The question of who will succeed the Dalai Lama — the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists — is not just of deep significance to his followers, but also draws keen interest from China, India, and the United States due to its strategic implications.
As the Nobel Peace Prize laureate approaches his 90th birthday this Sunday, he remains one of the world’s most respected and influential figures, with a global following that stretches far beyond the boundaries of Buddhism.
How was the Dalai Lama chosen?
According to Tibetan tradition, the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is believed to be reincarnated after his death. The current Dalai Lama, the 14th in the line, was born as Lhamo Dhondup on July 6, 1935, to a farming family in what is now Qinghai province. He was just two years old when he was recognised as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama.
The search for his successor was guided by spiritual signs and visions, as described on the Dalai Lama's official website. A senior monk reportedly had a vision that led a search party to the young boy. The team, sent by the Tibetan government, became convinced when the child accurately identified several personal items that had belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama, declaring, “It’s mine, it’s mine.”
In the winter of 1940, the young Lhamo Dhondup was taken to the Potala Palace in Lhasa — the traditional seat of Tibetan spiritual leadership — and was formally recognised as the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.
How will the Dalai Lama’s successor be chosen?
In his recent book Voice for the Voiceless, released in March 2025, the Dalai Lama shared that his successor would be born outside of China — a significant declaration, given the long-standing political tensions surrounding Tibet.
The spiritual leader, who has lived in exile in northern India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against the rule of Mao Zedong's Communists, had promised to provide more clarity about his succession around the time of his 90th birthday. On Wednesday, he fulfilled that promise, ending years of speculation among his followers.
He confirmed that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue and declared that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust — a non-profit organisation established by the Dalai Lama — holds the sole authority to recognise his reincarnation.
What Does China Say?
China maintains that it has the authority to approve the Dalai Lama’s successor — a claim rooted in historical precedent from imperial times. According to Chinese officials, the tradition of selecting reincarnated lamas through a ritual involving a “golden urn” dates back to 1793 during the Qing dynasty, and should be upheld under current national laws. They insist that any future Dalai Lama must be born within China’s borders and selected through this process.
However, many Tibetans view China’s involvement with deep suspicion, believing it to be a political move aimed at controlling the Tibetan people and weakening their spiritual traditions.
The Dalai Lama himself has strongly opposed China’s claim to decide his reincarnation.
“It is inappropriate for Chinese Communists, who reject religion, "to meddle in the system of reincarnation of lamas, let alone that of the Dalai Lama," the Buddhist leader has said.
In his book, the Dalai Lama urged Tibetans not to accept any successor chosen for political purposes, “including by those in the People’s Republic of China.”
Beijing, meanwhile, continues to brand the Dalai Lama — who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his non-violent advocacy of Tibetan autonomy — as a “separatist.” Displays of his photo or public expressions of admiration for him are strictly banned.
Earlier this year, in March 2025, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry dismissed the Dalai Lama as a political exile who “has no right to represent the Tibetan people at all.”
China also rejects accusations of suppressing Tibetan rights. It claims that its rule ended serfdom in, and brought prosperity to, a backward region.
What role could India and the US play?
India is home to the Dalai Lama and an estimated 100,000 Tibetan Buddhists. The Tibetan community in India enjoys the freedom to study, work, and preserve their culture — and the Dalai Lama remains a deeply respected figure among many Indians.
His presence in India also gives New Delhi a subtle but significant diplomatic edge in its complex relationship with China.
The United States, too, has taken a strong stance on the issue. Amid growing rivalry with China, the U.S. has repeatedly voiced its commitment to protecting the human rights of Tibetans and preserving their religious freedom. American lawmakers have been vocal in opposing any attempt by China to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama.
In 2024, then-President Joe Biden signed a law aimed at pressuring Beijing to resolve the longstanding conflict over Tibet’s push for greater autonomy — a clear message that the U.S. supports the Tibetan people’s right to determine their own future, free from external interference.
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