His Holiness Arrives in Long Beach and Begins Yamantaka Initiations

[Positive Change]

More news on HHDL:

http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/791-his-holiness-arrives-in-long-beach-and-begins-yamantaka-initiations

Below is an extract from the article whereby HHDL responded to a question as to whether or not there will be a 15th Dalai Lama. Does this have any link at all to the big picture I wonder? I mean if the institutions of the Dalai Lama is to not hold any ground any more in this day an age, perhaps there is need for a new renaissance and that is precisely what HHDL is doing with this ban.

In manifesting this divide, it is actually creating a phoenix from the ashes sort of scenario and given who HHDL is, and the disassociation from "popularity polls", could well be paving the path for something to fill that void. Wonder what that would be? Hmmm...

To a question about the possibility of 15th Dalai Lama not being there, His Holiness joked about being asked this question in Newark. He joked that at that time he had removed his glasses, looked straight at the journalist who asked the question asking whether any hurry was needed by looking at his face.  His Holiness mentioned a statement that he had issued in September 2011 outlining his thoughts on his reincarnation.  He said Tibetan spiritual leaders have been meeting several times and during some meetings the issue of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation has been raised.  He said in his statement he had clarified that when he reaches around 89 or 90 years old he would convene a meeting of concerned people to decide whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not. He said actually he had said as early as 1969 that if the majority of the people feel that the Dalai Lama institution was not needed, it could end. He joked that it may not be a bad idea if the institution stopped when the 14th Dalai Lama is very popular.

[triesa]

I heard from a close friend of mine some ten years ago that the Dalai Lama has said that there would not be a 15th Dalai Lama after his death.

This recent interview of His Holiness, reconfirm what has been in my thoughts.

Historically, since the great fifth,  the Dalai Lama has always been holding two hats, that of the head of the country and the head of the Gelupa sect.
As the chances of having Tibet to be freed from China is slim or to zero, there wouldn't be any need  for the next incarnation of Chenrizig to come back as the 15th Dalai Lama to carry out the political role as the head of the country. Having said this, that does not mean Chenrizig would not reincarnate back, but as another role.

Dalai Lama has already paved the way for a democratically elected Tibetan administration to function after his passing. After voicing many times that he would like to step down as the political head of CTA, he finally resigned in March last year 2011 and handed over his political power in  CTA  to the current newly elected prime minister, Dr Lobsang sangay. This is another sign that there would not be a need for a 15th Dalai Lama as the system of a democratically elected prime minister is set in place to head the Tibetan administration.
 
Politically Dalai Lama has prepared himself to be replaced, but how about spiritually? If there is no 15th Dalai Lama as he said, who could be the next head of the Gelupa? Can a hand-picked candidate by the current Dalai Lama serve that purpose of continuing the Tsongkhapa lineage? Even the 101th Ganden Tripa, highly regarded as the representation of Tsongkhapa on earth has defected to Shar Gaden Monastery after his tenure last year.

For me, the only one that carried that weight as the current Dalai Lama is none other than Dorje Shugden, remember Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen is back and among us now? He may not have been officially recognised now, but I believe the truth will be revealed as the ban is lifted.
Like What Positive Change has mentioned, a new renaissance in the history of Buddhism may begin…..

[Ensapa]

HHDL clearly does not like his position as the secular leader of Tibet and he does not like to decide on things that bring little or no benefit to the world and to Buddhism in general. HHDL has more important things and bigger agendas and functions to perform rather than just to make sure that some tiny country can run well. That should be what the ministers are doing, not Chenrenzig.

to answer triesa's question, there is already the head of the Gelugpa sect which is the Ganden Tripa that will lead the people spiritually. If you're talking about a religious figurehead who has been the face of Tibet for more than a few thousand years, yes, we will be losing that if he decides not to come back. But then again what have the Tibetans and CTA done to create a cause for him to return?

CTA has been doing so many things against HHDL's wishes over the many centuries that HHDL has been manifesting as a monk. The cumulative karma of destroying Dharma in the name of HHDL will have to come back some day and it is returning in the form of HHDL refusing to manifest as the Dalai Lama in the next incarnation. CTA should continue and uphold the ban in the wrong way if they wish to not see HHDL again.

Which student would do obviously negative things in the name of their teacher or use their teacher's advice as an excuse to perform negative deeds? Obviously the student will lose the teacher for good because it is not logical to put words into the teacher's mouth and then say it was the teacher's advice, and then carry it out in his name. Congrats CTA! you have won yourself a one way trip for HHDL to never return!

