China’s worries about the next Dalai Lama arise from the fact that he will not be chosen under Beijing’s influence but through spiritual traditions, posing a significant threat to the Chinese Communist Party’s control, as per a report. Beijing lacks control over the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation, causing unease among Chinese authorities, according to Khedroob Thondup, the Dalai Lama’s nephew, in the ‘European Times’.
The Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to control Tibetan Buddhism have faced obstacles as the next Dalai Lama’s succession cannot be manipulated by the Party. The legitimacy of Tibetan Buddhism is acknowledged in monasteries and communities, not dictated by the Chinese government, the report highlighted.
Reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism is a spiritual practice deeply rooted in tradition, not a bureaucratic procedure. The Dalai Lama has made it clear that he will not allow China to influence the succession process, stripping Beijing of its power over the matter. The institution emphasizes that legitimacy comes from religious beliefs, not political authority.
China’s apprehensions extend globally as the Dalai Lama is a prominent figure with teachings reaching various parts of the world. The fear in Beijing is that the next Dalai Lama could unite Tibetans in exile and become a symbol of resistance in Tibet, posing a challenge to China’s chosen candidate. The report also mentions that a contested succession would expose China’s limited control over Tibetan religion and weaken its influence in Buddhist regions.
