Tug-of-War: China's Role in Reincarnation of the Dalai Lama
China's government asserts control over the reincarnation process of the Dalai Lama, contradicting the current Dalai Lama's tradition and beliefs. While the Dalai Lama wishes his reincarnation to be identified by a non-profit institution, China insists the central government will have the final say, continuing historical tensions over Tibetan Buddhism.
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The contentious debate over the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has surfaced again, with Chinese authorities declaring they will oversee the process, disregarding the current Dalai Lama's intentions. This announcement was made by Gama Cedain, a deputy secretary of the Chinese Communist Party committee in Tibet.
According to Cedain, China's central government will have the 'indisputable final say' in deciding the spiritual leader's successor, maintaining that their approach adheres to religious rituals and historical customs. This fundamentally opposes the current Dalai Lama's expressed wishes for a non-affiliated institution to identify his reincarnation.
Historically, China has positioned itself against the Dalai Lama's influence, deeming him a separatist. The longstanding tension extends back to 1995, when China appointed a Beijing-backed Panchen Lama after rejecting the Dalai Lama's chosen candidate, who disappeared shortly after being named.
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