Dalai Lama Affirms Gaden Phodrang Trust’s Sole Authority to Recognize His Reincarnation & None Else
Beijing continues to assert that the selection of the next Dalai Lama must comply with Chinese law
Dalai Lama Affirms Gaden Phodrang Trust’s Sole Authority to Recognize His Reincarnation and no One else
Dalai Lama Latest News Updates: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, in a clear statement on Wednesday, affirmed that the Gaden Phodrang Trust holds the sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, and that no one else has any right to interfere in this matter.
Referring to a statement he made back in 1969, His Holiness recalled that he had already made it clear that the concerned people should decide whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue in the future. He also said that when he turned about 90, he would consult the relevant stakeholders to re-evaluate whether the institution should continue.
Reading from his latest statement, His Holiness said, “On 24 September 2011, at a meeting of the heads of Tibetan spiritual traditions, I made a statement to fellow Tibetans in and outside Tibet, followers of Tibetan Buddhism, and those who have a connection with Tibet and Tibetans, regarding whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue. I stated, ‘As far back as 1969, I made clear that concerned people should decide whether the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations should continue in the future.’”
“I also said, ‘When I am about ninety, I will consult the high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public, and other concerned people who follow Tibetan Buddhism, to re-evaluate whether or not the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue.’”
His Holiness noted that although he has not held public discussions on the matter, over the last 14 years, people from around the world — including Tibetans inside Tibet — have repeatedly requested him to continue the institution of the Dalai Lama. Therefore, he declared, the institution will continue.
“Although I have had no public discussions on this issue, over the last 14 years leaders of Tibet’s spiritual traditions, members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, participants in a Special General Body Meeting, members of the Central Tibetan Administration, NGOs, Buddhists from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, Buddhist republics of the Russian Federation, and Buddhists in Asia, including mainland China, have written to me with reasons, earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue. In particular, I have received messages through various channels from Tibetans in Tibet making the same appeal. In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.”
He further clarified that the responsibility of recognizing a future Dalai Lama rests solely with the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the official office of His Holiness.
“The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognized has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement, which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition.”
In unequivocal terms, he reiterated, “I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.”
The statement was shared both in video and written form on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. In the video post, His Holiness can be seen reading the statement aloud.
While the statement appears to have been given on May 31, 2025, it was made public on July 2 — just four days before His Holiness’s birthday on July 6.
On June 30, His Holiness attended a public ceremony organized by the people of Dhomey Province in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, to celebrate his 90th birthday according to the Tibetan lunar calendar (5th Tibetan day of the 5th Tibetan month).
The announcement regarding the continuation of the 600-year-old institution comes amid growing concerns that China may appoint its own successor in an attempt to tighten control over Tibet.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama issued the statement just days before the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference, which is being attended by representatives of all major Tibetan Buddhist traditions. The conference is taking place in McLeod Ganj, where the Dalai Lama has resided since fleeing Tibet following the 1959 uprising.
Meanwhile, Beijing continues to assert that the selection of the next Dalai Lama must comply with Chinese law, reinforcing its claim over Tibetan Buddhism and rejecting any spiritual succession that occurs outside its authority.
(For more news apart from “Dalai Lama Affirms Gaden Phodrang Trust’s Sole Authority to Recognize His Reincarnation and no One else,” stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)