China denies the current Dalai Lama but eyes the next 

In the latest book ‘Voice for the Voiceless’, the Dalai Lama has categorically stated about his reincarnation thus: “The new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world…”. This unequivocal stance sends a crystal-clear message to the world that the current Dalai Lama’s reincarnation will, at any cost, not be born in China. Regardless of China’s claims on the Dalai Lama successions, the aforementioned statement made by the current Dalai Lama, however, determines the future of the Dalai Lama. More importantly, the Dalai Lama has written in the book that he would leave clear written instructions on the matter of his succession.

In the future, when the current Dalai Lama passes away, the written instruction will play a key role in nullifying the attempts of the Chinese government in search of the next Dalai Lama. A key international player in the process of rejecting China’s anointed Dalai Lama would be the official policy of the US mandated in the Tibetan Policy and Support Act 2020 which strongly states thus: “The wishes of the 14th Dalai Lama, including any written instructions, should play a key role in the selection, education, and veneration of a future 15th Dalai Lama …”.

The Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) lobbying to the like-minded nations will, undoubtedly, raise the question of legitimacy and authenticity if China anoints the 15th Dalai Lama.  One such fruition of CTA’s lobbying is the recent passage of a resolution in Dutch parliament rejecting China’s interference in the succession of the Dalai Lama. In future, many more laws and policies will unfold. Even India’s future stance on the succession of the Dalai Lama is as vital as the policy of the US and could become a greater vocal for the rejection of China’s Dalai Lama. 

Why China eyes the next Dalai Lama

China’s unflagging efforts to undermine the institution of the Dalai Lama is a continuation of Mao Zedong’s failure in capturing the current Dalai Lama. In fact, the book notes that when Mao was informed of the Dalai Lama’s escape, he simply reacted: “We have lost!” To some extent, Mao was right. Therefore, it is China’s belief that they could win over Tibetans if they had the next Dalai Lama. But, the installment of their Panchen Lama could serve them a lesson if they think they would succeed after choosing the next Dalai Lama. In 1995, the Chinese authorities kidnapped the reincarnation of 10th Panchen Lama – officially recognised by the current Dalai Lama, and China anointed Gyaltsen Norbu as the 11th Panchen Lama. Today, the Chinese authorities pay 100 yuan to each Tibetan to receive his blessings. This pathetic gesture shows the lack of devotions from Tibetans to China’s anointed Panchen Lama. The same gesture is inevitable for China’s 15th Dalai Lama.

Even though the current Dalai Lama devolved his political authority to Dr. Lobsang Sangay who was democratically elected in 2011, he is still the sole supreme leader who represents the identity of Tibet and is widely revered by Tibetans from all walks of life. Despite all the pejorative labels used by China to describe the Dalai Lama, the Dalai Lama is, today, synonymous to peace in the world. China’s malicious attempts to smear his image never borne any results.

In other words, it is a direct challenge to the non-violence and peace around the world. The very purpose of a reincarnation is to continue the mission of the predecessor “to be the voice for universal compassion…”.

China’s unlawful laws on the Dalai Lama

China’s blatant claims on having the right to choose the next Dalai Lama stemmed from ‘The 29-articles ordinance’ imposed on Tibet by the Manchus in 1793 on “the pretext of making the Tibetan Government’s administration more efficient”. This ordinance demands the selection of reincarnation of the Dalai Lamas, Panchen Lamas and other high Lamas by picking lots from a Golden Urn. Except for the 11th Dalai Lama, “this procedure was dispensed with for the Ninth, Thirteenth and the Fourteenth Dalai Lama …”. In fact, the 10th and 12th Dalai Lamas were already found and never used the Golden Urn procedures. In practicality, the Golden Urn procedure is tantamount to a gambling where the win or loss is entirely dependent on luck. By contrast, the real sophisticated and authentic search of the reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism is clearly understandable from the discovery of the current Dalai Lama.

In the search for the current Dalai Lama, the search party saw the prophecy: “During the mummification process of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, the head was discovered to have turned from facing south to the northeast.” Then, the search party sought a prophecy from a sacred lake called ‘Lhamoi Lhatso’ where a vision of three Tibetan alphabets appeared - Ah Ka Ma. The first initial Ah referred to Amdo in Tibet. Surprisingly, the current Dalai Lama was born in Amdo, Tibet.

Consequently, it is logical to conclude that the Golden Urn procedure is not applicable in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. The whole narrative of the Golden Urn is to make the next Dalai Lama as a marionette who would play on the words of the Chinese authorities.

In 2007, China issued an ‘Order no. 5’ document, which stipulates the measures to own the reincarnation of living Buddhas. Ironically, this very stipulation contradicts the foundation of Chinese communism whose founder Mao Zedong notoriously said that religion is a poison. This stipulation, however, came into implementation in major parts of Tibet. For instance, In 2023, Tibetans monks were forcibly ordered to sign a document renouncing ties with the Dalai Lama. In other words, the Chinese authorities have been trying to sever the spiritual relationship between the Dalai Lama and Tibetan monks in Tibet. This measure could impinge on the mentality of Tibetan monks whose devotion towards the Dalai Lama is unshakable. Another striking yet very common instance of China’s brutal clampdown on Tibetans secretly worshiping the Dalai Lama happened in 2024 where a Tibetan monk was imprisoned for almost 18 months on the charges of disseminating the speech of the Dalai Lama.

China leaves no efforts to challenge anything that favours the Dalai Lama. They don’t even spare individuals who support the ideas of the Dalai Lama in either private or the public spaces, let alone the Governments. Strikingly, international celebrities such as Richard Gere, Brad Pitt and Lady Gaga were completely banned from entering China. Today, China has created an environment where all the celebrities and business people will have to choose between the Dalai Lama and the fame and access in China. For the governments, it is all about the muscling economic powers. Except the USA, no country has so far taken a stance on the reincarnation of the current Dalai Lama. 

Has China found Mao’s reincarnation?

The Dalai Lama has jokingly spoken at various occasions about the reincarnation of Mao Zedong. He simply put it: “If the Chinese government believes in rebirth and religion, then they should start it from the reincarnation of Mao and Deng Xiaoping …”. The notorious remark of Mao Zedong on religion is a clear sign that communism and religion can’t be compatible. So, it is obvious that China’s claim in the succession of the Dalai Lama is religiously inapplicable and morally unacceptable. If China, at any chance, finds the reincarnation of Mao, only then can they say they know the business of reincarnation. Otherwise, the attempts to choose the next Dalai Lama is a complete colonization of a religion.

Yeshi Dawa was a former Bureau Chief at RFA, Dharamshala and former Academic Administrator at Institute of Leadership & Governance, The MSU Baroda. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.

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