The Last Dalai Lama?
Why the 14th Dalai Lama May Be the Last -
By Barbara O'Brien
In November 2007, the 14th Dalai Lama suggested he might not be reborn, or else he
might choose the next Dalai Lama while he is still alive. That really would not be
completely unheard of, since in Buddhism linear time is considered a delusion, and since
rebirth is not really of one individual. I understand there have been other circumstances
in which a new high lama was born before the former one died.
His Holiness is concerned that the Chinese will choose and install the 15th Dalai Lama, as
they have done with the Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama is the second-highest spiritual
leader of Tibet.
On May 14, 1995, the Dalai Lama identified a six-year-old boy named Gedhun Choekyi
Nyima as the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. By May 17 the boy and his parents
had been taken into Chinese custody. They have not been seen or heard from since. The
Chinese government named another boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the official 11th Panchen
Lama and had him enthroned in November 1995. See also “The Tragedy of the Panchen
Lama.”
No decisions have been made at this time, I don’t believe. But given the situation in Tibet,
it is entirely possible the institution of Dalai Lama will come to an end when the 14th Dalai
Lama dies.
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From Wikipedia:
The government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has claimed the power to
approve the naming of "high" reincarnations in Tibet, based on a precedent set by the
Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
During September 2007 the Chinese government said all high monks must be approved
by the government, which would include the selection of the 15th Dalai Lama after the
death of Tenzin Gyatso. Since by tradition, the Panchen Lama must approve the
reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, that is another possible method of control.
In response to this scenario, Tashi Wangdi, the representative of the 14th Dalai Lama,
replied that the Chinese government's selection would be meaningless. "You can't impose
an Imam, an Archbishop, saints, any religion...you can't politically impose these things on
people," said Wangdi. "It has to be a decision of the followers of that tradition. The
Chinese can use their political power: force. Again, it's meaningless. Like their Panchen
Lama. And they can't keep their Panchen Lama in Tibet. They tried to bring him to his
monastery many times but people would not see him. How can you have a religious
leader like that?"
Link -- >> Dalai Lama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia