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| Former exiled Tibetan prime minister, Samdhong Rinpoche, speaks during the release of a press statement by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama about his next incarnation in McLeod Ganj, India yesterday |
The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said yesterday that it was too early to talk about his reincarnation. However, a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including the Chinese government, should not be recognised.
When he was about 90, he would consult other Buddhist leaders and followers of Tibetan Buddhism to re-evaluate whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue, the Dalai Lama 4said in a statement issued by his office in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala.
The Dalai Lama, 76, said it was “particularly inappropriate” for the Chinese Communists, who do not believe in the Buddhist traditions or reincarnations, to meddle in spiritual affairs.
“The person who reincarnates has sole legitimate authority over where and how he or she takes rebirth and how that reincarnation is to be recognized,” the Dalai Lama said.
Under the centuries’ old Tibetan tradition, a group of monks identify a young boy as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama on the basis of certain signs.
A designated group would search for and recognise the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation, according to the age-old procedures, assuming it was decided the tradition should continue, the Dalai Lama said.
No recognition or acceptance should be given to anyone but the reincarnation recognised through “such legitimate methods”, he added.
It was inappropriate for Chinese Communists to meddle in the system of reincarnations of Tibetan Buddhist leaders like the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, he said.
“Such brazen meddling contradicts their own political ideology and reveals their double standards,” he said.
“Should this situation continue in future, it will be impossible for Tibetans and those who follow Tibetan Buddhist tradition to acknowledge or accept it.”
China rejected the Dalai Lama’s choice of the Panchen Lama, the second highest ranking Tibetan Buddhist leader, in 1995 and chose its own reincarnation.
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the boy chosen by the Dalai Lama was detained by the Chinese authorities and has not been heard of since then. China’s choice, Gyaincain Norbu, 21, lives in Beijing.
There is speculation that China may choose its own reincarnation of the Dalai Lama after the death of the current one.
Born as Tenzin Gyatso on July 6, 1935, the current Dalai Lama was recognised at the age of 2 as the 14th reincarnation.
He fled Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese occupation in 1959, followed by thousands of Tibetans.
China calls the current Dalai Lama a splittist who incites violence in the Tibetan Autnomous Region, while the Dalai Lama claims he wants greater autonomy for Tibet within China.
There have been several rounds of talks between the two groups, with no progress.
The Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile are based in Dharamsala. The government-in-exile is not recognised by any nation.