“I will remain physically and mentally fit, it seems important to me that we draw up clear guidelines to recognize the next Dalai Lama, so that there is no room for doubt or deception”. This was a statement given by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on 24th September, 2011. Being the official pronouncement on his reincarnation thereby giving a definitive statement of his authority over the process of succession, thus denying any the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) legitimacy in this process.
This very regime views itself as an atheistic entity and its founding Chairman, Mao Zeadong stated that ‘Religion is Poison’ to the 14th Dalai Lama in 1954 when he went to Beijing to meet the Chinese leadership as the leader to Tibet and Tibetans.
Yet even in light of this, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to claim that it has the sole legitimate authority over finding the successor of the next Dalai Lama. Their claim over this right is called upon the Qing dynasty, which helped the Tibetans in 1793 in overthrowing the Gurkhas forces that had started invading eastern Tibet and refers to ‘the Golden Urn system’. Yet even this was not followed by Tibetans and out of the 14th Dalai Lamas till now have only been used in the selection of the 11th and the 12th Dalai Lama, with both of them passing away before they reached the age of 21.
The PRC stand and its propaganda machine at work:
This very Qing dynasty which the PRC and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rest their back upon constantly, was overthrown by them as they wanted to do away with feudalistic rule. It is highly hypocritical of the PRC basing their claim over the authority of the Dalai Lama on this because if this was the set-standard that they want the people of the world to accept then, the whole of Manchuria currently in Chinese territory can be claimed by Japan because they ruled over it and removed invading foreign forces in the first half of the 20th century.
However, the PRC and its United Front Work Department continues to see the world only through their lens. In a recent Global Times article which was published in 5th January, 2023 titled as ‘Dalai Lama’s successor to be finally approved by the Chinese central government: experts’ they again narrate how it is through Qing authority that the Communist regime which is the central government has authority over the succession of the Dalai Lama. The article does not stop in spreading false as it states that ‘the 14th Dalai Lama himself was found and recognized following religious ritual sand historical conventions, and the succession was approved by the then central government’. Where there any Chinese authorities who took part in the search of 14th Dalai Lama? Why did they not help the Tibetans in transportation and administrative setup when the Dalai Lama was assumed his temporal power? There is no involvement of any central government here but only the Tibetans, who revere the Dalai Lamas and call him the ‘Precious one’. Hence, this statement of claiming Chinese government that too then central government which they refer to the nationalist being the ones to approve the 14th Dalai Lama’s succession is tantamount blasphemy.
The world refutes CCP’s claim over the Dalai Lama:
The Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama himself time and again stated that it is up to them, the believers and institution respectively who has the responsibility in the succession process. To quell matters the current 16thKashag (Cabinet) of the Central Tibetan Administration on 29th September, 2022 brought out an official letter titled as “Kashag’s position on the issue of the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama”. This official letter brings out the nuances of China’s claim over the Dalai Lama and refers how the CCP continues to interfere, leading to the total destruction of Tibetan Buddhism heritage in Tibet. They in particular point out the 2007 ‘Management Measure for the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism’, which is referred to as Order no.5 and how it through this policy mechanism that the PRC and its CCP regime is systematically undermining the century old tradition of Tibetan Buddhism especially when it comes to the succession of High and venerable lamas.
The stand of the Kashag, which is the voice of the Tibetans including the Dalai Lama himself has drawn worldwide support. The USA in its Tibet Policy Support Act 2020 and the current bill introduced in their parliament ‘Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict’ highlights and affirms right of Tibetan to choose the next Dalai Lama.
Similarly, Representatives of the Japan Buddhist Conference for World Federation (JBCWF) including their Secretary General Rev. MizutaniEikan on 21st January issued a statement on behalf of JBCWF condemning China for not interfering in the selection Tibetan incarnate Lamas and claiming authority to appoint the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama. Japan is a country that borders China (maritime) and even though having strong ties to Buddhism has remain silent though to their economic relations but this statement brings further clarity and how Beijing’s claim over the Dalai Lama is utter nonsense. Following the release of the statement, the JBCWF and its members meet Tsewang Norbu, Representative at the Office of Tibet, in Japan and further echoed their support asserting that Communist China, which does not believe in religion has no right to interfere in Tibetan religious matters.
Conclusion:
Through this all we can clearly underline how the PRC and its Communist regime going beyond its reach in claiming authority over the succession of the Dalai Lama. It also highlights the frequently utilized Wolf Warrior tactic which Beijing has adopted with pomp, whereby they push lies and create a systematic narrative around it when propagating it to their public audience. It is high time that China accept their false narratives have as when it comes to them meddling in the affair of the high lamas we already have two Panchen Lama, with the one recognized by the Dalai Lama having the unwanted tag of world’s youngest political prisoner. Does China want to continue in that path again and create turmoil by their actions in the creation of a 2nd Dalai Lama, and another political prisoner? Enough is enough and now the whole world is staring to come down against Beijing unethical, inhumane attitudes towards people’s religious sentiment and beliefs.
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