The ‘Living God’ will live on

SUDIPTA CHANDA

SILIGURI, : The verdict is out.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will reincarnate and his institution will continue.

This is a development of global importance.

Coming from His Holiness directly on the eve of his 90 birthday, this message should put to rest anxiety on the issue countless followers of Tibetan Buddhism must have felt since the Dalai Lama indicated in the past that he might be the last person to hold the role.

Tibetan Buddhism believes that the Dalai Lama can choose the body to reincarnate in, as has happened on 14 previous occasions.

So, move aside China. Your attempts to meddle in the selection of the next Dalai Lama end here and now.

China does not recognize the Tibetan Government in Exile and the Dalai Lama is the titular and spiritual head of the body.

Despite the Dalai Lama’s monumental popularity, reverence among his followers, across religions and societies, China considers the Dalai Lama a dangerous separatist.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 and took refuge in India. Successive Indian governments have honoured the arrangement and consider his stay in this country a blessing.

As years passed, Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh became the seat of authority for the Tibetan Government in Exile.

India’s providing refuge to the Dalai Lama did not go down well with China. It is the primary reason why China never befriended India diplomatically.

This fresh development in which the Dalai Lama has confirmed that the legacy of finding and recognizing the next Dalai lama as per Buddhist traditions, will surely not please China.

But, nothing doing. The message is loud and clear – China should stay away from the process of identifying his successor.

It is now official following the Noble Laureate’s latest statement.

The Dalai Lama's succession plan is of great importance to Tibetans, who are against China’s control of Tibet.

They, to this day, struggle to hold aloft their identity.

If the development has sent a cheer among the Dalai Lama’s followers across the world, it surely has not pleased China.

China is firm that it alone has the authority to approve the next Tibetan religious leader.

And, while the Dalai Lama maintains that his successor would be born outside China, the Chinese authorities insist that the reincarnated figure must be found in China’s Tibet region.

That in a roundabout way would give the Communist authorities of China clout over whom to choose.

Tibetan Buddhists, like in all other religions, have the right to choose their spiritual leader without external authorities’ interference.

But, China wants to snatch away that right and use it for political control.

The Dalai Lama has put an end to all speculation on the subject.