As Dalai Lama turns 90, question of successor hangs in the balance

New Delhi: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama who turns 90 today has said that he is just a ‘simple Buddhist monk’.

Just as the birthday wishes pour in from across the world, Dalai Lama said he doesn't engage in birthday celebrations.

In his birthday message, one of the world’s most respected spiritual leaders today pointed to the importance of compassion, warm-heartedness and peace of mind.

While eschewing himself from birthday celebrations, Dalai Lama acknowledged that the well-wishers and friends are gathering to celebrate the day.

In his message on the eve of birthday, Dalai Lama said ‘I particularly appreciate the fact that many of you are using the occasion to engage in initiatives that highlight the importance of compassion, warm-heartedness, and altruism.’

In his characteristic humbleness, Lama called himself a ‘simple Buddhist monk’ who does not engage in birthday celebrations.

While calling upon the people to ‘work for the material development’, Lama said it is important to achieve ‘peace of mind through cultivating a good heart and by being compassionate’.

Laying out his plans ahead, Lama said he would continue focus on his commitments for ‘promoting human values, religious harmony’ alongside draw attention to the ancient Indian wisdom, Tibetan culture and heritage.

‘I develop determination and courage in my daily life through the teachings of the Buddha and Indian masters such as Shantideva, whose following aspiration I strive to uphold,’ Dalai Lama said in his message.

Meanwhile, a tussle is happening over choosing Dalai Lama’s successor with China insisting that the monk should be one it chooses and spokesperson Mao Ning claimed that ‘Tibetan Buddhism was born in China and is a religion with Chinese characteristics’.

India’s Union Minister earlier Kiren Rijiju said that he is a devotee of the Dalai Lama, adding that ‘Anybody in the world who follows the Dalai lama wants his successor to be chosen by the Dalai Lama himself’.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning asked India to ‘exercise caution in its words and actions, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs with Xizang related issues and avoid impact on the improvement and development of the China-India relationship’. China refers to Tibet as Xizang.