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Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
The next Dalai Lama
Opinion The whole business of succession would be a lot simpler if the Dalai Lama could just regenerate, like Doctor Who. When the time comes for The Doctor to stop looking like David Tennant and start looking like Matt Smith, there's flame coming out of his head and gushing out of his sleeves, and then he explodes. When the smoke clears, there's the new Doctor. There's no delay and no doubt. Once you accept (temporarily) the show's basic premise that Doctor Who is a benevolent immortal alien who periodically 'regenerates' from one human form to another, not even being consistent in ethnicity or gender from one body to the next, you know instantly that it's the same Doctor in there despite appearances. With the dear old Dalai Lama, it's different. Reincarnation still happens, but the souls of the dead migrate into the bodies of a newborn and retain no memory of their previous lives. This becomes a problem when the soul of your religion's leader has to be tracked down in one of those thousands who were born around the same time the leader died. That is exactly the problem facing the Gelug 'Yellow Hat' tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, whose leader, the Dalai Lama, turned 90 on Sunday. He will therefore soon be leaving his current incarnation, and it will be the task of his closest associates to track down the young child in whom his soul has taken up residence — who will then become the next Dalai Lama. Then the troubles really start, because Tibet has been officially part of the People's Republic of China since the Chinese invasion of 1950 and Beijing does not like religious leaders who are beyond its control. In fact, it doesn't like religious leaders at all, especially if they also embody the national aspirations of a subject people — and least of all if they live abroad The Dalai Lama ticks every box. He fled Tibet in the midst of a CIA-backed popular rebellion against foreign rule in 1959. He has lived in exile ever since in the northern Indian city of Dharamshala, surrounded by tens of thousands of other Tibetan exiles. And he heads what is in practice a Tibetan government-in-exile, although no other country recognizes it. This makes the Communist authorities in Beijing nervous even though there is no real challenge to Chinese control. They therefore see the Dalai Lama's passing, whenever it happens, as a golden opportunity to 'nationalize' Tibetan Buddhism by giving the state the power to choose his successor. We already had a preview of this 35 years ago when the Panchen Lama, second only to the Dalai Lama, died. After a lengthy but low-profile search Tibetan monks found a six-year-old boy called Gedhun Choekyi Nyima who matched the requirements, and the Dalai Lama (in exile) proclaimed him as the new Panchen Lama in 1995. The little boy and his family were immediately arrested and 'disappeared'; none of them has ever been seen again. The Dalai Lama will not make that mistake twice: he has already said that his next reincarnation will be found in 'the free world,' which presumably means outside China. But the vast majority of Tibetans still live in Tibet, and it is already clear that they will get a different Dalai Lama, chosen for them by the communist regime. It could end up like the Great Western Schism of 1378-1417, with two and then three popes at the same time — and that situation could easily last as long, depending on what happens to China in the long run. All of this is ultimately about the survival of a separate Tibetan identity, which is still theoretically possible. Beijing has not yet adopted the final solution it is applying to the Uyghur minority: only Chinese may be used in the schools in both regions, but the Tibetans are not yet being drowned with Han Chinese immigrants. The Chinese communist regime is now a little bit older than the Soviet Union was when it collapsed, but the CCP is still going strong. If it lasts another 50 years, Tibet's identity will certainly be eradicated, for there are more than 200 Chinese for every Tibetan. But if it's gone in 20 years, Tibetan culture may well survive. Gwynne Dyer's new book is 'Intervention Earth: Life-Saving Ideas from the World's Climate Engineers'.
