The Dalai Lama is about to take a major step. Just before turning 90, he is expected to talk about who might come after him. This moment matters not just to Tibetans—but also to China, which has its eyes on his successor.
A three-day gathering of Buddhist leaders is happening this week. It’s the first time since 2019 that so many senior monks are coming together. And the Dalai Lama, the 14th one, will speak during this event. People hope he will give clear signs about where and how the next Dalai Lama will be found.
China Wants Control, But Tibet Says No
Beijing sees the Dalai Lama as a separatist. They say they will decide who the next one will be. But the Dalai Lama disagrees. He says the next reincarnation will not be born inside China. He has asked his followers to reject any Dalai Lama chosen by Beijing.
He lives in exile in Dharamshala, India, since he fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising. He was just two years old when he was named the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama.
China, meanwhile, has called him a political exile with no real role. They even said he can’t represent Tibetan people. Still, China is trying to create rules to control how his reincarnation will be picked.
A Spiritual Leader, Not Just for Tibet
Tibetan Buddhists believe enlightened monks are reborn to carry forward their work. The Dalai Lama says he will talk to senior monks and spiritual leaders. He might share where the next one could be born—possibly a boy or even a girl. He has hinted earlier that it could be in India, where he has lived for decades.
Dolma Tsering Teykhang, a leader in the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, says China wants to hijack this tradition. “They want to use the Dalai Lama’s name for politics,” she says. “But this is not just about Tibet—it’s about humanity.”
Preparing for the Future
The Dalai Lama has already taken big steps. In 2011, he gave up his political role to a democratic Tibetan government-in-exile. This move ended a 368-year-old tradition of being both a religious and political head.
Now, he says he wants to focus the rest of his life on helping others. After knee surgery in the U.S. last year, many have been praying for his health. But he says he could live until 110.
The system is already in place for finding his successor. The Gaden Phodrang Foundation, formed in 2015, will lead the search when the time comes.
A Moment the World Must Watch
This week’s conference will also have a special guest—Hollywood actor Richard Gere, a longtime supporter of the Tibetan cause. Indian leaders like Kiren Rijiju are also expected to attend the Dalai Lama’s birthday celebrations on July 6.
As the world listens closely, one thing is clear: the Dalai Lama is making sure that his legacy—and Tibet’s spiritual future—stays far from China’s control.
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