Reincarnation process to remain under exclusive authority of Gaden Phodrang Trust, says statement from Dharamshala
Dharamshala, (DD): In a momentous declaration reaffirming the continuity of one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most revered institutions, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has formally announced that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue. The statement, issued from Dharamshala and translated from the original Tibetan, comes in response to persistent appeals over more than a decade from Tibetan Buddhists and communities across the Himalayan region and beyond.
Recalling a pivotal statement made on 24 September 2011, His Holiness noted that the question of whether his spiritual lineage should continue had been left to the discretion of concerned people. “As far back as 1969, I made clear that concerned people should decide whether the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations should continue in the future,” he reiterated.
He also pointed out that when he turns 90, he plans to consult senior Tibetan Buddhist lamas and followers to re-evaluate the matter. However, in light of growing appeals—including messages from within Tibet, the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, and Buddhist communities from Mongolia, Russia, China, and the Himalayan belt—he declared:
“In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.”
The statement further solidified the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the official office of the Dalai Lama, as the sole legitimate authority in recognizing his future reincarnation. The process, he emphasized, will be guided by consultation with the heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the oath-bound Dharma Protectors historically linked to the Dalai Lama lineage.
“I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” he asserted.
The announcement comes at a time when the Tibetan diaspora and global Buddhist communities are increasingly concerned about external interference in the reincarnation process, especially amid political assertions from China.
This firm stance is seen not only as a spiritual decision but also as a strategic reaffirmation of Tibetan autonomy over its religious heritage. It marks a continuation of tradition, grounded in deep historical and spiritual precedent(DD)
