Dalai Lama has no authority over reincarnation system: Chinese language envoy to India

China’s Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, mentioned on Sunday that the Dalai Lama doesn’t have the ability to determine if the Tibetan Buddhist reincarnation system ought to proceed. He claimed that the 14th Dalai Lama is a part of a centuries-old spiritual custom and can’t change it on his personal.

“The reincarnation system of Dwelling Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism has existed for over 700 years,” Xu mentioned in a publish on social media platform X. “Presently, there are greater than 1,000 such methods in Tibet and Tibetan-inhabited areas of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Qinghai.”

Xu added that whereas the 14th Dalai Lama is a key determine, the method of selecting Dalai Lamas didn’t start with him and won’t finish with him. “He has no authority to determine whether or not the system will proceed or be stopped,” Xu said.

His feedback got here shortly after Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, a practising Buddhist, mentioned solely the present Dalai Lama and conventional practices can decide his successor.

“The Dalai Lama is a defining non secular chief for Buddhists,” Rijiju mentioned on July 2. “The choice about his reincarnation ought to observe custom and be made by him alone. Nobody else has the fitting.”

These statements observe a current announcement from the 14th Dalai Lama, who confirmed that the Dalai Lama establishment would proceed. He mentioned solely the Gaden Phodrang Belief has the fitting to recognise his future reincarnation.

The difficulty has gained consideration as Dalai Lama’s ninetieth birthday approached on July 6. There are considerations that China might appoint its personal successor to realize extra management over Tibet’s non secular management.

In response to the Dalai Lama’s assertion, Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning mentioned that any reincarnation should observe guidelines set by the Chinese language authorities, together with a course of referred to as “drawing tons from a golden urn” and official approval from Beijing.

Mao added that whereas China respects spiritual freedom, it additionally strictly regulates spiritual practices, together with the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders.

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