Col Satish Singh Lalotra
Seldom in living history do we come across personalities who have donned the mantle of guiding the masses of humanity in maintaining their moral and spiritual compass amongst the rough and tumble of their daily lives, despite themselves having neared their journey of life. His Holiness Dalai Lama is amongst those chosen few who despite having just stepped into his 90th year of existence this 06 th July 2025 on earth has never left the side of his personality which resonates and identifies him with his millions of followers ; namely the ‘spiritual tryst’. The same tryst which saw the just turned nonagenarian embark on an unknown and hazardous journey across the dangerous paths and mountain passes of the great Himalayas in March 1959 , heading towards India with his select band of followers and close family members. Fortunately enough for us , the spiritual leader is still brimming with his standard bearer qualities of love, compassion, fortitude, patience and forbearance that goes to define his subtle traits which are almost nil to be found in today’s world of profound ‘expediencies of situations’ as one confronts them. With fly by night Spiritual leaders abounding the world of ours having questionable reputation, it is the single most name of HH Dalai Lama that makes the masses gravitate towards his teachings even to this day and date.
‘Tenzin Gyatso’ , the 14th Dalai Lama , fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Born into a farming family in a small hamlet in Taktser, Amdoin Northeastern, Tibet he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama when he was two years old. According to the website of the ‘Central Tibetan administration ( CTA) ,established in India following the exodus from Tibet , the Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of ‘Avalokiteshvara’ or ‘Chenrezig’ ‘the Bodhisattva of compassion and patron saint of Tibet’. In Buddhism , Bodhisattvas are considered enlightened figures, even worshipped , but they are perceived differently by the various branches of the faith. As an example, the ‘Mahayana Buddhism’, which is considered a less orthodox branch, prioritizes taking everyone along on the path to true salvation and knowledge. Bodhisattvas are to live among the people, and help them alleviate their suffering and ultimately achieve an enlightened state, even if they must delay their own enlightenment. I have had my own tryst with the people of Tibet/ Buddhists while serving with the SFF( Special frontier force) a unique paramilitary organization for more than three years plus in the early/ mid 1990s. An organization that owes its unflinching loyalty and allegiance to His Holiness Dalai Lama and composed of almost all of its ranks from Tibetan people. Coming back to the present Dalai Lama and his utterings on the path to reincarnation. In the past, the reincarnation process involved , among other things , the new leader identifying some of the old leader’s belongings as proof of remembering his past life. The current Dalai Lama once said-‘reincarnation is a phenomenon which should take place either through the voluntary choice of the concerned person or at least on the strength of his or her ‘Karma, merit and prayers’.
Since ‘Reincarnation of Dalai Lama’ process for selecting the next spiritual leader affects the Tibetan populace as well as recalibration of entire calculus for countries like China, India and the US in dealing with the core problem of Tibet; it is no wonder that this 06 th of July 2025 when the great spiritual guru of the world rings his birthday from the cool climes of Dharamshala bated breaths would be on display. Since HH Dalai lama has himself stated in no uncertain terms that he would discuss his future religious leadership issue on his 90th birthday, the statement assumes importance because way back in 2011 , his holiness had told that he would consult the Tibetan high lamas and the Tibetan people to re-evaluate whether the institution should continue when he turns 90. From July 02 to July 04 a Buddhist religious conference will be held in Mac Leodganj, Dharamshala (HP), which could mention the process for selecting the next reincarnation of the holy leader in most probable terms. If and whether it happens, is a matter of conjecture. This off and on changing of posture in so far as selection of next spiritual leader by the present Dalai Lama has only exacerbated the already deepening mystery of ‘Reincarnation of Dalai lama’ legacy. The Chinese government has since then described the 14 th Dalai Lama as a ‘ wolf in monk’s clothes’ and sought to extend its control over Tibetan Buddhism. In fact way back in 2019, the present Dalai Lama told Time Magazine quote–‘on one occasion the Dalai Lama institution started. That means there must be one occasion when the institution is no longer relevant. Stop. No problem. This is not my concern. China’s communists, I think are showing more concern’.. unqoute. The suggestion of a possible abolishment had more to do with concerns arising out of Chinese mainland influencing the process, and choosing its own Pro-Bejing Dalai Lama. Was the institution of Dalai Lama founded way back in the 14th century so weak and fallible that it has got the potential of unhinging from its very roots under the onslaught of a constant Chinese hate propaganda within 75 years of Tibetan plateau being occupied by the PLA? Or is it just a figment of imagination of an exaggerated threat to the Tibetan Buddhism from the Han Chinese? Whatever may be the trigger for the holy spiritual leader for his utterances in the recent past, it comes to be believed that in case this exalted institution of Tibetan spiritual head is left to be decided by the expediencies of a changing Geo-political scenario, then the very idea of more than 80,000 Tibetans lugging themselves across the risky Himalayan passes along with their 23 year old spiritual head in March 1959 , and still continuing in dribs and drabs was a big sham.
