Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 25: The discussion around the future of Tibetan leadership especially over the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was reinvigorated by a panel of well-known and competent personalities from both the Tibetan and international circuits. The webinar titled “The Future of Tibetan Leadership: Insights on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Succession” was organised by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), a German foundation promoting liberal values hosted an international webinar on Wednesday
The panel featured prominent experts including Geshe Ven. Lhakdor, Director of the Dharamshala-based Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA); Prof. Anand Kumar, President of the India-Tibet Friendship Group; Dr. Tenzin Desal, Senior Researcher at the Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and board member of the International Seminar of Young Tibetologists; and Chemi Lhamo, a Tibetan-Canadian activist and Canadian representative for the International Tibet Network’s Steering Committee. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Anna Sawerthal, editor at the Austrian daily Der Standard.
The webinar commenced with an introduction by Nupur Hasija, Senior Program Manager at the South Asia Regional Office of the FNF. She presented a short video highlighting FNF’s long-standing collaboration with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) since 1991. A pre-recorded keynote address by Sandra Wesser, a member of the German parliament, underscored the significance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s upcoming 90th birthday. She described the occasion as a “milestone” in global leadership, offering a moment for the international community to reflect on the future of Tibetan leadership and its associated challenges.
CTA President Penpa Tsering, in his pre-recorded remarks, expressed gratitude to FNF for organising the event and emphasised the importance of international awareness regarding His Holiness’ reincarnation. “The Chinese government is not bothered by the living 14th Dalai Lama but they are more concerned about the yet to come, the 15th Dalai Lama,” he noted. The Tibetan political leader also referenced the 16th Cabinet’s official Position on the Issue of Reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, published on September 29, 2022, reaffirming the Tibetan stance on the matter.
Ven. Geshe Lhakdor, who served as a religious assistant and translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for 16 years, emphasised the profound importance of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation in today’s world. He highlighted Tibet’s unique legacy in understanding the human mind and nurturing inner resources over millennia. “Tibet is the only country that has spent thousands of years studying the human mind and understanding its deeper potential to preserve and protect it,” he stated. “We understand the concept of reincarnation better than anyone, and we recognise the immense importance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. In contrast, China, a country that restricts freedom, has minimal understanding of the human mind, and does not believe in religion, is now claiming the authority to recognise the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation—just as they have with the Panchen Lama.”
Geshe Lhakdor pointed out that China’s interference in Tibetan religious practices is not new, dating back to the Manchu era when they sought to control Tibetans by influencing the recognition of high lamas. He noted that under the current authoritarian regime, this control has become even more aggressive. He criticised Beijing’s approach, stating, “They think they are very clever, but to people with basic common sense—at least to someone like me—they are absolutely stupid. They are making a mockery of human intelligence. They have no right to recognise His Holiness’ reincarnation. Even if they try to, no one will follow it. Some might be out of fear of the regime, as we’ve seen with the Panchen Lama.”
Prof. Anand Kumar provided a comprehensive analysis of India’s perspective on the challenges surrounding the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He highlighted the Dalai Lama’s strategic transfer of political authority to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), noting that secular matters now rest under the jurisdiction of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. This transition, he explained, has been recognised by the Indian government and supported by most global powers. As an observer, he said he noticed when Indian authorities receive courtesy from the Tibetan government in exile, they are no longer cross-checking with the Dalai Lama. “That is a very important development in the last 15 years— a scientific, rational, and secular solution to a problem that will emerge with the physical passing of the 14th Dalai Lama.”
Prof. Anand, who has actively engaged with the Tibetan cause since 1992, also reflected on the emotional connection between the Indian people and the Dalai Lama. “The Indians have been accustomed to identifying the Dalai Lama with Tibetans, and Tibet with the Dalai Lama. And we are always giving the highest importance to the position taken by the Dalia Lama in anything. Whenever reports emerge from Beijing, they are juxtaposed with those from Dharamshala, and it is Dharamshala’s perspective that holds greater legitimacy,” he noted. He also emphasised that India’s support for the Tibetan cause transcends political affiliations, stating that the issue of Tibet in India has become a matter of national consensus regardless of which party is in power.
Activist Chemi Lhamo shared her perspective on how the international community can play a crucial role in addressing the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, particularly from the standpoint of Tibetans in far-flung diaspora countries. She emphasised the need for preemptive international support through legislation, citing the U.S. Tibet Policy and Support Act of 2020 as a model. “The Chinese Communist Party seeks control and legitimacy, both internally and externally. When denied this, they resort to asserting their narrative and creating confusion. This is precisely where the international community must step in—with clarity and recognition of how outrageous it is for the Chinese government to even participate in the conversation about reincarnation, let alone make decisions on it,” she said.
Drawing a comparison, Chemi remarked that the idea of the Venezuelan government deciding the next Pope is “ridiculous,” highlighting that even the Pope’s selection involves a structured electoral process by the College of Cardinals. “In the case of reincarnation, it is not only a religious process but also a personal one. There is absolutely no room for political or colonial entities, such as the Chinese government, to interfere in this process. They are entirely unfit to do so.” She further underscored the Chinese government’s systematic destruction of Tibetan identity over the past seven decades. “This is the same regime actively erasing every aspect of Tibetan culture and identity. How can such a regime, the destroyer of Tibetan heritage, even attempt to speak about or decide the future of our spiritual leader?” she questioned. Chemi’s remarks captured the strong sentiments of the Tibetan diaspora, rejecting any Chinese involvement in the reincarnation process. “The Chinese government has no right to be part of this conversation, and their actions only underscore their illegitimacy in this matter,” she said.
