The Dalai Lama has stated that his successor as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism will be born outside of China, which may anger Beijing. In his new book, released on Tuesday, the 89-year-old who fled Tibet in 1959 after an unsuccessful uprising against Chinese rule, has clarified that his successor will be born in the “free world,” meaning outside of China.

The Dalai Lama has explicitly mentioned for the first time that his reincarnation could occur in countries other than China, such as India where he currently resides in exile. He emphasizes in his book, titled “Voice for the Voiceless,” that Tibetans globally desire the institution of the Dalai Lama to continue beyond his lifetime. According to him, the successor’s birth in the free world ensures that the mission of the Dalai Lama to serve as the embodiment of compassion, the spiritual guide of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet’s aspirations, will persist.

The Dalai Lama maintains that Tibet remains under the repressive rule of the Communist Chinese and that the Tibetan people’s fight for freedom will continue regardless. He argues that sustaining happiness among the Tibetan people is crucial for a stable society, as history demonstrates that perpetual unhappiness breeds instability.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his efforts to keep the Tibetan cause active. However, the Chinese government has dismissed him as a separatist, claiming he has no right to represent the Tibetan people.

Beijing maintains that it will choose his successor, but the Dalai Lama asserts that any candidate selected by China would not be respected. He plans to release more details about his succession plan around his 90th birthday in July.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/dalai-lama-says-his-successor-to-be-born-outside-china-13326231