The Dalai Lama’s successor will be born outside of China, according to the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism in his new book, titled “Voice for the Voiceless.” He asserts that the future spiritual leader will be born in the “free world,” highlighting the ongoing dispute with Beijing over control of the Himalayan region. The book, which will be released on Tuesday, marks the first time the Dalai Lama has explicitly stated that his successor would not be born in China, but could potentially be born in India, where he currently lives in exile.
The 89-year-old spiritual leader emphasizes that the next Dalai Lama will continue his work, serving as the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and a symbol for the Tibetan people’s aspirations. This stance is in stark contrast to China’s assertion that they will choose the successor, a claim that the Dalai Lama strongly disagrees with, stating that any successor named by China would not be respected by him.
The Chinese government has labeled the Dalai Lama as a “separatist” for his advocacy for Tibetan independence. In response to the book, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry accused the Dalai Lama of engaging in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion, reiterating China’s consistent position on Tibet’s development and prosperity under their rule. However, the spokesperson also expressed a hope for the Dalai Lama to “return to the right path” and engage in discussions about the future, with certain conditions such as recognizing Tibet and Taiwan as part of China.
In “Voice for the Voiceless,” the Dalai Lama documents his interactions with Chinese leaders over several decades and highlights the petitions he has received from Tibetans, both within Tibet and abroad, requesting that the lineage of the Dalai Lama continue. Tibetan tradition dictates that the soul of a senior monk reincarnates in the body of a child upon death. The current Dalai Lama was recognized as the reincarnation of his predecessor at a young age.
The book will be published in various countries, including the US and Britain, on Tuesday. The Dalai Lama, who plans to disclose more details about his succession around his 90th birthday in July, reaffirms his commitment to the campaign for Tibetan freedom, stating that the fight for the Tibetan people’s liberty will continue beyond his lifetime, despite Tibet remaining under repressive Chinese rule.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/11/dalai-lama-successor-born-outside-china-voice-for-the-voiceless
