They have shown greater unity in exile than they showed when they were in Tibet," he says, referring to centuries of regional infighting among the four schools. "The Tibetans themselves were never completely united in the past. But that wasn't always the case, says Mathur, the ex-adviser to the Indian government. There are four main schools of Tibetan Buddhist thought, but only the youngest one is headed by the Dalai Lama. Thousands of Tibetan Buddhists made a pilgrimage in September to the Dalai Lama's monastery in northern India to pray for their spiritual leader's longevity. He's talking about China's repression of Uighurs and other Muslims, and its efforts to vet Roman Catholic clergy. In Christianity and in Islam, also have been repressing everything." "The international community should take interest in these things, because we cannot let China go on bullying other people," Arya says. Arya says he would like to see similar legislation in India and other countries. Congress is considering legislation that would sanction any Chinese official who interferes in the Dalai Lama's succession. Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback said during a visit to India to meet with the Dalai Lama late last month. "Decisions regarding the selection of Tibetan Buddhist leaders rest with the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist leaders and the people of Tibet. Beijing named a replacement, whom exiles refuse to recognize. In 1995, a 6-year-old Tibetan boy was recognized by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, another high-level Tibetan Buddhist holy figure. The Two-Way 20 Years After China Seized Boy Monk, Tibetans Call For His Release The reincarnation of all Tibetan Buddhist holy figures, including that of the Dalai Lama, "must comply with Chinese laws & regulations," an official at China's Foreign Affairs ministry, Lijian Zhao, tweeted last month. Beijing is bankrolling the restoration of Buddhist sites in Nepal, Myanmar and Pakistan. In recent years, China has taken to calling Buddhism an " ancient Chinese religion," even though Buddhism was born in India. "China wants to pacify Tibet, which is a very religious and devotional society, by controlling the economy and also the clergy and monastic orders," says Mathur, the former adviser to India's government.Ĭontrolling the Dalai Lama's succession is the most important part of that, he says. That development has also brought in more ethnic Han Chinese, fueling fears that the government is intentionally diluting native Tibetan influence. Parallels In Tibet, A Long-Banned Buddhist Rite Takes Place, But Not Everyone's PleasedĬhina has poured billions of dollars into Tibet, bringing factory jobs and development to the poor mountainous region. It's about who truly heads the Tibetans." "The Dalai Lama's reincarnation is a civilizational struggle between China and Tibetans over who controls Tibetan Buddhism," says Amitabh Mathur, a retired adviser to the Indian government on Tibetan affairs.
But this time, politics may complicate the search. He's supposed to tell aides where to look for a child who will next embody his essence. Traditionally, the Dalai Lama himself gives instructions before he dies.
He is the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism's traditional high priest - the same being, faithful believe, that has been reincarnated for more than 600 years. Tibetan Buddhists believe their spiritual leader, now 84 and ailing, will be reincarnated when he dies. They carried fruit baskets as offerings and chanted in unison, all praying for the same thing: the Dalai Lama's longevity. Orange-robed monks with shaved heads huddled cross-legged on the floor, as Tibetan opera singers in multicolored gowns teetered under the weight of giant silver headdresses. Thousands of Buddhists from all over the world made a pilgrimage this fall to a monastery high in India's Himalayas.
Flanked by Buddhist monks, the Dalai Lama, 84, greets visitors in September at a prayer ceremony at his monastery in Dharamsala, India.
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