Jul 02, 2025
Komal Das
China vs. Tibetan Trust in the Dalai Lama Succession Dispute
In a new conflict, China and the Dalai Lama's trust both assert their authority to select the next spiritual leader
China, citing national laws and historical customs, maintains that the next Dalai Lama must be "approved by the central government"
The Dalai Lama denies any outside intervention, stating that only his Gaden Phodrang Trust can acknowledge his reincarnation
Despite China's claims, the Dalai Lama assures followers that the 600-year-old custom will endure
China claims that the Qing dynasty-era practice of selecting the successor by drawing lots from a golden urn must be followed
The Dalai Lama suggests his successor may be born outside of China and exhorts Tibetans to reject any candidate chosen by Beijing
The U.S. supports Tibetans' right to select their spiritual leader free from Chinese meddling, a dispute that garners international attention
The majority of Tibetans rejected China's 1995 appointment of its own Panchen Lama, setting a precedent that increased mistrust
The world awaits the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday. Will state authority or tradition determine Tibetan Buddhism's future?
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