By Tahir Imin Uyghurian
July 2, 2025
In a historic and clarifying statement, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has officially affirmed that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue into the future, ensuring the unbroken lineage of spiritual leadership in Tibetan Buddhism.
Recalling a stance he first shared in 1969, His Holiness noted:
“As far back as 1969, I made clear that concerned people should decide whether the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations should continue in the future.”
Now, in response to heartfelt appeals from Tibetans inside Tibet, the global exile community, Himalayan Buddhists, and practitioners around the world, His Holiness has provided a clear and decisive answer:
The institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.
The Gaden Phodrang Trust, the official Office of His Holiness, will hold exclusive authority over the process of identifying and recognizing the next Dalai Lama. No government or external political body, including the Chinese Communist Party, holds any legitimate right in this sacred matter.
His Holiness emphasized:
“They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors… and carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition.”
Key Points:
- The Gaden Phodrang retains sole authority over the recognition of the next Dalai Lama.
- Any claims by the Chinese Communist Party to control or determine reincarnation are invalid and politically motivated.
- The spiritual integrity of the Tibetan tradition remains intact and Tibetan-led.
Despite immense risk, Tibetans inside Tibet have courageously expressed their wish for the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution. Their voices have been heard. Their prayers acknowledged.
This moment is not simply about one individual — it is about defending a sacred tradition from political interference.
The Dalai Lama will return — not by the hand of power, but by the path of Dharma.
