Will the incumbent Dalai Lama be the last one? Amit Srivastava The incumbent Dalai Lama said that he could be the last Dalai Lama to hold the most revered spiritual head of the worlds Tibetan population. As per a news published in the Times of India on 18th December, 2014, Dalai Lama said that the seat of Dalai Lama would very soon become like all other man made institutions and said that it would be better that the centuries-old tradition ceased at the time of popular Dalai Lama. He added, Whether there is another Dalai Lama would depend on the circumstances after my death and it is up to the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lama institution will cease one day. There is no guarantee that some stupid Dalai Lama, wont come next, who will disgrace himself or herself. That would be very sad. So, much better that the centuries-old tradition should cease at the time of a popular Lama. No matter how one interprets it; compulsion of time and that of politics, rationalism or differently, the fact remains that China might have been at the verge of winning a war against Dalai Lama. Except one Dalai Lama in the past all the rest Dalai Lama have been Tibetan Buddhists. Now the likelihood of most of them again being Tibetans is very high. But then Tibet is Chinese controlled autonomous region over which the rest of the world does not have much say. The incumbent Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet after the Communist state invaded the region. Others just cannot do so and such threatens the institution of Dalai Lama. Moreover, irrespective of from which country the future Dalai Lama is, the fact is that the spiritual seat of Dalai Lama is based in Tibet and because of politics the religiosity of the seat of Dalai Lama cannot be always compromised. It is very difficult for any future Dalai Lama to fulfill his religious duty fully in Chinese controlled territory as the most revered person among the Buddhist population all over the globe. Obviously, the seat of the government of Tibetan people whose head Dalai Lama is, cannot be permanently based in exile in India or in any other country and also if future Dalai Lama is Tibetan, as would be the more likely case, Chinese governments control would be very heavy. Now once the tradition is discontinued it could be revived later as per Buddhist traditions, no doubt, but then China in near future would not grant religious freedom to any religious identity except to those who accept the states role in practicing religions or those who have big relational patronage in the outside world. If the present Dalai Lama voluntarily himself ends the tradition, China cannot be directly blamed though otherwise China would be in direct confrontation with the West. The fact is that the Tibetan Buddhists are no body when compared to Chinese people and China has great dream to become a global superpower. It would not listen to the voice of conscience and the US cannot do much for the Tibetan people, if for nothing else then for economic selfishness vis-a?-vis China. In addition, the Asian peace and stability depend a lot on Sino-American cooperation. Moreover, the Chinese are trying to segment with the US and they have great plans ahead. As per David Ignatius of the Washington Post, Recently a dialogue between American and Chinese strategists was organized by the Aspen Strategy Group in Beijing. All the Chinese participants embraced the basic line of win-win cooperation between the two countries. Chinese experts noted that the US economy has rebounded from the 2008 crash more strongly than some analysts here had expected, while Chinas own growth is slowing after several decades of rocket-ship acceleration. Russia is weak and volatile and not a reliable partner for Beijing. And Chinas regional ambitions have been complicated by its aggressive claims of maritime rights that frightened Japan, the Philippines and other neighbours, pushing them toward the United States. All these factors argue for greater cooperation with Washington. The author noted, But after the Xi-Obama there seems a renewed effort to explore ways for a rising China and a still-powerful America to avoid open confrontation. Thus China is deepening its relationship with the US, trying to be cooperative. A military conflict between the two sides does not appear to be the case; not even because of Taiwan. The enhanced cooperation with the US is sufficient for China to get relaxation on host of issues, including Tibet. Anyway, Tibet is too far a territory for the US to influence Chinese decision there. I think from purist point of view what Dalai Lama says is correct. He fears China indirectly or directly controlling future Dalai Lama, who once could be a nai?ve. This will anyway lessen the efficacy and efficiency of the institution of Dalai Lama. But still abandoning the institution of Dalai Lama would be bad politics, if not catastrophe in religious sense. While abandoning the institution may let few being persecuted in the hands of Chinese authorities, doing so would let down all the Tibetan people. If Tibetans themselves choose so the Chinese would be feasting. I think that such would slowly end or minimally bring down the voices of protests against Chinas policy of suppressing right to practice religion. I think other than becoming pure, the Dalai Lama should be politically suave and he needs to understand that he cannot impose his opinion too forcefully on his people. I think that the tradition and institution of Dalai Lama should continue, even if the highest Buddhist priest is not fully free to discharge all his religious duties or otherwise controlled by Chinese government. If nothing else, it will put some pressure on China. The continuity of the tradition will also let the Western world and India do something for the cause of Tibetans. Its demise would be regretful and counterproductive. All need to understand that this is an era of symbolic nationalism and the institution of Dalai Lama could survive the onslaught of the Chinese state policy of pursuing and promoting atheism because of identity-driven arguments and consciousness. - See more at: merinews/article/will-the-incumbent-dalai-lama-be-the-last-one/15902964.shtml#sthash.bmOO31fE.dpuf #ilovedalailama #welovedalailama #istandwithdalailama #dalailama #tibet
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 05:15:47 +0000
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