Dr. Tenzin Desal, a fellow at TPI shared his insights on the signals emanating from the Tibetan exile capital and the broader dynamics of the Tibetan community, which he described as consisting of two distinct yet interconnected strands— Tibetans living in exile and those living in Tibet under colonial occupation. He explained that to understand the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its engagement with Tibet, we must consider two parallel activities—state-making and nation-building. “State-making is about incredible infrastructure building such as railways, and the omnipresent influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the everyday lives and politics of Tibetans inside Tibet. Nation-building, on the other hand, has proven to be a far greater challenge for the PRC as they attempt to impose the narrative that ‘Tibet is part of the PRC.’ This narrative faced a major reckoning in 2008, when widespread protests erupted across Tibet, with calls for the Dalai Lama’s return and demands for a free Tibet—clearly signalling the PRC’s failure.”
Dr. Desal highlighted the resilience of Tibetans inside Tibet, who, despite limited freedom to voice their opinions, continue to engage in creative forms of resistance. At the same time, the Tibetan exile movement, forged since 1959, has successfully created a cohesive dialogue between these two strands. “This cohesion between Tibetans inside Tibet and the diaspora movement, amplifying each other’s voices, is the biggest success story. And the singular figure uniting and navigating these strands is His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” he said.
Addressing the message from Dharamshala, he referenced a statement made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2011, affirming that discussions about his reincarnation would take place once he reaches the age of 90. “For now, we must wait a little longer for a clearer picture,” he said.
The overall importance of the issue, although acknowledged by the stakeholders around the world, have seldom been actualised through an event like this, which was viewed by watch parties around the world including Tibetans, followers of the Dalai Lama as well as geo-politicians and observers who realise the political implications of the coming years.
2 Responses
China’s Communist Party has no legitimacy at all to interfere in the future reincarnations of the Dalai Lamas. CCP does not believe in religion, and its sole purpose is to seize political power.
I think it will be better if the CCP looks for the reincarnation of Mao Tsetung who must be suffering in hell for killing about 60 million to 70 million innocent Chinese and other minorities during the Cultural Revolution.
Why should we talk now about the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama? His Holiness said that this matter will be decided by Himself and assembly of Tibetan Buddhist leaders.
Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama!
The Chinese communist regime has no legitimacy to rule Tibet. It is illegally occupying Tibet and it has not a shred of evidence to prove its claims over Tibet! They have invaded and occupied it by sheer military force against the wishes of the Tibetan people. That is why, it has a huge occupation force of half a million PLA troops stationed in occupied Tibet. They used disingenuous tactic of inserting TIBET into the so called “one China” policy to force other countries to “acknowledge” its baseless claims over Tibet. Even the Chinese writer Wang Lixiong clearly says, there is no evidence to Chinese claims over Tibet!!! The CCP tried hard to cox the Dalai Lama to accept their claims over Tibet but the Dalai Lama made it clear in the following words: “I am a Buddhist monk. So, I cannot lie”! That put paid to Chinese hope of getting the nod from the sovereign of the Tibetan nation. Owing to this, the CCP continues to call the Dalai Lama a “dangerous separatist”. They are incensed that while the Dalai Lama says, he is not seeking independence, he is not prepared to accept Chinese claims over Tibet. That’s why, the CCP reckons that the only way they can get the “acknowledgement” of their claims is to get their hands on the Dalai Lama. They realise that they are helpless with the present Dalai Lama since he managed to slip away to India in 1959 in the aftermath of the Tibetan people’s revolt against the illegal occupation of their country. The only option is to get a hand on his re-incarnation to at least get a semblance of authority by using the “re-incarnation” candidate as a proxy to fulfil their coveted goal of legitimacy by hook or crook! They don’t care what comes out of the candidate they are proposing to bring about but as long as they can discredit the Dalai Lama which will be recognised by the Dalai Lama’s own institution as is demanded by historical precedence and irrefutable evidence of the tradition of recognising all successive Dalai Lamas. Throughout history of almost four hundred years of the Dalai Lama reincarnations, there has NEVER BEEN A FOREIGN HAND attempting to snatch the Dalai Lama away from the Tibetan people’s hand! It is the first time in four hundred years that an outfit which disavows religion and treats it as poison and went on a maniacal rampage to destroy Buddhism and murder it’s adherents is out to interfere in a solemn religious ritual that is exclusively a realm for the holy Lamas and not for infidels and heathens like the CCP! This brazen disregard shows the disrespect and utter contempt the CCP has for Tibetan Buddhism! They are involving in this evil deed in order to achieve a semblance of legitimacy for their illegal occupation of Tibet by having a fake candidate in their hands! However, no matter whatever they do, it will not achieve any legitimacy from the Tibetan people and with it the larger international community. The Chinese candidate will be just a show pony and nothing else. The fake Panchen candidate is a evidence of their failure to garner any support for him to be seen as anything but a pawn in the hand of the most vile regime on earth. The future Chinese candidate of the Dalai Lama will be the same! Karma is infallible and only the bonafide Dalai Lama will inherit the charisma, the serenity and the holiness of the previous Dalai Lama! THE DALAI LAMA WILL BE BORN IN EXILE! The Dalai Lama has made it clear way back in the 1980s that His reincarnation will be born in a free country where he can pursue the good work of His predecessor to propagate the holy Dharma and work for the Liberation of Tibet!