained for years that any successor anointed in exile would not be recognised.

In recent years, and particularly in recent months, the Dalai Lama has suggested that his successor would not be from Tibet from the exiled Tibetan community — likely in India.

Impact Shorts

View All

'We are aware': US State Department tells Firstpost on Munir's nuclear threats

Trump to meet one-on-one with Putin in Alaska — a repeat of infamous Helsinki summit

In recent years, as India-China relationship hit a new low following Chinese aggression in 2020, the Narendra Modi government has renewed engagement with the Tibetan movement. During ongoing birthday celebrations, senior Indian politicians, such as Union minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, have been present.

In a book published this year, the Dalai Lama said that his successor would be born in the "free world". This meant that the successor would be from outside of China-occupied Tibet.

“Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama —that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people— will continue,” writes the Dalai Lama in the book.

Earlier this week, the Dalai Lama said that there will be some kind of a framework for the continuation of the institution after his death.

“The rest of my life I will dedicate for the benefit of others, as much as possible, as extensive as possible. There will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lamas,” the Dalai Lama said.

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists. Every Dalai Lama is considered to be the reincarnation of the previous one. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th in line.