The Buddhist Association of China has firmly rejected recent statements made by the 14th Dalai Lama concerning the succession of his reincarnation, asserting that any decision on the matter must rest with the central government in Beijing, not with the spiritual leader himself.
In a strongly worded statement released on Thursday, the association criticized the Dalai Lama’s “Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama,” accusing him of violating religious precepts and making false claims. It emphasized that the process of identifying the next Dalai Lama cannot be dictated by personal will, but must adhere to historical conventions and government regulations.
“Starting from the 5th Dalai Lama, all successors have been conferred by the central government,” the statement noted, citing Beijing’s long-standing claim of authority over Tibetan religious affairs. The association reiterated that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must follow a strict procedure, including the centuries-old practice of drawing lots from the golden urn, a tradition formalized during the Qing Dynasty.
The statement also highlighted the legal framework established to regulate reincarnations, specifically referencing the Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism, which outline the government’s supervisory role in identifying reincarnated lamas. According to the policy, all candidates must undergo a rigorous vetting process and receive final approval from the central government to gain religious legitimacy.
Beijing has long viewed the Dalai Lama’s international stature and his role in the Tibetan independence movement with suspicion. The 14th Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, has previously stated that he may choose his successor before his death or even end the institution altogether.
The controversy underscores a deep rift between Tibetan Buddhist traditions as practiced in exile and the religious policy enforced in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. With the Dalai Lama now 89 years old, the question of his reincarnation carries profound political and spiritual implications for both Tibetans and the Chinese state.
