Dharamshala: Debunking China’s latest claims over the reincarnation of Tibet’s foremost spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the United States Congress affirmed upon the sole, legitimate and indisputable authority of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to determine his succession and said the US would only follow the instructions laid out by the Dalai Lama with regard to his reincarnation.
“Let me be very clear: The United States Congress will never recognize a Dalai Lama that is selected by the Chinese,” Senator Cory Gardner addressed a hearing of the US Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy. The subcommittee is a key Congressional body that oversees US policy in Asia. Sen Gardner is the subcommittee chairman.
In a further snub to Chinese spurious claims, the US Congress declared that it will only follow the instructions laid out by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in regard to the future of his reincarnation.
“His Holiness [The Dalai Lama] has laid out [his] succession. Only then will the US follow that succession.”
Bhuchung K. Tsering, vice president of International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) who testified at the hearing on the situation in Tibet and its impact on the Indo-Pacific region said China’s plans to control the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation will not be accepted by Tibetan Buddhists inside or outside Tibet.
“It will also be rejected by the international community.”
“If China is not challenged vigorously by free countries, its plan will affect not only the religious freedom of millions of Tibetan Buddhist followers worldwide, but also the national security interests of the United States and countries in the region.”
In 2011, His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued an edict on the future of his reincarnation as well as the history of the tulku tradition in Tibetan Buddhism.
In the statement, His Holiness said, “in the absence of clear guidelines, should the concerned public express a strong wish for the Dalai Lamas to continue, there is an obvious risk of vested political interests misusing the reincarnation system to fulfil their own political agenda. Therefore, while I remain physically and mentally fit, it seems important to me that we draw up clear guidelines to recognise the next Dalai Lama, so that there is no room for doubt or deception.”
“If it is decided that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should continue and there is a need for the Fifteenth Dalai Lama to be recognized, responsibility for doing so will primarily rest on the concerned officers of the Dalai Lama’s Gaden Phodrang Trust.”
“Bear in mind that, apart from the reincarnation recognized through such legitimate methods, no recognition or acceptance should be given to a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People’s Republic of China.”
The complete edict can be read here.
Further on 13 November 2018, in an interview with NHK Japan, His Holiness explained that as far back as 1969 he had made it clear that the choice of whether another Dalai Lama would be recognised rested with the Tibetan people.
“That choice precedes any decision about how a successor may be chosen.”