Bangkok Post : General news
Discussion of Successor to HH the Dalai Lama
…The Dalai Lama has also indicated once again (this year) that should the resolution of the dispute occur with China conceding to grant genuine autonomy, then his rebirth will be in Tibet (since there will be no more exile community) and if it not, the rebirth of the 15th Dalai Lama will be in exile.
While preparations are on for the sixth round of talks between the TGE and China, this move not only pre-empts a closure of the issue, should anything untoward occur to the present Dalai Lama, but also discourages any move by China of a scenario for a Chinese-appointed Dalai Lama, as has been the case with the 11th Panchen Lama, the second highest spiritual leader, after the Dalai Lama.
China claims that both the titles, Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama were conferred by the Qing Dynasty. In the past it has also said that the Kuomintang government played an important role in installing the 14th Dalai Lama in 1939, thereby leaving the room open for a future Chinese role.
Since the Panchen Lama identifies the re-incarnated Dalai Lama, China would like to hope that the ball is in its court _ but this might turn out to be wishful thinking.
Tibetans claim that the title Dalai Lama was offered by the Mongol King Altan Khan to Sonam Gyatso in 1578. Dalai Lama is, in fact, a Mongol title meaning Ocean of Wisdom and is considered to be one of the innumerable incarnations of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion.
Tibetan scholars also point out that it was the Fifth Dalai Lama who conferred the title of Panchen Lama (meaning Great Scholar) to his teacher, the abbot of Tashilhunpo monastery in Shigatse in 1642.
Tibetan scholars also dismiss the clear claim that Panchen Lamas have a role to play in selecting the re-incarnate, saying that through history some Panchen Lamas played important roles, others had no role.
There is an ongoing dispute as both the Dalai Lama and Chinese authorities back different candidates as the Panchen Lama. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Dalai Lama-recognised Panchen Lama who turned 17 years old this April, according to the Tibetan claim, is the youngest political prisoner detained (arbitrarily) since 1995 by the Chinese authorities. …
More: bangkokpost.com
Aug 25, 2006
