A major announcement with world and geopolitical repercussions was made by the current 14th Dalai Lama who has assured that the 600 year old office of the Dalai Lama would survive him in no uncertain terms, and that the selection of his successor had nothing to do with China. According to a video message released by him on Wednesday, the Tibetan spiritual leader explained that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which he established will be the only competent body that has the sole authority of identifying the next Dalai Lama.
This declaration precedes the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama, reached in July 6, 2025, an occasion to which he has previously signaled that it would be a moment of direction as to whether to continue the institution. Although the Dalai Lama had earlier been open to alternatives, including abolishment of the institution, the female or non-Tibetan successor, the recent statement illustrated his strong desire to maintain the traditional practice.
As of 2011, Lama had insisted that the final word concerning the future of his institution would be arrived with consultations of high lamas, Tibetan people, and other people across the world who practise Buddhism. In his new message, he mentioned that despite the lack of public debate in the last 14 years, he had met personal requests over the preservation of the Dalai Lama lineage by the spiritual leaders, Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and Himalayan, Mongolian, Russian, and even mainland China Buddhists.
This action is a direct rebuttal of the Chinese government that it reserves the right to nominate a successor of the Lama using the so-called golden urn approach, which has been opposed by the Dalai Lama and the rest of the people of Tibet all over the world. In claiming the power of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Lama has actually barred any future Chinese effort to twist the political process of turning reincarnations.
This declaration is a momentous move towards religious freedom of the Tibet and may trigger new conflicts.
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