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Long live the dear old Dalai Lama
The whole business of succession would be a lot simpler if the Dalai Lama could just regenerate, like Doctor Who. When the time comes for the Doctor to stop looking like David Tennant and start looking like Matt Smith, there's flame coming out of his head and gushing out of his sleeves, and then he explodes. When the smoke clears, there's the new Doctor. There's no delay and no doubt. Once you accept (temporarily) the show's basic premise that Doctor Who is a benevolent immortal alien who periodically regenerates from one human form to another, not even being consistent in ethnicity or gender from one body to the next, you know instantly that it's the same Doctor in there despite appearances. With the dear old Dalai Lama, it's different. Reincarnation still happens, but the souls of the dead migrate into the bodies of the newborn and retain no memory of their previous lives. This becomes a problem when the soul of your religion's leader has to be tracked down in one of those thousands who were born around the same time the leader died. That is exactly the problem facing the Gelug "Yellow Hat" tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, whose leader, the Dalai Lama, turned 90 on Sunday. He will therefore soon be leaving his current incarnation, and it will be the task of his closest associates to track down the young child in whom his soul has taken up residence — who will then become the next Dalai Lama. Then the troubles really start, because Tibet has been officially part of the People's Republic of China since the Chinese invasion of 1950 and Beijing does not like religious leaders who are beyond its control. In fact, it doesn't like religious leaders at all, especially if they also embody the national aspirations of a subject people — and least of all if they live abroad. The Dalai Lama ticks every box. He fled Tibet in the midst of a CIA-backed popular rebellion against foreign rule in 1959. He has lived in exile ever since in the northern Indian city of Dharamshala, surrounded by tens of thousands of other Tibetan exiles. And he heads what is in practice a Tibetan government-in-exile, although no other country recognises it. There is nevertheless a good deal of ambient sympathy for Tibet not only in Western countries but in countries of the global south that got their independence just as Tibet was losing its own. They never say anything about it out loud because China is far too big and rich to risk offending, but they do know a colonial relationship when they see one. This makes the communist authorities in Beijing nervous even though there is no real challenge to Chinese control. They therefore see the Dalai Lama's death, whenever it happens, as a golden opportunity to "nationalise" Tibetan Buddhism by giving the state the power to choose his successor. We already had a preview of this 35 years ago when the Panchen Lama, second only to the Dalai Lama, died. After a lengthy but low-profile search Tibetan monks found a 6-year-old boy called Gedhun Choekyi Nyima who matched the requirements, and the Dalai Lama (in exile) proclaimed him as the new Panchen Lama in 1995. The little boy and his family were immediately arrested and "disappeared"; none of them has ever been seen again. The Dalai Lama will not make that mistake twice: he has already said that his next reincarnation will be found in "the free world", which presumably means outside China. But the vast majority of Tibetans still live in Tibet, and it is already clear that they will get a different Dalai Lama, chosen for them by the communist regime. It could end up like the Great Western Schism of 1378-1417, with two and then three popes at the same time — and that situation could easily last as long, depending on what happens to China in the long run. All of this is ultimately about the survival of a separate Tibetan identity, which is still theoretically possible. Beijing has not yet adopted the final solution it is applying to the Uyghur minority: only Chinese may be used in the schools in both regions, but the Tibetans are not yet being drowned with Han Chinese immigrants. The Chinese communist regime is now a little bit older than the Soviet Union was when it collapsed, but the CCP is still going strong. If it lasts another 50 years, Tibet's identity will certainly be eradicated, for there are more than 200 Chinese for every Tibetan. But if it's gone in 20 years, Tibetan culture may well survive. • Gwynne Dyer is an independent London journalist.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
How the Dalai Lama practices mindfulness daily—and what you can learn from him
Image credits: Getty Images The Dalai Lama is the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The term Dalai Lama is a part of the full title "Holiness Knowing Everything Vajradhara Dalai Lama" and is a title that is accepted by each successive leader. Currently, the XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso is the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. Born in a small village Taktser in northeastern Tibet to a peasant family, he was recognised as the reincarnation of his predecessor of the 13th Dalai Lama at the young age of two. The Dalai Lama is a figure known to harness the power of mindfulness and often teaches people about how they can integrate the quality into their day-to-day lives. He will celebrate his 90th birthday on July 6 and prior to that he took to social media to send a message to his followers, writing: "On the occasion of my 90th birthday, I