India Today, 17 December 2014
The Dalai Lama has said that he may be the last to hold the title. In an interview to the BBC he said that it would be better if the centuries-old tradition ceased “at the time of a popular Dalai Lama”.
The 79-year-old spiritual leader’s statement came in the wake of repeated statements from China that it would chose the next Dalai Lama.
Responding to China’s statements, the Dalai Lama said, “The Dalai Lama institution will cease one day. These man-made institutions will cease. There is no guarantee that some stupid Dalai Lama won’t come next, who will disgrace himself or herself. That would be very sad. So, much better that a centuries-old tradition should cease at the time of a quite popular Dalai Lama.”
Over the years, the Dalai lama has passed on his political responsibilities to Lobsang Sangay, the elected leader of the Tibetan government in exile.
He said that whether there would be another Dalai Lama would depend on the circumstances after his death and that it was up to the Tibetan people.
The election of Lobsang Sangay as the leader of the Tibetan government in exile is seen as a way by the Dalai Lama to ensure that the Tibetan community would have an elected leader in place who would not be under China’s control.
Buddhism’s second-highest figure, the Panchen Lama, is meant to play a key role in the choice of the next Dalai Lama. In 1995, a young boy was named Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama. However, China rejected this and chose its own candidate. So far, the whereabouts of the Dalai Lama’s choice are not known.
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