According to the Dalai Lama’s website, the spiritual leader is set to retire as political head of the exiled Tibetan movement.
A statement reads:
‘As early as the 1960s, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power. Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect. During the forthcoming eleventh session of the fourteenth Tibetan Parliament in Exile, which begins on March 14, I will formally propose that the necessary amendments be made to the Charter for Tibetans in Exile, reflecting my decision to devolve my formal authority to the elected leader.’
The Dalai Lama and his followers fled China in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese Communist rule in the Tibetan capital Lhasa. The movement is now based in Dharamsala in India.
On the one occasion I saw him speak, at a press conference in Tokyo, he seemed down to earth and refreshingly self-deprecating. The impact on the movement of the loss of such a personable and respected figure appears to be something he is fully aware of:
‘Since I made my intention clear I have received repeated and earnest requests both from within Tibet and outside, to continue to provide political leadership. My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility. It is to benefit Tibetans in the long run. It is not because I feel disheartened. Tibetans have placed such faith and trust in me that as one among them I am committed to playing my part in the just cause of Tibet. I trust that gradually people will come to understand my intention, will support my decision and accordingly let it take effect.’
Despite the fact that retiring from public life has long been on his mind, the timing of the announcement is particularly interesting, coming as it does just a few days after China announced that the Dalai Lama can’t select his successor any way he wants.
As Reuters reported this week: ‘Padma Choling, the Chinese-appointed governor of Tibet, said that the Dalai Lama had no right to abolish the institution of reincarnation, underscoring China's hard-line stance on one of the most sensitive issues for the restless and remote region.’
It will be interesting to see what happens next.
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harry
With no legitimate state, with no social/political pressure as a government, this phony only made an usless change in 50 years, although he steped down as so called political leader but continue to brainwash tibetans with his medieval theocracy, in alot of ways dalai lama is like Mao, Mao also steped down as politcal leader but continue to control China with his ideologies. this dalai lama is the biggest hypocrite on the face of this planet.
Norzin Wangpo
This man has walked the talk for his whole life. The Dalai Lama and his cause may be a nuisance to World politics and trades, but Tibet stands for the truth. In my book, truth trumps the greed driven society. When it comes down to it, whose words are going to trust? a Noble Peace laureate, Congressional Gold medalist, and the foremost Buddhist spiritual leader or a Communist state where it’s own citizens live in fear.
John Chan
If he means what he says, may he enjoy a peaceful retirement and devote his time in finding the true spirit of Buddhism. He could revise the Tibetan Buddhism by removing all the inhuman elements in the Tibetan Buddhism, and make Tibetan Buddhism kinder, gentler and relevant to solving modern human spiritual suffering. When the time comes he can leave peacefully by himself in a cave in Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh like all Buddhist monk maestros did in China.
i
Well “Harry” (perhaps you could use your original Chinese name, next time), the Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader, not a political one, and hence, you are correct, he has no “state.” As for being a phony, would a choice made by the Chinese government be any less phony? Doubtful. Moreover, if Tibetans are being “brainwashed” it’s obviously by their own choice. They are free to reject the Dalai Lama, but have not after decades. He continues to be a locus for Tibetans who have no desire to join the Chinese hegemony. His successor, who will almost certainly *not* be the one selected by the Chinese government will continue as such.
John Chan
@i, there are plenty anonymous bloggers attacking China viciously, why didn’t you ask them to use their original names in order to stop all these finger pointing and shouting?
You seem have no knowledge about Tibet, Tibet was a theocratic serf and slave society, at its religion and political power apex was Dalai Lama, the current Dalai Lama would continue in that role if Tibet was liberated by China’s revolution.
No Tibetan was born free, they were all born a property of their serf and slave masters, and ultimately belong to the property of Dalai Lama. All Tibetans had to pay tax to be born. Do you know that its Tibetan women’s duty to provide enlightenment for the monks for free?
Do you know Chinese government’s decision and approval are part of that Tibetan’s sacred process of seating a Dalai Lama? Without Chinese government’s approval, any Dalai Lama is illegitimate, an impostor and a hoax. That impostor’s soul will go to 18th layer of hell (if you know anything about Buddhism). So please do people a favour, don’t coerce any poor soul to do such idiotic thing.
Grant
I have serious doubts about that, particularly since I’m fairly sure nothing in Communism mentions a right to decide whether or not someone has been reincarnated. Or perhaps you’re suggesting that the Chinese government has a device which can detect reincarnation? If so then would they provide it to other religious groups to prove the existence of souls?
And what exactly does “do you know that its Tibetan women’s duty to provide enlightenment for the monks for free” even mean? Do Tibetan women usually have a business where they provide enlightenment for a price? Do Tibetan women have some monopoly on enlightenment?
In any case I can’t see this as anything but a major foreign policy mistake on China’s part. The Dalai Lama was probably the strongest leader arguing for peaceful negotiation with China, it should be interesting to see what the younger Tibetans decide to do.
John Chan
@Grant, the problem with the West is that they thought they know everything, and never make an attempt to understand other culture. If the West respects other culture, the world would be peace and harmony. Even the West are told they got it all wrong, they still close their eyes and ears, then stubbornly impose their specious ideas on other people while they don’t practise themselves.
Mystery
For how long will readers politicise everything that happens in or around Tibet? After a well-written, balanced article, it’s a shame that the comments are so polarised — and both sides are full of hatred.
Seventy-six-year-old people tend to step down. As our author says, “It will be interesting to see what happens next.” Unfortunately, what happened next, as usual, was a bunch of non-Tibetans projecting their own existential crises onto a beautiful part of the world they know nothing about. Only the seriously distressed throw punches for strangers.
This is neither a political nor a religious story. The comment “That impostor’s soul will go to 18th layer of hell” says more about John Chan than it says about the Dalai Lama.
As for Norzin Wangpo, “Noble Peace laureate, Congressional Gold medalist” is the least respectful title you could have chosen to refer to your Dalai Lama. Citing those Western decorations just remind us that he’s an American puppet — a failed dictionary.
Before you do the “Han colonisation” argument, most of Tibet is protected to the point that even the Chinese aren’t allowed in.
John Chan
@Mystery, you need to read my comment carefully before putting out your self-righteous finger and lecture other people. I told people to respect the sacred process of getting next Dalai Lama, and not to mess it for their own gains. That’s what the West will do for their political gain at the expenses of Tibetans. Without the West’s handy work and nosiness, Tibetans’ tranquility won’t be disturbed.