Why China wants to become a Dalai Lama-making factory

A few days ago the Dalai Lama, from his monastery nestled in the Himalayan foot-hills in Dharamshala, took a major step to set at rest concerns of the Tibetan people relating to their religious beliefs. Beijing’s plans to ensure a decisive say in selection of the next Dalai Lama, carefully laid since 2007, are now seriously threatened. Anticipating China’s attempts to ‘manipulate’ the system, the Dalai Lama clarified that he and high lamas nominated by him have the final say in selection of a reincarnate Lama, including the Dalai and Panchen Lamas. Whether there will be a XVth Dalai Lama has, for the moment, been left unsettled. The latter gives the Chinese and Dalai Lama’s establishment some room for manoeuvre.

The 4,041-word statement released by the Dalai Lama on September 24, at a special press conference in Dha- ramshala, criticises Chinese authorities for manipulating Tibetan religious beliefs and practices for political ends. The statement will have upset Chinese leaders, especially those in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s United Front Work Department (UFWD), which is entrusted with the task of handling matters related to China’s minority nationalities. The statement was issued after a 3-day long meeting of high lamas in Dharamshala that was held to primarily discuss the issue of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation.

In the statement, the Dalai Lama opened the prospect of his reincarnation being discovered during his lifetime. Clarifiying that a Tulku is a reincarnate Lama who can choose his time and place of re-birth and have many forms, the Dalai Lama added: “Superior Bodhisattvas, who can manifest themselves in hundreds or thousands of bodies simultaneously, can manifest an emanation before death.” Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, an ancient sage, was quoted: “Reincarnation is what happens when someone takes rebirth after the predecessor’s passing away; emanation is when manifestations take place without the source’s passing away.” Introduction of this statement paves the way for the Dalai Lama announcing, at a later stage, that he has decided on his successor.

Stating that “they say they are waiting for my death and will recognise a Fifteenth Dalai Lama of their choice,” the Dalai Lama cautioned Tibetans to “bear in mind that, apart from the reincarnation recognised through such legitimate methods, no recognition or acceptance should be given to a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People’s Republic of China.” Hinting at the reincarnation’s role, he assured “the main purpose of the appearance of a reincarnation is to continue the predecessor’s unfinished work, to serve Dharma and beings.”

The meeting in Dharamshala coincided with growing concern in Beijing regarding the XIVth Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. Beijing has, in recent times, insisted it accorded approval for recognition of high lamas, including the Dalai and Panchen Lamas, since the twelfth century. The Dalai Lama contradicted this saying only two of his predecessors were selected by drawing lots from the ‘Golden Urn.’ In September 2007, communist China enacted 14-part regulations, declaring “the so-called reincarnated living Buddhas without government approval is illegal and invalid.” The rules were formulated to assert authority over the deeply religious Tibetan Buddhists and limit the Dalai Lama’s influence.

Described by the Dalai Lama as “outrageous and disgraceful”, they were intended to enable Beijing to assert control over Tulkus, who exercise enormous influence in the Himalayan region since they lead religious communities. The Dalai Lama was excluded from the process by prohibiting anyone outside China from taking part in seeking and recognising a living Buddha. The regulations have now been criticised as “the enforcement of various inappropriate methods for recognising reincarnations to eradicate our unique Tibetan cultural traditions is doing damage that will be difficult to repair”.

A main objective was to ensure a decisive say for Beijing in selection of the 76-year old Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. A Tibetan Deputy to China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) disclosed in March 2009, that ‘Beijing will decide on the reincarnated successor of the Dalai Lama when Tibetan Buddhism’s highest spiritual leader passes away’.

Also as part of its policy of neutralising potential threats to its stability from Tibetans, Beijing has been very active in Nepal in recent years. It successfully pressured Nepal’s government to curb the activities of Tibetans and return to Chinese security authorities those Tibetans who escape from Tibet. Rumours have been floated that the next Dalai Lama could be ‘discovered’ in Nepal. China has initiated steps to woo Nepal’s Tibetan Buddhist community, including with a US$ 3 billion proposal for the development of Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace. The proposal is sponsored by a Chinese NGO which has Nepalese Maoist leader Prachanda as Vice President and an ex-Chinese Army Radar Engineer as Executive Director. Some Nepal-based Buddhist organisations and senior Lamas have been persuaded to write supporting the project.

The Dalai Lama’s September 24 statement will certainly reverberate throughout China’s Tibetan population. It is likely to upset Chinese calculations and harden resistance by Tibetans inside China.