The Next Dalai Lama: How Tibetan Monks Will 'Confirm' Reincarnation
On his 91st birthday in Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama may reveal his successor—born outside China—defying Beijing's efforts to control Tibetan spiritual leadership
Tibetans in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, are preparing for a grand celebration of the Dalai Lama's 91st birthday, amid much speculation that he may designate his successor. Unlike political appointments, the selection of a new Dalai Lama is guided by Buddhism's traditional process of reincarnation. Yet China insists on controlling this process, claiming the right to approve the next Dalai Lama, an assertion many Tibetans view as an attempt to undermine their culture.
The succession is not merely a religious matter but one with geopolitical significance, drawing interest from India, the United States, and of course, China. The Nobel Peace Laureate has led the Tibetan community from Dharamshala for 66 years since fleeing Tibet in 1959, and remains revered far beyond Buddhist circles.
How The 14th Dalai Lama Was Chosen
According to Tibetan tradition, it is believed that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated after death. The 14th Dalai Lama was born on July 6, 1935, as Lhamo Dhondup into a farming family in north-eastern Tibet. At the age of two, a search team appointed by the Tibetan government confirmed his identity as the 'reincarnation" when he apparently recognised possessions belonging to the 13th Dalai Lama.
In the winter of 1940, Lhamo Dhondup was brought to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, where he was formally enthroned as the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.
This time, the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, set up by the Dalai Lama in 2015, will head the search and recognition process. The Dalai Lama has stated that his successor will be born outside China, ensuring freedom from political interference.
The Selection of His Successor
The process of the selection of the successor involves:
Ensuring Tibetan Governance In Exile
Until a new Dalai Lama emerges, the Tibetan Parliamentary body in Dharamshala will continue managing governance and ensuring continuity of Tibetan leadership.
Beijing asserts that its leaders must approve the next Dalai Lama, relying on a Qing-era golden urn method (established in 1793) and insisting that the next incarnation be born within China.
The Tibetan exiled government rejects this, arguing China, an officially atheist state, has no place in spiritual matters. Beijing counters by labelling the Dalai Lama a 'separatist' and heavily regulates devotion to him within China.
With over 100,000 Tibetan Buddhists in India, China views the Dalai Lama's presence there as contentious. Meanwhile, the US last year passed laws urging China to refrain from interference, framing the issue as one of religious freedom and human rights.
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News18
an hour ago
- News18
Will There Be Two Dalai Lamas? Inside The Clash Between China And Gaden Phodrang Trust
The Dalai Lama today reaffirmed that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust can decide his reincarnation, rejecting China's claim to appoint a successor through state-backed channels As the 14th Dalai Lama turns 90 this week on July 6, the quiet monastery town of Dharamshala is again at the centre of a global debate. The issue this time goes beyond religion; it's about who gets to decide the spiritual future of Tibet, and more importantly, who gets to control it. At the heart of this succession struggle is the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the only institution authorised by the Dalai Lama to recognise his future reincarnation. China has made no secret of its intention to identify its own Dalai Lama candidate, using state-controlled religious channels. While it has never appointed a Dalai Lama before, Beijing has repeatedly signalled, particularly through a 2007 regulation, that it intends to name its own successor after the 14th Dalai Lama passes. The Gaden Phodrang, however, asserts exclusive spiritual and historical legitimacy in the succession process. As both sides prepare to assert their claims, the role of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, and why it remains central to the search for the next Dalai Lama has come into sharp focus. FROM TEMPORAL POWER TO SPIRITUAL CUSTODIANSHIP The Gaden Phodrang was originally the name of the government established by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. It was both the spiritual and temporal authority in Tibet, ruling from the Potala Palace in Lhasa. For centuries, this institution was central to Tibetan governance, combining monastic leadership with political power. After the Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1950 and the subsequent flight of the 14th Dalai Lama to India in 1959, the Gaden Phodrang was re-established in exile. Over time, its role evolved. In 2011, the Dalai Lama gave up all political authority, passing it to the democratically elected Central Tibetan Administration. The Gaden Phodrang remained his personal spiritual office, which he then formalised as a non-profit trust to carry forward his religious legacy. Since then, the Gaden Phodrang Trust has served as the spiritual and institutional body overseeing matters relating to the Dalai Lama's lineage, teachings, and reincarnation. The current Dalai Lama has repeatedly emphasised that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust can carry out the process of identifying his successor. This position has been established through decades of spiritual discourse and policy decisions: As early as 1969, the Dalai Lama publicly stated that whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue was for the Tibetan people to decide. In 2011, this was codified in a resolution: when the Dalai Lama turns 90, a decision would be made—if succession were to proceed, the process would be led entirely by the Gaden Phodrang, in consultation with Tibetan Buddhist leaders and spiritual protectors. On Wednesday, days before his 90th birthday, he reaffirmed that no one else, governmental or otherwise, has any authority to interfere in this matter. 