‘Dalai Lama's reincarnation invalid without Chinese govt recognition'

The Star

2 days ago

An aerial drone photo, taken on Feb 16, 2025, shows the snow scenery of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region. - Photo: Xinhua
COLOMBO: The appointment of someone as the Dalai Lama's reincarnation must be recognised by the Chinese government for it to be considered valid, senior Sri Lankan Buddhist monk Maitipe Wimalasara Thero has said.
Wimalasara told Xinhua this in an exclusive interview after the Dalai Lama said his office had "sole authority" to name a successor after his death.
Wimalasara is a famous Buddhist monk, scholar and educator in Sri Lanka. He is currently the chief incumbent and the director of the Parama Dhamma Chethiya Maha Pirivena, an important Buddhist monastery and a monastic school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Founded in 1841, it has become a Buddhist education landmark for both laymen and monks, hosting hundreds of student-monks from all over the world.
Wimalasara is also the chief of the English section of the World Buddhist Sangha Council, an international non-governmental Buddhism organisation.
"I am familiar with the Tibetan Buddhist concept of the Living Buddha, or Tulku," he said.
Wimalasara said Tibetan Buddhism is a rich and profound tradition within Mahayana Buddhism, known for its unique practices. In Tibetan Buddhism, the living Buddha, or Tulku, is a highly respected figure believed to be the reincarnation of a previous master who has attained a high-level spiritual realisation, he explained, adding that this system is crucial for maintaining the continuity of Tibetan Buddhist lineages.
He stressed that the identification of a Tulku should follow the traditional procedures, and the process must be transparent and respected by the Buddhist community. Additionally, the reincarnation system should serve the greater good of the Buddhist community, preserve the teachings and foster harmony among practitioners.
In China, lot-drawing from a golden urn is a method used in Tibetan Buddhism to select the reincarnated soul of a deceased grand living Buddha. This method was formally introduced in 1792 under the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Since then, golden urn lot-drawing has been an established tradition and widely practiced religious ritual.
In accordance with the Rules Governing the Reincarnation of Tibetan Living Buddhas, the golden urn method has to be applied in the reincarnation of a living Buddha if his own selection as a living Buddha was determined by this method. Applications to be exempt from such a procedure should be submitted via religious affairs offices at the provincial (or autonomous region) level to the State Administration for Religious Affairs, or in case of an important selection, to the State Council for approval.
Ever since the golden urn method was mandated, the selection of reincarnations has always been subject to the supervision by the central government. Only under special circumstances and upon the approval of the central government can the ritual be dispensed with.
Wimalasara said the Chinese government is the ultimate authority to recognise the Dalai Lama's reincarnation, "because that was the practice."
"While the Dalai Lama is a religious leader, he should recognise that the endorsement is necessary to carry on his mission. We cannot neglect the religious tradition," Wimalasara said.
"If we do not have a good relationship with the government, we can't go with the religion," he said.
The reincarnation is not just somebody's wish or plan, and it cannot come like that, Wimalasara added. - Xinhua