The above fact when extrapolated means that millions of Tibetans who clung to their spiritual leader decades back and continue even to this day to seek path for peace and salvation is all in vain consequent to this institution going kaput in future. A most preposterous act ever to happen. A similar story played out in the selection of the Panchen Lama, the senior most spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama. The Chinese Government announced ‘Gyaltsen Norbu’ as the Panchen Lama in 1995, after the Dalai Lama chose Gedhun Choekyi Niyima as the Panchen Lama. The then six year old boy soon went missing , and there were allegations that the Chinese Government had played a role in his abduction. Chinese authorities have denied these allegations and occasionally provided sparse updates on Nyima. However the spiritual head propped up by the Chinese has not been seen publicly for the past more than three years. Chinese president Xi Jinping met ‘Gyaltsen Norbu’ in Bejing last month and spoke about him playing a greater role in forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation , systematically promoting the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation. In 2011 , the present Dalai Lama had said that if the institution of the Dalai Lama were to continue , then there would be ‘ an obvious risk of vested interests misusing the ‘reincarnation system’ to fulfill their own political agenda. The same year he renounced his political duties, tasking the CTA with them. Is it again a red herring from the top spiritual head? Recently he said that he would draw up clear guidelines to recognize the next Dalai Lama ‘So that there is no room for doubt or deception’. That is why the present week of July holds importance.
Actually from the late 1980s, Dalai Lama’s aims have undergone a sea change with regards to Tibet. Though this aspect is not related to his succession which is under discussion here but merits mention nonetheless. Portraying his ambivalent and shifting stance that has an indirect bearing on the person who is going to wear the mantle of spiritual head of the Tibetans in future, if the present Dalai Lama himself remains indecisive on Tibet’s future will it not embolden further Chinese consolidation of so called sinicization of his homeland?. From Tibetan independence to greater autonomy for Tibet within the Chinese authority is a monumental shift in Dalai Lama’s stand. Has the spiritual guru reconciled with his fate , thus putting his own people living in Tibet and elsewhere in a dilemma? Did the holy man seek wider acceptance of his people while ruminating with his ideas? The entire paradox of his thinking lies in the fact that last year the US administration put its seal of approval legally by passing the RTA (Resolve Tibet act) which is much more stringent in its application and a bold successor to the earlier two acts passed preceding it few years. This RTA (Resolve Tibet act) enjoins China to define exact geographical limits of Tibet after more than seven decades of Chinese occupation of Tibet. It tantamount to state that the Chinese occupation is temporary in nature and hence should be vacated. This US stand defined through its passing of RTA goes exactly opposite to what is being proposed by his holiness Dalai Lama. The passing of RTA by the USA was further given a fillip when its congressional team consisting of speaker Nancy Pelosi and house foreign affairs committee chairman Michael Mac Caul visited Dharamshala last year and met the spiritual leader. What more booster shot Dalai Lama wants in order to get his priorities right and inconsonance with his Tibetan masses when it comes to choosing his successor? None I suppose. Will he realign the cherished goals that seem to have been misaligned by not proclaiming to scrap the system of ‘Reincarnation of future Dalai Lamas’? As the famous Vietnamese Buddhist thinker cum philosopher had to say-quote ‘ If we believe tomorrow will be better , we can bear a hardship today’–unquote. Can the present Dalai Lama this week instill this sense of bearing hardships in his Tibetan masses by not scrapping the age old custom of reincarnation of future Dalai Lamas and also reverting back to attainment of full and final independence from the Chinese?
(The writer is a retired army officer.)
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