Daijiworld Media Network – Dharamshala
Dharamshala, Jul 2: In a momentous declaration ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6, the 14th Dalai Lama has confirmed that the 600-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama will indeed continue after his lifetime. The Tibetan spiritual leader, currently living in exile in Dharamshala, made the announcement through a video message at a gathering of global religious leaders held in the Himalayan town.
This proclamation carries immense significance for the Tibetan community and millions of Buddhists worldwide who revere the Dalai Lama not just as a spiritual figure, but as a symbol of peace, compassion, and the continuing struggle to preserve Tibetan identity under Chinese authority.
“For the past 14 years, I have received heartfelt appeals from Tibetans in exile, followers in Mongolia, the Himalayan belt, and even from inside Tibet and parts of Russia and China, urging the continuation of this spiritual lineage,” he stated.
Responding to those appeals, the Dalai Lama reaffirmed, “I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.”
The spiritual leader, who fled to India following the 1959 Tibetan uprising crushed by Chinese forces, addressed the growing uncertainty over the future of Tibetan leadership due to his advancing age. While China denounces him as a separatist, the Dalai Lama has consistently maintained that he is a humble Buddhist monk devoted to non-violence.
Amid fears that China might try to appoint a successor to further its hold over Tibet, the Dalai Lama firmly stated that the authority to recognise his reincarnation lies solely with the Gaden Phodrang Trust, his official administrative office.
"I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter," he declared.
The announcement is expected to intensify the geopolitical and spiritual tug-of-war between the Tibetan exile community and Beijing. While China is likely to reject this position, Tibetan exiles and international supporters view it as a necessary step to protect the sanctity and authenticity of their spiritual traditions.
As the Dalai Lama continues to inspire a global movement rooted in peace and resilience, his latest move ensures that the torch of Tibetan Buddhism—and the fight for cultural preservation—will not extinguish with him.