Dalai-Lama brings together tibetan tibetan lamas to discuss spiritual succession
Dalai-Lama said that the spiritual institution it has led for over eight decades “will continue after its death” and that the process of choosing its successor will be done “according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition”, dismissing the hypothesis of extinguishing the position, as it even admits in the past.
In a recorded statement transmitted during prayer ceremonies preceding their 90th anniversary, celebrated on Sunday, the spiritual and Nobel Peace Leader indicated that the search for the next Dalai-Lama should follow the established rituals since the institution’s creation in 1587.
“The next Dalai-Lama should be found and recognized according to the tradition of the past. The institution of Dalai-Lama will continue,” said Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai-Lama, in a message also read on a conference that takes place in Dharamshala, northern India, with the presence of the highest slons in the different schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
The statement arises after years of speculation around the possible extinction of spiritual lineage, fueled by previous statements of Dalai-Lama himself, who admitted to being the last to be the last to occupy the position.
The spiritual leader fled Tibet in 1959, after a revolt crushed by the Chinese troops in Lhasa, and has lived in the exile in Dharamshala. Tibetan Buddhist tradition maintains that Dalai -Lama can choose the body in which it will be reincarnated – something that, according to the leader, will happen “outside China”, directly challenging the Chinese authorities, who insist that only Beijing has legitimacy to recognize reincarnation.
The highest slops of the different Tibetan Buddhism begins today, in Dharamshala, a three-day conference called by Dalai-Lama to discuss the future of his succession on the eve of his 90th birthday.
Participants at the meeting are Lamas or Spiritual Masters, many of them recognized as rhinpoches – considered reincarnations of past sages – and responsible for the main Tibetan schools and monasteries. This group is the spiritual body in charge of conducting the process of recognizing the new reincarnation of Dalai-Lama.
According to a source close to the organization, the current Dalai-Lama will address with the Lamas the question of their eventual succession as a spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.
Tibetan Buddhist tradition maintains that enlightened masters are reborn to continue their spiritual legacy. The 14th Dalai-Lama turns 90 on Sunday, and is expected to take the opportunity to leave clues about where his successor or successor can be found after his death.
Beijing, who considers Dalai-Lama a separatist since his Tibet escape in 1959, has said he intends to control the process of choosing the next Tibetan spiritual leader. Dalai-Lama rejected this possibility, stating that his reincarnation will occur outside China, and appealed to his followers to ignore any name imposed by the Chinese government.
The Indian city of Dharamshala, where Dalai-Lama resides from exile, welcomes the leaders of the various Buddhist schools for the conference preceding the weekend celebrations.
