China has consistently maintained its position regarding the selection of the next Dalai Lama, asserting that it constitutes an internal matter and a reflection of its sovereignty over Tibet. This viewpoint stands in stark contrast to that of the incumbent Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile, who argue that the selection process should be regarded solely as a religious issue guided by Tibetan Buddhist traditions and determined by the Dalai Lama.
How the Dalai Lama is chosen?
As the world watches, the sacred journey of selecting the next spiritual leader, the fifteenth Dalai Lama, is currently unfolding under the careful stewardship of the Gaden Phodrang Trust. Yet, this momentous occasion is shrouded in controversy between “Sacred” vs. “Sovereign”. Tensions simmer as China, asserting its dominion, declares that any successor must receive its acceptance and blessing. With a firm stance, it warns against any foreign meddling, particularly from neighbouring India, in this age-old process. Thus, the quest for the next Dalai Lama not only embodies a pivotal moment in Buddhist history but also ignites a complex geopolitical dialogue, leaving the world to ponder the intersection of faith and power.
Why Beijing asserting control?
China has announced it will not intervene in the selection of the next Dalai Lama, as long as the new spiritual leader is chosen from within Tibet. However, Beijing insists that this process must proceed without influence from India or Western nations.
Following the Korean War, the Director of Intelligence submitted a report that included insights from Tibetans after extensive research, analyzing 16,000 classified documents. This report detailed a genocide that unfolded when Mao Zedong took power in 1959, stating that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) killed approximately 87,000 Tibetans between March 1959 and September 1960 to reinforce China's dominance over Tibet. In the wake of a seven-decade exile following PLA assaults, the Dalai Lama has outlined a roadmap for selecting his successor.
Religious freedom concerns
The Gaden Phodrang Trust, which historically governed Tibet, will manage the process of successor of Dalai Lama and will collaborate with the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The new Dalai Lama's succession is poised to be a pivotal moment for Tibet-China relations, particularly as China seeks to broaden its influence in Tibet and beyond. China prefers that the successor be chosen through a traditional lottery system involving a golden urn at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, a method established during the Qing Dynasty in 1792.
While China may accept a successor from the Tibetan community, the Dalai Lama previously identified a young boy named Gedchen Chokyi Nyima as his potential heir, but he vanished before the formal succession could occur. Beijing has long opposed any involvement from India or Western nations in this selection process. The Tibetan diaspora in South Asia is shrinking, as many young Tibetans have migrated to countries like the U.S., Australia, Canada, and France. In India, Tibetans face significant restrictions, including limitations on property ownership and business licenses, and were only granted voting rights in 2014. The demographic trends show a declining birth rate among Tibetans in India, although some economic opportunities have arisen, with Han and Hui migrants now comprising about 15% of the population in the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Religious freedom vs Chinese domination
Scholar Tsultim Zhagmo notes that while Tibetans in this area can own property and run businesses, there is limited evidence of profound cultural change. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for government-affiliated lamas and community leaders. The region has seen frequent protests and unrest between 1998 and 2008, but Chinese officials argue that their economic policies foster an educated and elite Tibetan class while simultaneously establishing lower middle-class schools and restricting cultural autonomy to avoid developmental issues similar to those encountered in the former Soviet Union.
Geopolitical tug-of-war
Historically, India has perceived Tibet as a picturesque land of prayer flags and monasteries. However, the current conditions for agricultural workers in Tibet are vastly different from that pre-1959. Political analyst Michael Goldstein asserts that monasteries now hold significant property and wield influence, often exercising power in a feudal manner. Allegations of extreme punishments for theft, including mutilation, persist, and former prisoners like Tshering recount harrowing experiences of abuse during the Cultural Revolution. The collective anger of refugees from the Kham region culminated in the 1959 uprising against the PLA's brutality, but the rebellion was brutally quashed. Recognizing the futility of violent suppression, the Chinese government later sought dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan uprising also provided the CIA with crucial intelligence. In 1980, Tibetan leader Hu Yabang and the Dalai Lama reached an agreement initiating multiple discussions aimed at securing genuine autonomy for Tibet and minimizing Chinese interference in their religious practices. Future of Tibetan Buddhism hinges on succession dispute. The future under the Dalai Lama's successor remains uncertain.