[DharmaSpace]

Maybe it is fated that the Tibetans will not have a strong leader in the next 15th Dalai Lama to lead them and they have to be incorporated into China. Chenrezig is a buddha wherever he manifests and whatever form he takes on it does not matter he will carry on the dharma wherever. However since the Dalai Lama will not be a 15th , CTA time to see that there is no real point in carrying on the ban is there?

As CTA and the Dalai Lama institution is getting their reputation affected by this ban whats the point? Wake up already end the ban soon and perhaps CTA will be seen as a uniting force for the Tibetans once more.

[Lineageholder]

To my knowledge, the Dalai Lama has never been the Ganden Tripa - that is, the head of the Gelugpas.  He isn't now and never has been.

That's really the point - the Dalai Lama is not the head of any Tibetan Buddhist tradition.  Politically, he doesn't have a place and neither does he have a place spiritually.  At the time of Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen and the 5th Dalai Lama, the position of Dalai Lama was nothing special, but due to the 5th Dalai Lama's political ambitions, his building of the Potala Palace leading people to believe that he was an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara and other self-aggrandising actions, the Dalai Lama has assumed political and spiritual power for himself.  Remember, that power was self-assumed, backed by the might of the Mongol army.

Today the role is an anachronism.  The Dalai Lama is famous for being the most famous Buddhist and that's about it.  It might be argued that the Dalai Lama has made Buddhism more high profile but he has also done a lot of damage by mixing Dharma and politics and creating controversies such as the Karmapa and Dorje Shugden affairs.  What could a 15th Dalai Lama do?  If he shares the same views as the 14th, only more damage.

[Ensapa]

Maybe it is fated that the Tibetans will not have a strong leader in the next 15th Dalai Lama to lead them and they have to be incorporated into China. Chenrezig is a buddha wherever he manifests and whatever form he takes on it does not matter he will carry on the dharma wherever. However since the Dalai Lama will not be a 15th , CTA time to see that there is no real point in carrying on the ban is there?

As CTA and the Dalai Lama institution is getting their reputation affected by this ban whats the point? Wake up already end the ban soon and perhaps CTA will be seen as a uniting force for the Tibetans once more.

It's not really fate or not fate, they can build themselves to have a strong leader and to be a strong and independent nation, only if they choose to and take the necessary steps and actions to build themselves as one.They can do that by lifting the ban to show that they are a progressive nation not tied down by superstition and religion, and that they can stand independent of their own.

HHDL is a great leader because he has been doing this for centuries and the Tibetans have not lifted a finger to help out with administering Tibet, and that they have been sheltered in the sense that they do not really have any experience in running a country properly and they did not learn at all from HHDL has been running the country. Tibet is a nation that has been frozen in time and they need someone to bring them up to speed.

HHDL is trying to encourage them to make independent decisions but they clearly have proven that they are unable to do so. I am just hoping that lobsang sangay will not disappoint and act as a real leader to the tibetans and not just a puppet minister who does nothing but follow the sway and orders of others. How to lead a country when one is not decisive? that is all the marks of a weak leader.

As to the statement that HHDL does not have a place spiritually or politically, i suggest that you look into the biographies of the Dalai Lamas who explain and illustrate very clearly their political importance as the glue that binds the various ethnic races of Tibet together as well as acting as the container for the other traditions and their leaders. Without him, Tibet would have fell apart and the Gelugs would not have been this powerful. Without HHDL, Gelug would not have survived till this day, and without Gelug, many of us would not be able to have Dharma now.

[VS]

I have heard from a friend of mine years back that HH Dalai Lama will not reincarnate back as the 15th Dalai Lama but as some one influential in the secular world. Looking back at the recent development, i felt this could be quite on track.

With HH Dalai Lama stepping down as the head of the secular world and a non spiritual head is appointed as the head of CTA, this shows that HH Dalai Lama is taking the back seat in the political world. And with the ban of Dorje Shugden practice, its followers has grown throughout the world despite the obstacles faced by the faithful practitioners.

During this period of degeneration, more and more people will be attracted to the materialistic secular world compared to the spiritual world. Hence, Dorje Shugden will most suitable in protecting and spreading the Dharma through Its skilful means in being wish fulfilling and attracting people to the dharma.

With clairvoyance, HH Dalai Lama may foresee what the future holds for all sentient being and it may be the time to spread the dharma and benefiting sentient being in a skilful way. The chances for the young and modern generation getting involve in 'traditional spiritual' activities or retreats will be much lesser in this degenerate age. Hence, a different approach is much needed catering for this generation.