The Current Who picks the next Dalai Lama? Why China and Tibet are at odds
Jul 11, 2025
In this captivating discussion, Sherap Therchin, the Executive Director of the Canada-Tibet Committee, sheds light on the intense debate over who will succeed the 90-year-old Dalai Lama. He reveals the traditional methods for selecting a successor and the looming possibility of rival Dalai Lamas amid Chinese influence. Therchin also discusses the challenges Tibetans face in preserving their cultural identity against political pressures and the historical suppression they have endured, making this a critical conversation about faith and sovereignty.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Dalai Lama's Successor Selection Dispute
- The Dalai Lama will personally choose his successor with senior Tibetan monks without Chinese interference.
- China claims authority to approve the next Dalai Lama, increasing tensions and risking rival claimants.
Traditional Reincarnation Process Clarified
- Traditionally, senior Tibetan monks conduct spiritual tests to identify the Dalai Lama's reincarnation.
- The Dalai Lama's office retains exclusive responsibility for this choice, resisting China's claims.
China's Contradictory Claims on Reincarnation
- China, an officially atheist state, claims it has the right to appoint Tibetan Buddhist leaders despite opposing the Dalai Lama.
- This contradicts China's history of vilifying him and inhibits Tibetan faith and freedom.