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In a strong and clear statement just days ahead of his 90th birthday, the 14th Dalai Lama has announced that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the official office of the Dalai Lama will have the authority to recognise his reincarnation in the future. This declaration comes as a direct message to China, which has repeatedly claimed it holds the right to appoint the next Dalai Lama in an effort to control Tibetan Buddhism and the region’s religious leadership.
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In his statement released on Wednesday, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader reminded the world that the process for recognising the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation has long been rooted in deep tradition. He referenced his earlier 2011 statement, which clearly defined that the responsibility lies solely with members of his official office, who will consult senior Tibetan Buddhist leaders and sacred Dharma Protectors connected to the Dalai Lama lineage.
Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama
(Translated from the original Tibetan)
On 24 September 2011, at a meeting of the heads of Tibetan spiritual traditions, I made a statement to fellow Tibetans in and outside Tibet, followers of Tibetan… pic.twitter.com/VqtBUH9yDm
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama)
Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama
(Translated from the original Tibetan)
On 24 September 2011, at a meeting of the heads of Tibetan spiritual traditions, I made a statement to fellow Tibetans in and outside Tibet, followers of Tibetan… pic.twitter.com/VqtBUH9yDm— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) July 2, 2025
">July 2, 2025
Reiterating this centuries-old practice, he said, “I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.”
The statement holds major significance for millions of Buddhists worldwide, particularly as Beijing continues to brand the Dalai Lama as a separatist and tries to assert its control over Tibetan religious affairs. The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising in Tibet, has become an enduring symbol of non-violence and the struggle for Tibetan identity.
