#1st dalai lama series#

But if I die today I think they will want another Dalai Lama. If they feel it is not relevant, then it will cease and there will be no 15th Dalai Lama. The institution of the Dalai Lama, and whether it should continue or not, is up to the Tibetan people. In a 2004 interview with Time, the current Dalai Lama stated: According to the 14th Dalai Lama 14th Dalai Lama in 2012 Request of exemption is handled by State Administration for Religious Affairs, for those with great impact, request of exemption is handled by State Council. Article 8 states that lot-drawing ceremony with Golden Urn is applicable to those rinpoches, or lamas who were reincarnated previously in history. Article 7 states that no group or individual may carry out activities related to searching for and identifying the reincarnated soul boy of the Living Buddha without authorization. The Golden Urn became institutionalized in the State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No. The edict was also claimed to reduce the influence of corrupt families acquiring influence by holding multiple religious positions. The Qianlong Emperor published The Discourse of Lama in 1792 to explain the history of lamas and the reincarnation system, while also explaining why he thought it would be a fair system of choosing them, as opposed to choosing reincarnated lamas based on private designation, or based on one person's decision. The first article of 29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet states that the purpose of Golden Urn is to ensure prosperity of Gelug, and to eliminate cheating and corruption in the selection process.

Īccording to Tibetan Buddhism the Tulkus do not have to take rebirth in a continuous sequence of lives in this world. Once identified, the successful candidate and his family are taken to Lhasa (or Dharamsala) where the child will study the Buddhist scriptures in order to prepare for spiritual leadership. If more than one candidate is identified, the true successor is found by officials and monks drawing lots in a public ceremony. If a single candidate has been identified, the High Lamas will report their findings to eminent individuals and then to the Government. They assess the candidate against a set of criteria, and will present the child with various objects to see if they can identify those which belonged to the previous Dalai Lama.

#1st dalai lama series#

When these signs have been interpreted and a successor found, there is a series of tests believed to ensure that they are the genuine reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama. For example, if the previous Dalai Lama was cremated, they can watch the direction of the smoke to suggest where the rebirth will take place. To help them in their search, the High Lamas may have visions or dreams, and try to find signs.

The search is generally limited to Tibet, although the current Dalai Lama has said that there is a chance that he will not be reborn, and that if he is, it would not be in a country under Chinese rule. It took four years to find the 14th (current) Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. According to Buddhist scholars it is the responsibility of the High Lamas of the Gelugpa tradition and the Tibetan government to seek out and find the next Dalai Lama following the death of the incumbent. That person, when found, will then become the next Dalai Lama. Following the Tibetan Buddhism belief in the principle of rebirth, the Dalai Lama is believed by adherents to be able to choose the body into which he is reincarnated.