Dalai Lama turns 90; Confirms Future Succession

For more than three and a half centuries, The Dalai Lama, head of Gelug school of Buddhism, has been the symbol of state unification, and thus political leader of Tibet. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Reincarnation of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, had assumed Temporal (Political) powers earlier than he was supposed to. Enthroned in 1940 aged 4, The current Dalai Lama took over from his regents (kalons) in 1950, after Communist China invaded Tibet, and in 1959 led thousands of Tibetans in exile after his country was annexed. In 1963, Tenzin Gyatso established a democratic government (kashag) in exile, and in 2011, for the first time in Tibetan history, he paved his way to a democratically elected head of state. Thus Tibet had been ruled by The Dalai Lama for 368 years as both a spiritual & state leader (including 98 years as a Sovereign head of state, albeit 52 of them in exile). His succession, via re-birth - reincarnation - has always been deputized by the Chinese government, on equal terms with The Tibetan Spiritual administration in (capital) Llasa. In 2011, The 14th Dalai Lama stated that his future successor would be authorized by solely his Office -  Gaden Phodrang Trust, to avoid interference by The People's Republic of China for assimilation purposes of the Tibetan population. The continuation of reincarnations of The Dalai Lama - who based on the Tibetan Buddhist tradition can decide whether and where he will be reborn - was confirmed by His Holiness on 2 July 2025, shortly before his 90th birthday (6 July, 2025).

It was Friday, July 4, 2025; when the 15th meeting of Tibetan Religious Leaders was concluded in Dharamsala, HD, India - the Seat of His Holiness The Dalai Lama since 1960. It took place just two days after The Office of His Holiness released a statement, affirming the Continuation of The Institution of Dalai Lama. After his retirement as Temporal Leader in 2011, The Supreme Monk of Buddhism dealt with the puzzling question of whether his reincarnations should continue or not after his death. As early as in 1969, he had clarified that concerned people should decide on the continuation of the reincarnations of The Dalai Lama in the future. Back in 2011, His Holiness had promised to re-evaluate by the age of ninety the potential continuation of (the formal recognition of) his reincarnations after consultation with high Lamas (monks), of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Tibetan public, and other concerned people who follow the Tibetan Buddhism. Although no public discussion did take place, The Meeting that concluded on July 4 affirmed the following: 1) all participant supported His Holiness recent Statement (July 2, 2025). 2) The reincarnation is a (solely) religious matter. Any exploitation by China for political ends would not be accepted or recognized. 3) Everyone in attendance accepted His Holiness' decision. Thus, when the time comes, only The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama will have the jurisdiction to search for and recognize his reborn successor, according to concrete guidelines set on 24 Sepember 2011.

This announcement came amid a week of festive events & public religious ceremonies, celebrating His Holiness The Dalai Lama's 90th Birthday. The events began Monday, 30 June 2025 - which according to The Tibetan Calendar, was his actual Birthday, falling on The Fifth Day of The Fifth Month, of The Wood-Snake Year. Tibetan administrative & Buddhist delegations were joined by representatives of world's other major religions for the first time, and attended the ceremonies at Tsuglagkhang - the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala - themed to the virtues of compassion, forgiveness, and altruism -- values that His Holiness has practiced throughout his lifetime, alongside the bodhisattva (a Buddhist ritual of prayer & meditation, achieving Peace of Mind, connecting a faithful to Avalokitesvara, the "Lord of the World"). His Holiness was bestown with the title of: "The Peerless Teacher of Twenty-First Century", received special Prayers (by The Central Tibetan Administration on July 5); including 'The Song of Immortality - The Extensive Prayer for the Long Life of His Holiness The Dalai Lama'; while on his main 90th Birthday celebration (Sunday, July 6), a Year of Compassion was declared by CTA to honor Tenzin Gyatso's life, "a beacon of love and compassion" as a local official mentioned. Among the 7000 people in attendance on Monday (June 30) & Sunday (July 6), were also administrative members of several Indian states (including Sikkhim), Tibetan officials, His Holiness' family members (including his younger sister, Kasur Jetsun Pema) and celebrities (Holywood actor Richard Gene, Board Chairman of The International Campaign for Tibet), while globally renowned state leaders (three former US Presidents included), send His Holiness their own video messages of Happy Birthday. The Dalai Lama himself, expressed his satisfaction of his purposeful life, dedicated the remaining for helping others, and said that he hoped to live for several more decades, before his birthday cake was cut on each occasion.