understand that well-wishers and friends in many places, including Tibetan communities, are gathering for celebrations. I develop determination and courage in my daily life through the teachings of the Buddha and Indian masters such as Shantideva, whose following aspiration I strive to uphold. As long as space endures, As long as sentient being remain, Until then, may I too remain To dispel the miseries of the world," he wrote. undefined How does the Dalai Lama practice mindfulness daily? Image credits: X Mindfulness allows a person to develop awareness of their self, thoughts, emotions and actions creating clarity and aiding self-regulation in an often chaotic world. According to the Dalai Lama, mindfulness is not merely a meditative practice but a way of fostering present-moment awareness along with ethical responsibility. When at home, his holiness wakes up at 3 am and begins the day with prayers, meditations and prostrations until 5 am. He also takes a short walk around the premises. From 9 am he studies various Buddhist texts and commentaries written by Buddhist masters. Throughout the day he includes many meditation sessions for at least two hours. He includes structural frameworks of Buddhism to obtain mindfulness through the practices of Shamatha and Vipassana. Shamatha or "calm abiding" trains the mind through focused attention and tranquillity by focusing on breath or a visual image. Vipasaana meaning "insight meditation" complements the earlier practice by profound introspection and wisdom. He also believes that the four foundations of mindfulness- contemplation of body, feeling, mind and dhammas, deepen a practitioner's ability to gain mastery over his or her own mind. He teaches to practice mindfulness not only through meditation but also by being aware of every moment and the actions we take in them-how you eat, how you talk, how you listen. He also includes the tantric practice of deity yoga which involves transforming death and rebirth into the three bodies of a Buddha. For the Dalai Lama, mindfulness and compassion align with each other and a great way to inculcate both is by the practice of tong len, giving and taking. On one side you visualize your own normal self that is impervious to others' well-being and on the other side, you visualise a group of people who are suffering. Thirdly, you view yourself as a neutral observer. This helps you understand the limitations of self-centredness and the importance of concerning one with the welfare of other beings. Thus, one can learn to include meditation, reading of dharma texts, momentary mindfulness and compassion in their regular schedule from the Dalai Lama.
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Indian Express
Dalai Lama turns 90: At McLeodganj, why celebrations are tinged with anxieties
A fine drizzle has hung over the Dhauladhar foothills all day, coating the deodar trees in mist and leaving the paved mountain roads slick and gleaming. As the rain taps softly on the tin roofs of McLeodganj, the scent of wet earth rises through the winding lanes that lead to an often-overlooked building. Here, Tek Chand, 37, moves through two small rooms with a broom in his hand. The air is damp, the wood slightly musty. But the rooms remain unchanged — sheltering an overlooked chapter in the modern history of Tibet and its people. 'These rooms have stayed untouched,' he says. Once known as Swarg Ashram, the modest structure is perched just beyond the town's edge, at the end of a quiet road veiled in fog. In 1960, when the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, and his entourage of family members, senior Lamas and others arrived in India after a perilous journey from Tibet, he travelled through Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), Tezpur (Assam) and Mussoorie, before finally reaching Dharamshala and then, the ashram in McLeodganj. For eight pivotal years, the ashram served as the residence of the Tibetan spiritual leader as he began rebuilding a displaced nation in exile. Over 2 km and a world away from this hushed hillside is the vibrant heart of McLeodganj, often called Mini-Lhasa. Today, it hums with reverence and celebration in anticipation of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday on July 6. An expected public address at his current residence and monastery complex, Tsuglagkhang, is the big draw. Restaurants dish out Tibetan cuisine to throngs of visitors and pilgrims from around the world stroll alongside crimson-robed monks, many hoping to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama himself. The compound, which includes his private quarters and a grand Tibetan temple, is now the heart of the Tibetan community in exile. But beyond the festivities, the air is thick with significance. On July 2, in a statement that resonated across the Tibetan world and beyond, the Dalai Lama declared that the centuries-old institution of the Dalai Lama would continue, and that his 'reincarnation' would be managed solely by his Gaden Phodrang Trust in accordance with Tibetan traditions — not Beijing's directives. The idea of reincarnation is rooted in a Buddhist belief system that all living beings are bound by a cycle of birth and death. The pronouncement by the Dalai Lama followed a three-day Tibetan religious conference in Dharamshala. Spiritual leaders from all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism — Gelug, Nyingma, Sakya, and Kagyu — had convened to discuss the sensitive and politically charged question of succession. With Chinese authorities signalling their intentions to control the next reincarnation, the