As the Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday, the Tibetan spiritual leader is expected to address the topic of his succession during a high-level religious gathering this week.
This is a move likely to trigger fresh tensions with China.
The three-day conference, the first since 2019, will bring together over 100 Tibetan Buddhist leaders.
The Dalai Lama, who has been living in exile in India since fleeing Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, is scheduled to deliver a video message during the event. He will also participate in public prayers and speak at his birthday celebrations on July 6.
Beijing considers the Dalai Lama a separatist and maintains that it has the authority to appoint his successor.
However, the 14th Dalai Lama has repeatedly dismissed this claim and has said his reincarnation will be found outside China. “We want the incarnation of the Dalai Lama to be born not only for the survival of Tibet as a distinct culture, religion, and nation, but also for the well-being of the whole humanity,” said Dolma Tsering Teykhang, deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile.
Tibetan Buddhist tradition holds that enlightened lamas are reincarnated to continue their spiritual work. The current Dalai Lama, identified as such at the age of two, has said he will consult senior monks and others to provide insights on where his next incarnation — male or female — may be born. He has previously hinted that this could happen in India, where he resides in Dharamshala.
The discussions are taking place earlier than customary, largely due to China’s increased interest in influencing the process. “Typically such discussions on the reincarnation do not take place when a monk is still alive but things are different now mainly because the Chinese government is interfering,” said Thupten Ngodup, Tibet’s chief state oracle.
In March, China reiterated that the Dalai Lama is a political exile with “no right to represent the Tibetan people at all.” The Chinese government has said it would be open to dialogue if the Dalai Lama recognises Tibet and Taiwan as part of China — a position rejected by the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Hollywood actor Richard Gere, a longtime supporter of the Tibetan cause, is expected to attend the gathering. Indian officials, including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, are also likely to be present.
Though he underwent knee surgery in the U.S. last year, the Dalai Lama told Reuters he could live to 110. The previous Dalai Lama died at the age of 58.
Since 2011, the Dalai Lama has transferred his political authority to a democratically elected government, ending the long-standing tradition of spiritual and temporal leadership. His Gaden Phodrang Foundation, created in 2015, is responsible for overseeing the reincarnation process.
"Since he has come in the form of a human, we have to agree that there will be a moment when he is not with us," said Teykhang. "His Holiness has really prepared us for that day, he made us act as if he's not there."