Born on 6 July 1935, in a small hamlet in Taktser, Amdo, Northeastern Tibet, Lhamo Thondup was recognized as the tulku (lama's reincarnation) of the previous, 13th Dalai Lama (deceased in 1933) at the age of two. To his discovery contributed the deceased Dalai Lama's head turning towards the northeast during the emblaming process; as well as the visions of the Regent showing a three-storied golden and turquoise-roofed monastery and a path running from it to a hill, unmistakenly showing where the successor of Thubten Gyatso (1876 - 1933) lived. To his confirmation assisted the Golden Urn process, when the young boy, who initially recognized the leading delegate Kewtchang Rinpoche as the Sera Lama (monk of the Sera Monastery), correctly identified items belonging to his predecessor and rejected those that didn't belong to him. Lhamo Thondup and his family -- two of his four surviving brothers - Thubten Jigme Norbu, Taktser Riponche and Tenzin Choegyal, Ngari Riponche - were also recognized as reincarnations of high lamas of Tibetan Buddhism -- moved to capital Llasa in 1939 and lived at the Potala Palace. His Holiness was enthroned there on 22 February 1940, and entered the monkhood by shaving off his head, wearing the maroon monk's robes, and assuming the monastic name: Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, becoming the 14th Dalai Lama. On 17 November 1950 The Dalai Lama was enthroned as Temporal leader o Tiber, at Norbulingka Palace. After nine years of forced cooperation with China, which enforced its sovereignty over Tibet in 1951 and amid high escalation of rebellion and threats for his safety, The Dalai Lama escaped on the night of 17 March 1959 escorted by Tibetan people and arrived to India a few weeks later, being granted asylum.

Ever since His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, The Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Manifestation of Avalokiteshvara (or Chenrezig), the Bodhisattva of Compassion (& patron saint of Tibet), has been regarded as a symbol of Tibetan unity, their identity (lately disregarded by The People's Republic of China), and their freedom & rights for self-determination. His advocacy gained three UN Resolutions (1959, 1961 & 1965) for the protection of Tibetan people, while his philosophical approach of non-violent, peaceful resistence, earned him a Nobel Peace Prize (1989). His Holiness' establishment of a decentralized government in exile (in 1963), democratically elected from representatives of three provinces of Tibet changed the essential role the Temporal Rulers had there from 1643, resembling to that of an absolute Monarch (Sovereign since the Independence of Tibet was declared in 1913). China, which totally annexed Tibet in 1959, considers His Holiness a 'dangerous separatist' even though The Dalai Lama (a holder of Geshe Lharampa doctoral degree in Buddhist Philosophy), has opted for a "middle way" approach in the Sino-Tibetan issue, guaranteeing China's sovereignty over Tibet, in exchange for assurance of peace, human rights and democratic freedoms of the Tibetan people. In regards to political control, China has seized it since the 1950s; but what has to do with The Dalai Lama's Spiritual Authority and a secular state cannot have a say on, it remains to be seen how his decision is interpreted by the Central Government after the 'Simple Monk' is gone at 130 years that he hopes to reach!

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Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78nzwd10d4o

https://www.dalailama.com/news/statement-affirming-the-continuation-of-the-institution-of-dalai-lama

https://www.dalailama.com/news/conclusion-of-the-15th-tibetan-religious-leaders-meeting

https://www.dalailama.com/the-dalai-lama/biography-and-daily-life/reincarnation

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/03/asia/dalai-lama-90-birthday-reincarnation-battle-china-intl-hnk

https://www.dalailama.com/news/celebrating-his-holiness-the-dalai-lamas-90th-birthday

https://www.dalailama.com/news/cta-offers-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-long-life-prayers

https://www.dalailama.com/news/celebrating-his-holiness-the-dalai-lamas-90th-birthday-and-the-year-of-compassion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalai_Lama

https://www.dalailama.com/the-dalai-lama/biography-and-daily-life/brief-biography

https://www.dalailama.com/the-dalai-lama/biography-and-daily-life/birth-to-exile

https://www.dalailama.com/news/90th-birthday-message

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Dalai_Lama