'I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter," the Dalai Lama said, clearly drawing the battle lines against Beijing's ambitions to appoint a China-backed successor. This exclusive mandate derives from religious tradition, the personal authority of the Dalai Lama, and the institutional continuity of Gaden Phodrang's spiritual role. THE TRADITIONAL PROCESS OF RECOGNISING A DALAI LAMA According to Tibetan custom, after a Dalai Lama passes away, senior monks and spiritual advisors consult oracles, observe dreams, and interpret visions. They also look for physical signs and test potential children to see if they recognise sacred items from the previous Dalai Lama's life. It was through this process that the current Dalai Lama was discovered in 1939. A two-year-old boy in Amdo, northeastern Tibet, identified objects belonging to the 13th Dalai Lama, and was eventually enthroned in 1940. This sacred, non-political process is what the Gaden Phodrang Trust now seeks to preserve. CHINA'S CHALLENGE: GOLDEN URN AND STATE CONTROL The Chinese government has a different vision. Beijing claims the right to manage all religious affairs within its borders, including reincarnations. It bases its claim on a 1793 Qing Dynasty edict, which introduced the Golden Urn system—a lottery-based method to select reincarnated lamas. Though seldom used historically, China now insists it must be the only method allowed. In 2007, the Chinese State Administration for Religious Affairs passed a regulation stating that all reincarnations of Tibetan Buddhist leaders must receive state approval. This legal framework effectively blocks any candidate from being recognised in China without Communist Party approval. The Dalai Lama has explicitly rejected this, stating that his reincarnation will be born in a 'free country", outside Chinese jurisdiction. THE PANCHEN LAMA CONTROVERSY The Panchen Lama case stands as the clearest precedent for what may unfold again. The Panchen Lama is traditionally the second-highest spiritual authority in Tibetan Buddhism, often playing a key role in identifying the Dalai Lama's reincarnation. In 1995, the 14th Dalai Lama identified a six-year-old boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the 11th Panchen Lama. Within days, Chinese authorities abducted the boy and his family. He has not been seen since. In his place, Beijing installed its own Panchen Lama—Gyaincain Norbu—a child loyal to the Party's religious apparatus. However, the Chinese-appointed figure is widely rejected by the Tibetan exile community and many Buddhists worldwide. He is seen as a political figure lacking spiritual legitimacy. The controversy continues to cast a long shadow, reinforcing why the Gaden Phodrang Trust is determined to safeguard the traditional, monastic-led process of reincarnation. The fear remains that Beijing will attempt a similar intervention in the case of the Dalai Lama, using state power to impose a successor lacking spiritual legitimacy. WHY THE TRUST MATTERS TO INDIA AND THE WORLD The Gaden Phodrang Trust is not just a religious entity; it is based in Dharamshala, India, and symbolises India's moral and spiritual support for the Tibetan cause. For India, the Dalai Lama represents more than a refugee; he is a cultural guest, a Nobel laureate, and a symbol of religious freedom. The succession process, therefore, places India in a diplomatically sensitive spot. If the next Dalai Lama is found within India, it may strain ties with China, but refusing to support the Trust's authority could weaken New Delhi's moral standing. Globally, countries like the United States have already legislated support for the Tibetan-led succession process. The Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 authorises sanctions against any Chinese officials who interfere with the Dalai Lama's reincarnation. The European Parliament and other democratic governments have echoed similar sentiments. TWO DALAI LAMAS? All signs point to a likely duality in succession. China is expected to appoint its own Dalai Lama through official state institutions, possibly invoking the Golden Urn—a Qing-era ritual it used in the Panchen Lama case. On the other side, the Gaden Phodrang Trust, following established Tibetan Buddhist procedures, is expected to identify a reincarnation outside Chinese territory, most likely from among exile communities. top videos View all This would result in two claimants: one endorsed by the Chinese state and the other recognised by the Tibetan religious hierarchy and the global diaspora. The world must now prepare for a religious showdown with geopolitical implications. The question is no longer just 'who will be the next Dalai Lama?", it is also 'whose Dalai Lama will the world accept?" About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @ More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : China on Dalai Lama Dalai Lama Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 02, 2025, 12:34 IST News world Will There Be Two Dalai Lamas? Inside The Clash Between China And Gaden Phodrang Trust