Dalai Lama's announcement reasserted the Tibetan community's spiritual independence — a message of both defiance and continuity. The Dalai Lama is central to the economy and spiritual identity of McLeodganj. His presence has transformed this once-quiet Himalayan hamlet into an internationally recognised hub of Tibetan Buddhism, fuelling tourism, business growth and cultural vibrancy. Events such as the 90th birthday bring new cycles of economic opportunity paired with growing concerns over infrastructure and sustainability. According to local tourism officials, foreign arrivals to McLeodganj surged from around 2,700 in 2021 to over 51,000 in 2023. The momentum has continued into 2025. In the first six months of the year, officials say, over 10 lakh tourists, both domestic as well as international, have arrived in Kangra district. Despite this effortless integration of cultures and communities, the Tibetan issue has always been a sensitive one for India, Tibet and China since the early 1950s. While then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru welcomed waves of embattled Tibetans and granted the Dalai Lama asylum in 1959, even in the face of immense criticism and fears of 'antagonising China', after the India-China war in 1962, Delhi has been cautious about its public pronouncements on the Dalai Lama. Since then, the Indian government has adopted a more nuanced position. While maintaining that the Dalai Lama is a 'revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India' and that he has 'all the freedom to carry out his religious activities in India', Delhi doesn't officially support the Tibetan community's political activism in India. More so now, when India and China are working towards normalising the bilateral relationship after a tense border standoff since 2020. On July 4, the Ministry of External Affairs released a carefully worded statement saying the government 'does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion. The Government has always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and will continue to do so.' Beijing, which views the Dalai Lama as a 'separatist', prohibits any public show of devotion towards the Tibetan spiritual leader. For China, a say in the selection process of the Dalai Lama, a deeply revered figure in Tibet, is seen as a way to exert its authority over the Tibetan people. China has rejected the Nobel Peace laureate's succession plan, insisting that any future heir must receive its seal of approval. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the reincarnation 'must be chosen by drawing lots from a Golden Urn, and approved by the central government (of China).' A day later, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju — who, along with Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, is representing the Indian government at the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday event in Dharamshala on July 6 — said the decision (on the incarnation of the Dalai Lama) would be taken by the established institution and the Dalai Lama himself, no one else. Rijiju's statement ties in with New Delhi's position that the Dalai Lama is a religious leader. Tucked against the forested slopes of the Dhauladhar mountains, just above the noisy cafés and narrow alleyways of McLeodganj, stands Tsuglagkhang, a place at once sacred and deeply political. This Tibetan Buddhist temple, also known as the Tsuglagkhang Complex, is not just a religious site — it is the emotional and spiritual centre of the Tibetan community in exile. Constructed in the 1960s after the 14th Dalai Lama settled in India, it was built to provide a new seat for the Gaden Phodrang (the institution that governs the reincarnation process of the Dalai Lama), the Tibetan government-in-exile and a place of worship for thousands of Tibetan refugees. Over the decades, it has grown from a modest structure into a sprawling complex that includes the main temple, the Namgyal Monastery, the Dalai Lama's private residence, and his office. The temple itself is simple but serene. Its architecture draws from traditional Tibetan monastic design — bold red and gold beams, intricately carved woodwork, and prayer flags fluttering in the crisp mountain breeze. Inside, the walls are painted with ancient thangka murals, their colours glowing dimly beneath soft natural light. At the temple's heart sits a towering gilded statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, flanked by figures of Avalokiteshvara and Padmasambhava, two deeply revered Bodhisattvas in the Tibetan pantheon. Every morning, the scent of juniper and butter lamps fills the air as monks and devotees begin their prostrations and circumambulations, sending their prayers into the world with every turn of the prayer wheels. This week, the quiet rituals are tinged with anticipation ahead of the celebrations on July 6. Thousands of Tibetans living in exile are expected to gather at Tsuglagkhang to hear the Dalai Lama speak. For months, across exile settlements in India and beyond, Tibetans have been offering prayers, holding ceremonies, and lighting lamps in the hope of extending the life of their spiritual leader. Yet, there is a sadness beneath the surface. Karma Yeshi is the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission in the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and has in the past been minister of finance and a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. 