Who is the Dalai Lama?

The Dalai Lama is the leading monk in Tibetan Buddhism and was head of government in Tibet until China took control in 1951. Tenzin Gyatso, is the fourteenth Dalai Lama, and has been the Tibetan leader in exile since 1959.

Who chooses the Dalai Lama?

It has traditionally been the office of the High Lamas of the Gelugpa tradition and Tibetan government to choose the Dalai Lama.

How is the Dalai Lama chosen?

The High Lamas search for a boy born around the time the previous Dalai Lama died which can take many years. There are various methods of locating the child.

A High Lama may see the location where the boy will be found in a dream.

Smoke from the cremation of the former Dalai Lama may rise in a particular direction and the Lamas will search accordingly.

A vision of the home of the next incarnation may appear in the Oracle Lake, Lhamo Lhatso.

When the home of the boy has been identified the High Lamas show the child a number of objects including ones belonging to the previous Dalai Lama. If the boy picks out the Dalai Lama’s items this, along with the other indicators, is taken as a sign that they have found the reincarnated leader.

How was the current Dalai Lama chosen?

After the death of the thirteenth Dalai in 1933, the High Lamas searched for many years for the next incarnation.

They were led to Tenzin Gyatso’s village through visions in Lake Lhatso. The face of the embalmed former Dalai also reportedly turned north east, the direction of Amdo, where three-year-old Tenzin Gyatso was living.

The High Lamas observed the child and presented him with a mala (or rosary) and a bell belonging to the deceased Dalai. He recognised the objects and shouted, ‘It’s mine, it’s mine’. Tenzin was enrolled at the monastery when he was five years old.

Does the Dalai Lama have to be Tibetan?

The leader has traditionally been Tibetan but the third Dalai was born in Mongolia. The current Dalai Lama has made it clear that while China rules Tibet the next Dalai Lama will not be chosen from there or any country that is not free.

How will the next Dalai Lama be chosen?

The Chinese government has declared that they must sanction the next incarnation of the Dalai Lama. The current Dalai Lama, who has said the practice of selection is not set in stone, announced this week that he might name his own successor while he is still alive. This would prevent Chinese intervention in the selection of the next Dalai Lama.