Dalai Lama Declares Successor Will Be Born Outside of China

The Dalai Lama has asserted that his successor will be born in the “free world” outside of China, effectively rejecting Beijing’s claim to the right to appoint his reincarnation, Al Jazeera reports.

The 89-year-old spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism made the announcement in his new book, Voice for the Voiceless, released on Tuesday.

“Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama – that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people – will continue,” the Dalai Lama writes in the book. He fled Tibet for India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

China considers Tibet an integral part of the country, dismissing movements advocating for greater autonomy or independence as threats to national sovereignty. Beijing has consistently labelled the current Dalai Lama, identified as the reincarnation of his predecessor at the age of two, a “separatist.” The Chinese government insists it has the right to select his successor after his death.

The Dalai Lama, who relinquished his political leadership role of the Tibetan government-in-exile in 2011 to focus on his spiritual duties, maintains that he does not advocate for Tibetan independence. He instead champions a “Middle Way” approach, advocating for greater autonomy for the predominantly Buddhist territory within China.

In his new book, the Dalai Lama states that he has received numerous requests from both within and outside Tibet urging him to ensure the continuation of his lineage. He emphasizes that the Tibetan people’s aspirations for freedom cannot be indefinitely suppressed.

“One clear lesson we know from history is this: If you keep people permanently unhappy, you cannot have a stable society,” he writes.