14th Dalai Lama's Succession Sparks Tension with China
As the 14th Dalai Lama prepares for a final showdown with Beijing over his reincarnation, the future of Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan people hangs in the balance, with far-reaching geopolitical implications for the region. The confrontation between the Dalai Lama and China's Communist Party is likely to have significant consequences for the Tibetan community and the world at large.
The 14th Dalai Lama's 90th birthday has reignited concerns over his succession, with China seeking to appoint its own candidate and the Dalai Lama suggesting his successor will be from the "free world", setting the stage for a confrontation with Beijing.
The Tibetan resistance remains active in China's Sichuan province, where the Kirti monastery has been at the center of protests against Chinese rule for decades. The monastery is closely surveilled by the government, with police stations, surveillance cameras, and a ban on displaying the Dalai Lama's image. Tibetans have been detained for peaceful protests, promoting the Tibetan language, and possessing the Dalai Lama's portrait.
The situation in Tibet is complex, with two worlds existing under one sky: the Tibetan community and the Chinese government. The road to Aba, a town in Sichuan province, shows the money Beijing has invested in the area, but also the pervasive surveillance and control. The future of Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama's succession are uncertain, with Beijing's plans for a new Dalai Lama already in motion.
The search for a Dalai Lama's reincarnation is an elaborate and sacred process, involving clues left by the predecessor, divination, oracles, and visions received by senior lamas. The current Dalai Lama has been preparing the Tibetan people for an eventual future without him, strengthening the institutions of the Tibetan movement and fostering a self-reliant democracy within the exile community.
The Dalai Lama's death could pose a new dilemma for the Communist Party, as younger Tibetans in exile view his "middle way" approach as too conciliatory, and demands for full Tibetan independence could gather momentum. The 14th Dalai Lama's global influence appears to be waning, but some Tibetans remain hopeful that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue, and that the power of the symbol will be maintained.