'My father Penpa and mother Namdol came from Tibet through Sikkim in the early 1960s. I was born in Gangtok. We moved to Dharamshala in the mid 1960s. My parents and hundreds of Tibetan refugees who followed His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Tibet to India were the ones who built this Tsuglagkhang temple complex. Indian masons and Tibetan refugees worked day and night to complete its construction in 1968,' he says. But now, he says, 'It is painful.' 'On one hand, we pray for his long life with all our heart. On the other, we are forced to discuss his reincarnation because of what the Chinese government might do,' he says. It's a widely shared concern. On ordinary days, the Tsuglagkhang temple is peaceful. Monks chant in low, steady tones. Children walk hand-in-hand with elders. Foreign tourists sit cross-legged in silent meditation beside Tibetan grandmothers. But these are not ordinary days. Amid celebrations, prayers, and security protocols, hangs a quiet urgency — to listen, to remember, and to hold on. Explaining the reincarnation practice, Dr Lobsang Sangay, former CTA president, who is currently teaching a course on 'reincarnation' at the Harvard Law School, says, 'From the first to fifth Dalai Lamas, their relationship was very close and one could say they recognised each other by virtue of being teacher and disciple. However, the relationship changes after the fifth Dalai Lama takes over the rulership of Tibet and forms the Gaden Phodrang government. The tradition/practice was that after the Dalai Lama dies, a regent is appointed who presides over the Gaden Phodrang government. The primary role of the regent was to find the reincarnation of the Dalai Lamas. The regent appoints a team or teams of search committees which travel around and find candidates. Then the candidate is found/ identified, recognised and enthroned.' On China's role and objections, he says, 'Nobody is asking the Chinese government to find the Dalai Lama. Who asked them? Not even a single follower of the 14th Dalai Lama has asked the Chinese to find his reincarnation. They have no role whatsoever.' 'What His Holiness reiterated today is that the institution of the Dalai Lama shall continue as per the traditions and practices of Tibetan Buddhism. There will be a 15th Dalai Lama, 16th Dalai Lama and so on,' says Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, former Kalon Tripa (head of the Tibetan government-in-exile) who now manages the affairs of the Gaden Phodrang Trust. Far removed from the high-level declarations and international intrigue, the rooms at the Swarg Ashram remain silent. By the time the Dalai Lama arrived in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, the ashram — once a colonial-era retreat — had been quietly repurposed as a sanctuary. Today, its interiors remain largely untouched. A narrow 20×15-foot hall, where the Dalai Lama received visitors, leads to a spartan 10×10-foot bedroom overlooking a small garden, where he once greeted followers and addressed the Tibetan diaspora. Now, the building is under the stewardship of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering, though the rooms of the Dalai Lama have been preserved. 'They stay locked most days,' says Tek Chand. 'A few chairs have been left in case someone from the Central Tibetan Administration or the private office of His Holiness visits. But that happens rarely.' 'It's peaceful here,' he says, as the rain picks up again outside. 'You can still feel something in the walls.' While crowds gather below in bustling McLeodganj, where prayer flags flutter above soaked streets and the aroma of incense mingles with monsoon rain, the legacy of the Dalai Lama's early years in exile endures quietly — tucked into the hills, remembered by few, but foundational to all that followed.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Arunachal CM Pema Khandu, MP Tapir Gao to attend Dalai Lama's birthday
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao will attend the 90th birthday celebrations of the 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamshala . The two-day celebration will be held on July 5 and 6. In a post on X, Khandu said, "On board the Vande Bharat Express to Dharamshala along with Hon'ble MP Shri @TapirGao ji to join the historic celebration of the 90th Birth Anniversary of His Holiness the 14th @DalaiLama. It is an honour to be part of this momentous occasion to offer our heartfelt tributes to a towering symbol of peace, compassion, and humanity. Grateful for the comfort and convenience of this modern train journey - a true reflection of India's growing infrastructure strength." While the Dalai Lama's birthday falls on July 6 as per the Gregorian calendar, festivities began on June 30 in accordance with the Tibetan calendar. Around 30,000 to 40,000 people are expected to attend the celebrations. The Dalai Lama is the most prominent figure in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism . The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, Tenzin Gyatso , the 14th Dalai Lama, had an emotional reunion in 2017 in Guwahati with Naren Chandra Das, an Assam Rifles jawan who received him after his escape from Tibet in March 1959. Das, a member of the 5th Assam Rifles battalion, had escorted the Dalai Lama to Balipara in Assam. Live Events Dharamshala is also hosting an international Buddhist conference, bringing together senior monks and scholars from various traditions. The event will conclude with an address by the Dalai Lama, in which he is expected to speak about the future of the Tibetan reincarnation tradition. Khandu has previously highlighted the deep historical and spiritual links between India and Tibet, particularly through Buddhism.
