The Buddhist leader has proposed choosing his successor from the Tibetan community in exile.
The Dalai Lama stated this Saturday, on the eve of his 90th birthday, that he hopes to live more than 130 years, during a Long Life Prayer (Tenshug) ceremony held at the Main Tibetan Temple in the Indian city of Dharamshala, headquarters of the Cabinet of the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government in exile.
“So far, I think I have served the Buddha Dharma and the Tibetan people quite well. I hope to live another 30 or 40 years, even beyond 130,” the Lama stated during the ceremony, as reported by the Tibetan exile news site Phayul.
“Today we have here gods, representatives of gods, and human beings gathered under the conditions that favor my long life and offer their sincere prayers,” he added.
Members of the Tibetan government in exile and Indian officials were present at the event, including Pema Jandu, Minister of Technology for the state of Arunachal Pradesh; Kiren Rijiju, Indian Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs; and Tapir Gao, MP.
The Dalai Lama recalled milestones in his long life, such as his meeting with Mao Zedong, the leader of the Chinese Revolution, who called religion “poison,” and his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Despite their differing views, the Lama said he felt “compassion for all of them.” “People have different mental dispositions and interests, and accordingly, we must seek ways to achieve happiness and reduce suffering,” he argued, whether through the region or not.
The Dalai Lama addressed the collective karma of the Tibetan people and mentioned his devotion to Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion, despite living in exile. “We are separated from our land, but deep down in our hearts, I have never wavered in my faith,” he emphasized.
The Dalai Lama stated last week that he will have a successor after his death, ending speculation that the six-century-old institution could come to an end after his passing.
The selection of the Dalai Lama’s successor—who has hinted that his reincarnation could emerge in India—has been a matter of dispute between Chinese authorities and Tibetans in exile. Reincarnation is identified through a method based on various signs, in a complicated ritual.
The Dalai Lama has lived in India since 1959 after fleeing Tibet following an attempted uprising against Chinese rule in the region. China does not recognize the Tibetan government in exile and accuses the Dalai Lama of separatism, a claim he denies because he defends autonomy and respect for the region’s Buddhist culture.
