Who Will Choose the Next Dalai Lama? China, the Golden Urn, and the Battle for Tibet’s Spiritual Future
The future of Tibetan spiritual leadership is under global scrutiny, centered around a centuries-old ritual: the Golden Urn method. At the heart of this debate is the succession of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who has made it clear—his reincarnation will not be controlled by China. China’s Stance on Reincarnation Chinese authorities insist that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama, and other top lamas must be approved by Beijing and decided through the Golden Urn—a method introduced by the Qing dynasty in [...]