By Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, June 25: Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the political head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, delivered a passionate speech at the Australian National Press Club on June 21, focusing on the resolution of the Sino-Tibet conflict and the struggle to bring peace to the region.
During his hour-long address, the Sikyong addressed several pressing issues, including the Chinese government’s ongoing repression within Tibet, the restrictive grid-lock system, and surveillance in monasteries, and specifically, the Order No. 5 and its implications for Tibetan Buddhism.
In his speech, he emphasized the Chinese government’s interference in the succession matters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, suggesting that it is a calculated strategy aimed at controlling and influencing the 15th Dalai Lama and, consequently, exerting control over the Tibetan people and Buddhist countries. To support his argument, he referenced the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama, highlighting how this move failed to gain legitimacy among Tibetans inside Tibet as well as in exile.
State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No. 5, officially titled “Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism,” was passed during a conference held by the State Administration for Religious Affairs on July 13, 2007, and implemented on September 1, 2007. This order mandates that all Buddhist temples in Tibet must file a ‘Reincarnation Application’ before recognizing individuals as tulkus, or reincarnated teachers.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that lamas and spiritual leaders can consciously influence their rebirths, often undergoing multiple reincarnations to continue their spiritual endeavors. These revered tulkus are referred to as “living Buddhas” in the Order no. 5.
On August 3, 2007, China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs issued a decree stating that all reincarnations of Tibetan Buddhist tulkus must obtain government approval, or they are considered “illegal or invalid.” The decree claims that this move is essential for institutionalizing the management of living Buddha reincarnations, ensuring national unity and solidarity among ethnic groups. The selection process must not be influenced by any external groups or individuals. Moreover, the decree requires that temples applying for the reincarnation of a living Buddha must be legally registered venues for Tibetan Buddhism activities, capable of providing proper support to the living Buddha.
Reincarnation applications are subject to approval by four governmental bodies: the religious affairs department of the provincial-level government, the provincial-level government itself, the State Administration for Religious Affairs, and the State Council.
While the Chinese government asserts that the regulations associated with Order No. 5 guarantee the normal religious activities of Tibetan Buddhism and protect the beliefs of its followers according to the law, concerns persist. Critics argue that these regulations, although claiming to protect the religious beliefs and activities of Tibetan Buddhists, are primarily aimed at exerting control over monasteries and tulkus. They question the Chinese government’s claim of non-interference in purely internal religious affairs, labelling it as false. They believe that Order No. 5 is part of a long-term plan by the Chinese government to consolidate control over the 15th Dalai Lama and legitimize its authority.
The Chinese government’s proposed method for identifying the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama involves a “golden urn” process, introduced by the Qing Dynasty in the 1790s. Potential child candidates’ names are placed in a small golden urn and selected at random. The Chinese state-run media asserts that this process helps eliminate corrupt practices in selecting reincarnations.
However, the Dalai Lama has strongly rejected this method. In a statement in 2011, he clarified that the golden urn was used merely to humour the Qing emperors and that the reincarnations were already chosen before the names were drawn. The 14th Dalai Lama’s reincarnation did not involve the use of the urn.
The State Administration for Religious Affairs asserts that its role is limited to administering religious affairs pertaining to the state and public interests while refraining from interfering in purely internal religious matters. However, sceptics challenge the validity of this claim, pointing out that the state exercises significant control over monasteries and even dictates the monastic curriculum. The fact that the Chinese government identifies as atheistic further adds to the skepticism, raising concerns about its true intentions and the extent of its involvement in religious affairs. The perceived contradiction between the government’s claims and its actions fuels doubts about its commitment to religious freedom and autonomy.
3 Responses
Do not worry. There will be only one Dalai Lama successor. That one will be decided by the present Dalai Lama before he dissolved his current physique.
all tibetan politicians say there will be 2 dalai lamas, one from inside Tibet, and another one in exile. But I think there will be at least 5 Dalai Lama candidates pushed forward by various organizations and entities. There will be at least two Dalai Lama candidates from Tibet itself.
two dalai lamas from tibet. one dalai lama from india. one dalai lama from europe, and one from America and one from africa. it is a basketful of contenders, mate. It is of course true that every one of the competitors for the big throne will try their best to make themselves look like the genuine one by saying ” I am the real dalai lama. he is an imposter”. But we tibetan buddhists have to look beyond facades and pretentions and smoke and mirror shininigans and investigate the situation from an unbiased mind and look at evidence of each candidate for the 15th dalai lama. we have to be very careful about pretenders, for they will mimick what a real dalai lama will behave in order to create a veneer of authenticity. fellow tibetans, don’t be fooled by fake dalai lamas. lets catch imposters if we can.
what? ” “Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism,” feels almost like Harry Potter spin offs about ‘ fantastic beasts and where to find them’ sequels about magicians from scotland and tibet. is this a kind of a cosmic joke by chinese govt at another level altogether? It is no surprise that Fantastic Beasts singles out Scotland( under UK occupation) and Tibet(under chinese occupation) are considered biggest rule breakers in the international rule of secretcy on witchcrat and wizardry statute.