How is the complex ritual of Tibetan Buddhists to find Dalai Lama successor?

The spiritual leader of Tibet is considered the reincarnation of the previous leader. Its recognition in childhood is not an easy process and is still aggravated by the political tensions of the region. Understand how Dalai Lama’s succession “the institution of Dalai Lama will be maintained.” With this statement made in exile, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, confirmed that his successor will be elected according to the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The spiritual leader turns 90 on Sunday (06). He says he enjoys good health. His statement ended rumors that indicated the end of the institution after his death. But electing your successor will not be an easy task. The 15th Dalai Lama should be the reincarnation of the Tibetan spiritual leader exiled since 1959 in the city of Dharamsala, northern India. Unlike other religions, Tibetan spiritual leadership is not inherited or voted by vote. The Dalai Lama is considered the reincarnation of the bodhisattva of compassion, a divine figure who usually returns to the world periodically to relieve the suffering of living beings. The succession process involves the search for a boy who, after a series of mystical signs and evidence, is recognized as his spiritual continuation. And the next succession will be marked by an unprecedented geopolitical tension. The ritual The process includes the identification of the reincarnated spiritual leader and his formation since childhood. Getty Images via BBC According to his official biography, the current Dalai Lama was discovered when he was only two years old. He recognized personal effects of his predecessor, stating “It’s mine, it’s mine.” This spontaneous recognition was one of the main evidence that led the monks who visited him to conclude that Lhamo Thundup – as he was called, that boy born in a remote village in northeastern Tibet – was the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. Until it reached that point, the path was guided by mystical signs, visions and rituals, which are part of the complex process of succession. It all begins after the death of the Dalai Lama, when the High Lamas (spiritual authorities of Buddhism) enter a period of mourning and contemplation. During this period, they observe signs that may serve as evidence about the place where their spiritual leader would have reborn. One of the best known practices is consultation with the Holy Lake Lhamo Latso, in southern Tibet. There, the acting conductor or a high -ranking monk observes the surface of the water in search of revealing visions. In the case of Lhamo Thondup, the then conductor observed three Tibetan letters and an image showing a monastery with turquoise, hill and a house with unusual channels. All of this led the monks to the monastery of Kumbum and later to the village of Taktser, where the boy lived. When the probable region is located, the monks roam cities and villages, in search of born boys shortly after the death of the anterior Dalai. During this search, monks are aware of extraordinary facts, prophetic dreams, unusual behaviors and coincidences of birth. Possible candidates are subjected to tests. They should, for example, recognize the previous Dalai Lama belongings among a group of similar objects. The boy is only considered the reincarnation of the former leader if he passes the evidence and if the mystical signs coincide. Once recognized, the boy is taken to a monastery. There begins his spiritual and philosophical formation that will last several years, culminating with the enthronement ceremony as the new Dalai Lama. This ceremony occurs traditionally in the historic temple of Potala, in the sacred city of Lhasa, in Tibet. She marks the boy’s official recognition as the new Tibetan spiritual leader. During this ritual, the smallest, already dressed in monastic tunics, is taken to the throne and receives a new religious name. The act includes prayers, chants and offerings, with the participation of senior Lamas, monks and religious authorities. Subsequently, the boy is taken to the Jokhang Temple. There he is ordained a new monk, in a ceremony known as Taphue, which includes haircut as a symbol of resignation to worldly life. Tibetan Buddhism and China Tenzin Gyatso was born in 1935 and was named after Lhamo Thondup. He was recognized as a child as the reincarnation of Dalai Lama. Getty Images via BBC The Popular Republic of China occupied Tibet in 1950. In 1959, after the failure of a revolt against Chinese rule, the Dalai Lama crossed the himalayan mountain range, disguised as a soldier, with the escort of a small group of faithful. The 23 -year -old spiritual leader has exiled in India. The Indian authorities welcomed him and he settled in Dharamsala. There, Dalai Lama established the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile and rebuilt its political and religious community. Since then, China considers Dalai Lama “separatist”. Beijing prohibited the display of his image in Tibet and fought all public demonstrations of worship of the Tibetan leader. Dalai Lama, on the other hand, insistently rejects Chinese control over Tibet and its religion. Therefore, the theme of succession is an important source of conflict between the Chinese communist authorities and the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy. In the book “The Voice of a Nation” (Ed. Harpercollins Brazil, 2025), published in March, Dalai Lama predicts that its reincarnation will not be born in territory controlled by China, but “in the free world.” The task of identifying and locating the boy who is supposed to be his reincarnation would be in the hands of the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, created by Dalai Lama himself in 2011, to coordinate his spiritual and humanitarian work. But China argues that the central government must approve the selection of the future Dalai Lama, removing the name of one of the candidates of a golden ballot box. This method was introduced by the Chinese emperors of the Qing dynasty in the 18th century. Beijing claims that this procedure has historical precedents and that the continuity of Tibetan Buddhism must be adjusted to national sovereignty. Either way, most Tibetan Buddhists skepticism observes Chinese interference, especially considering the precedent of Panchen Lama. In 1995, Dalai Lama publicly recognized a six -year -old boy as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second most important figure of Tibetan Buddhism. Days later, the boy and his family were arrested by the Chinese authorities and never knew about them. In his place, Beijing imposed his own Panchen Lama, considered illegitimate by much of the Tibetan Buddhist community. Therefore, after the death of the current spiritual leader, two Dalai Lamas may emerge, one recognized by the Gaden Phodrang Foundation and another appointed by the Chinese authorities in Tibet. And Dalai Lama himself has already considered this scenario. “In the future, if the emergence of two Dalai Lamas is observed, one here, in a free country, and another chosen by China, no one will respect the second,” he said in an interview in 2019. His comments anticipate the dilemma around his succession, which could mark an intense dispute, which would put in play, identity and politics. And China and Tibetans in exile would not be the only parts implicated. India and the United States Dalai Lama says that successor will be chosen by foundation he currently created, India welcomes, besides the Dalai Lama, more than 100,000 Tibetans in exile. The country attributes a high strategic value to the presence of the spiritual leader in Dharamsala. Dalai Lama has maintained strong relations with all Indian prime ministers since the country’s independence. His figure serves as a diplomatic appeal against China’s advance in the region. Experts believe that India would oppose the imposition of a Dalai Lama to serve Chinese interests and was used as a territorial advertising tool in Himalayan, which is the scenario of frequent friction between the two Asian powers. The United States also showed some interest in the institution’s future. In 2020, the US Congress approved the Tibet Policy and Support Law. She explicitly supports Dalai Lama’s right to determine the process of recognizing her own reincarnation and defines sanctions to Chinese employees who interfere with the process.

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