As the Dalai Lama turned 90 years old, people started having a debate over the next successor. Clearing everyone’s doubts, the Dalai Lama on Wednesday said that he will be reincarnated and his non-profit institution will have the sole authority to identify his reincarnation. Speaking at prayer celebrations on Sunday, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism said that the search for the 15th Dalai Lama should be guided by time-honoured customs.“They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition,” the Dalai Lama said in a recorded message posted on social media platform X.Now, as the Dalai Lama has cleared the clouds of doubts, the question is what is the procedure of selecting successor.

The selection process for the next Dalai Lama follows a specific protocol that begins after the current leader’s death, potentially spanning several years.According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, religious leaders employ a combination of ancient practices, including the interpretation of mystical visions, analysis of previous Dalai Lama’s hints and astrological readings to identify potential candidates. The selected individuals undergo assessments to identify signs of divine attributes, as per the New York Times.The current Dalai Lama has indicated possible deviations from conventional practices. He has specified that his successor should be born in a nation that upholds freedom, suggesting the possibility of selecting from the Tibetan diaspora, comprising approximately 140,000 individuals, with half residing in India. Additionally, he has mentioned the possibility of an adult successor, not necessarily male.He has occasionally questioned the necessity of continuing the Dalai Lama institution. During a recent Monday gathering, he addressed this matter indirectly, stating “there will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lamas.”

China rejects Dalai Lama’s successor statement

China asserted that the successor to the Dalai Lama requires “approval by the Chinese government,” following the Tibetan spiritual leader’s rejection of Beijing’s authority in selecting the 15th Dalai Lama. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated to AFP, “The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama and other great Buddhist figures must be chosen by drawing lots from a golden urn, and approved by the central government.”Ning emphasised that Beijing’s approval was mandatory for confirming the successor’s identity, and the process must occur within China through a traditional ceremonial practice, Reuters reported.