Thupten Ngodup, Tibet’s chief state oracle, mentioned usually such discussions on the reincarnation don’t happen when a monk remains to be alive however issues are completely different now, primarily as a result of the “Chinese language authorities is interfering”.
Beijing mentioned in March that the Dalai Lama was a political exile who had “no proper to symbolize the Tibetan individuals in any respect”. China has mentioned it’s open to discussing his future if he recognises that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable elements of China, a proposal the Tibetan authorities in exile has rejected.
“AS IF HE’S NOT THERE”
The non secular convention this week, being held for the primary time since 2019, will likely be attended by greater than 100 Tibetan Buddhist leaders and can characteristic a video assertion from the Dalai Lama.
Hollywood star Richard Gere, a long-time follower of Tibetan Buddhism, will likely be amongst these attending, organisers have mentioned.
The Dalai Lama will attend prayers known as by the Tibetan authorities in exile on Jul 5 and take part in his birthday celebrations a day later, in keeping with a schedule shared by the organisers.
He’ll converse on the celebrations for about half an hour. India’s parliamentary affairs minister, Kiren Rijiju, and another Indian officers are anticipated to attend.
Tibetans have been praying for his lengthy well being, particularly since knee surgical procedure in america final yr, though the Dalai Lama instructed Reuters in December that he might stay till he was 110. The earlier Dalai Lama died sooner than anticipated at 58.
The Dalai Lama and Tibetan officers say there’s a system in place for the government-in-exile to proceed its political work whereas officers of the Dalai Lama’s Gaden Phodrang Basis search and recognise the subsequent Dalai Lama.
The present Dalai Lama arrange the muse in 2015 and its senior officers embrace a number of of his aides.
Teykhang and different Tibetan officers mentioned the Dalai Lama has been getting ready his individuals for the day when he’s gone, particularly by his 2011 resolution at hand his political function to a democratically elected authorities, ending a 368-year-old custom of being each non secular and temporal head of Tibetans.
“Since he has come within the type of a human, we have now to agree that there will likely be a second when he isn’t with us,” mentioned Teykhang. “His Holiness has actually ready us for that day, he made us act as if he isn’t there.”