This year, Tibetan communities around the world are welcoming the extraordinary opportunity to celebrate the upcoming 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is a wonderful event, as we rejoice in his life and honor his legacy. It encourages us to think more deeply about who will lead Tibet in the future. The Dalai Lama is convinced his job is still not done. He confirmed that it is now appropriate for the Gaden Phodrang to identify his successor upon his inevitable passing. He suggested instead that the successor would not, as is customary, be a minor. In its place, it might be an adult fully prepared to take up the leadership mantle.
The Dalai Lama’s words come at an important time for Tibetans. This timing couldn’t be more critical given the highly charged political environment in which they’re pursuing their fight for independence. His remarks on succession are a mild admonition to China’s efforts to interfere with the process. They underscore his indispensable leadership in unifying the Tibetan diaspora and conducting effective advocacy on their behalf in concert with them around the world.
The Dalai Lama’s Legacy and Authority
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. He has been instrumental in establishing the Tibetan government-in-exile and ardently advocating for Tibetan rights across the international community. Today, schools, health centers, orphanages and old-age homes under his administration thrive in hundreds of refugee settlements across India. The value of this critical assistance to the Tibetan diaspora cannot be overstated.
In addressing concerns about his eventual successor, the Dalai Lama stated, “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.” Such a declaration, while a necessary first step, must be informed by the aspirations and autonomy of the Tibetan leadership and any outside influence, especially from the Chinese government.
Even the Dalai Lama thinks his successor should be a woman. He encourages the reader to think that this successor will be conceived beyond the reach of Chinese control, marking an interesting break from tradition. Historically, the search for the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation has been guided by divination and vision interpretation by monks. Yet, while holding that ambivalence, this very next page reveals a much more interesting, pluralist picture of Tibetan Buddhist leadership.
Challenges from China
The Dalai Lama’s moral authority continues to be a rallying point for Tibetans, in and beyond their homeland. I think what China is really afraid of in the Dalai Lama is that leading Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue once said. We learned that, even in exile, his presence is supercharged with power. He further elaborated that despite lacking military strength, “they know that it is the Dalai Lama who rules the hearts of every Tibetan in Tibet, which is a quarter of China.”
This feeling exemplifies the larger struggle between Tibetan hopes for self-determination and China’s heavy-handed rule in Tibet. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, reiterated the Chinese government’s position on the matter, asserting that “the reincarnated children of major living Buddhas such as the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama need to be identified through evaluation and approval by the central government.” This claim further illustrates China’s meddling in Tibetan religious affairs, as well as possible clashes over leadership to come.
The Road Ahead for Tibetans
The Dalai Lama’s birthday celebrations are not just a party. They are a wake up call to the Tibetan community, highlighting the daunting work that still remains in front of us. Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar, a prominent figure within the community, noted, “This step today is an indication that this 14th Dalai Lama’s work is not complete.” As he continues to inspire Tibetans with his teachings and vision for democracy, there is a growing recognition that future leadership will require a similar commitment to their culture and identity.
Dolkar emphasized the importance of having a unifying figure for Tibetans, stating, “For every fight, we need that figure who will continue to remind us of who we are and the courage that we hold.” Debates over succession have already started. There is a belief that whoever succeeds the current leader will take up the mantle of this legacy of resilience and challenge China’s ongoing eradication of Tibetan identity.
Celebrating the Dalai Lama’s 100th birthday in Lhasa would be a pleasant dream come true. This potential new opportunity could open a path for thousands of Tibetans. It represents a step closer towards their shared homelands and a recognition of their identity and cultural values. Such ambitions are soured by geopolitical realities.
