Tibetan Buddhism is preparing to appoint a successor to the Dalai lama, with opposition from China

The spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai lama, has assured that he will have an heir, thereby putting an end to speculation that the six-century institution would end after his death.

Before the age of 90, the Dalai lama has appointed the Gaden Phodrang Trust as his "exclusive authority" to recognize his reincarnation. "No one else has the power to intervene in this matter," he said in a clear reference to China.

The current Dalai lama lives in Dharamshala, India, since he fled Tibet in 1959 (now an autonomous region of Tibet in China). The spiritual leader has left the door open to the possibility of his next reincarnation and the birth of his successor outside the territory of China. He has asked his supporters to reject any candidate proposed by the Chinese Government.

Reincarnation of the main spiritual leader

The process of reincarnation of the Dalai lama is a complex ritual. After the death of the leader, the high lama seeks through mystical clues a child born around the death of the Dalai lama as a candidate and is tested for his identity.

The final validation is usually carried out by the second most important leader of Tibetan Buddhism ("panchem lama"). However, the last was arrested by China in 1995, when he was appointed, thus breaking the chain of confessions.

The dome of Tibetan Buddhism is wrapped in a historic conclave in Dharamshala. In a statement, China has "strongly" condemned interference in the succession of the Dalai lama and unanimously supported the plan presented by the leader to ensure the continuity of the tribe.

"We strongly condemn the use of the issue of reincarnation by the People's Republic of China for its political benefit, and we will never tolerate it," the heads of the main schools and monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism have declared.

They're holding a three-day conference in exile to consolidate their strategy for one of the most complex transitions in their history.

Conflict with the Chinese authorities

For its part, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the reincarnation of the Dalai lama must respect "the procedure for drawing the gold ballot box"and the laws of the country.

"The reincarnation of the Dalai lama must respect the procedure of drawing the gold urn, with the approval of the central government, and must be developed in accordance with religious rituals, historical customs and existing national legislation," Mao Ningsaid at a press conference.

He has also stressed that the current Dalai lama "was strictly accepted following these rituals, despite the special order of the then nationalist government to exempt him from the drawing of the gold ballot box".

"The survival and development of any religion must be adapted to the social environment and cultural traditions of the country. Tibetan Buddhism, originating in China and with Chinese characteristics, is in itself a significant example of religious belief."