Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, says he will decide when he is about 90 years old whether he should be reincarnated, a Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
In a statement Saturday, he said at “about 90″ he will consult with the high lamas of Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public and other people who follow Tibetan Buddhism to evaluate whether the “institution of the Dalai Lama” should continue — and if there is a need for the 15th Dalai Lama to be recognized.
The 14th Dalai Lama, 76, also said China should have no say in whether he is reincarnated.
His comments appeared in a document issued after a gathering of Tibetan Buddhist leaders in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala.
Tibet’s government-in-exile has operated from Dharamsala since 1959, when the Dalai Lama fled Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
China has often accused the Dalai Lama and his followers of advocating Tibetan secession, despite repeated assurances from the Nobel laureate that he is seeking dialogue with China aimed only at establishing Tibetan autonomy.
In July, the Dalai Lama gave up his role as head of the Tibetan government-in-exile when Harvard-trained scholar Lobsang Sangay was sworn in as the new leader and pledged to sustain the exile movement until freedom is achieved in Tibet.
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Zara Hill
November 26, 2015
May the Dalai lama live long in good health to continue to turn the wheel of Dharma. In my most humble and sincere approach, may I appeal to the Dalai Lama to end all bans and discrimination against other practices in the Tibetan Buddha Dharma. May you please grant freedom and peace to all types of practitioners. May your compassion extend to ALL SENTIENT BEINGS ! Thank you Dalai Lama !
Camillia
April 15, 2017
Any Buddhist will know that, in order to gain enlightenment, one needs to develop and sustain the altruistic mind. What is altruism? According to His Holiness, it is “…the wish to attain enlightenment (become a Buddha) for the benefit of all sentient beings.” Many Bodhisattvas had vowed to take rebirth in the most barren land to spread the Dharma and convert the most harden minds. However, times perhaps had changed by reading the statement of His Holiness, saying that he will ensure China to have nothing to do with his next rebirth:
Is His Holiness implying segregation among people who can or will receive Buddha teachings through his next rebirth?
Is His Holiness implying that he will no longer work for the benefits of ALL SENTIENT BEINGS?
Or is he implying that he will only work for the benefit of a selected group of Sentient Beings and the Chinese are not part of this selected group?
Is this a political statement or a spiritual statement?
I hope His Holiness will remember his Bodhicitta aspiration and stop making statements that will confuse his followers.