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Dalai Lama unveils succession plan, ahead of his 90th birthday
The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognised has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement. I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter Dharamshala/Beijing: The Dalai Lama has reaffirmed that only his official office will choose his successor, rejecting any Chinese claim over selecting the next spiritual leader. The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has said the 600-year-old institution would continue after his death, and it would choose his future reincarnation, effectively excluding China from any role over appointing the 15th Dalai Lama. Beijing, however, has maintained that any reincarnation of the monk must be approved by China's central government. In an official statement released on Wednesday, the 14th Dalai Lama announced that the Gaden Phodrang Trust — the official office of the Dalai Lama — alone will decide on the recognition of the 15th reincarnation. "The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognised has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama," the Buddhist monk said. "They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition. I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter," he added. The statement, released days before his 90th birthday on July 6, has far-reaching implications for his millions of Buddhist followers worldwide. It also came as a message to Beijing, which has long sought to control Tibetan religious traditions to tighten its grip over the region. Meanwhile, Beijing said that it had to approve the identity of the Dalai Lama's successor and that it had to be done in China through a centuries-old ritual. "The Dalai Lama's succession must comply with Chinese laws and regulations as well as religious rituals and historical conventions," Mao Ning, spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry said. The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Lhasa, has since lived in exile along with thousands of Tibetans. While China brands him a separatist and a rebel, the Dalai Lama remains for many a global icon of non-violence, compassion and the Tibetan struggle to preserve their identity.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Dalai Lama, China in succession storm
McLeod Ganj , Himachal Pradesh: The Dalai Lama reiterated on Wednesday that his title will be carried on by his successor, rejecting China 's claim that it will have a final say in recognising any future occupant of the spiritual office. "The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognised has been clearly established in the 24 September, 2011 statement, which states that the responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with the members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama," Tibet's spiritual leader said in a written statement to the media ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6. This sparked an immediate response from the Chinese government, which reiterated that Beijing will decide on his successor. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo The much-awaited announcement from the Dalai Lama quells years of speculation over the future of the position after the passing of the incumbent, who is the 14th spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism . In the cloudy reaches of McLeod Ganj, the statement indicating that the next Dalai Lama will be reincarnated, appears to have galvanised the resolve of the Tibetan community to keep fighting despite plenty of setbacks in the recent past. The community in the hills is in the middle of prayers and celebrations to mark the Dalai Lama's birthday. Live Events Golden Urn vs Traditional Way Senior spiritual figures of Tibetan Buddhism as well as young Tibetan leaders from around the world have arrived in McLeod Ganj over the past few days. Hollywood star Richard Gere, a long-time supporter of the Tibetan cause, is also in town. The statement was delivered after the Dalai Lama met 11 spiritual leaders of Tibetan Buddhism in McLeod Ganj. The current Dalai Lama, born Tenzin Gyatso in 1935, has lived in exile in India since 1959 after fleeing Chinese aggression following an uprising in Lhasa. This had failed to overthrow the Chinese, who occupied Tibet in 1950. This announcement also brings to an end decades of speculation on whether the Dalai Lama would reincarnate, emanate or wind up the office altogether. The traditional belief is that the Dalai Lama is reincarnated in a body of his choosing after his death. The Dalai Lama had signalled earlier that he could choose not to reincarnate and be the last of the line. He had also indicated emanation, suggesting that he could pass on the mantle to a person of his choosing during his lifetime — and not reincarnate. The statement and its repercussions will be watched closely by the Xi Jinping government. China considers the current Dalai Lama a political dissident. Beijing argues that the next spiritual leader of Tibet must be selected using the Golden Urn method . Its position is that the Qing Emperor Qianlong had codified procedures for recognising the Dalai Lama's reincarnations in 1793.
