HH Dalai Lama File Image
Dharamsala, India – The 15th Tibetan Religious Conference, scheduled for 2–4 July 2025 in Dharamsala, northern India, is set to be a pivotal moment for Tibetan Buddhism as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is expected to make a significant announcement regarding the succession of the Dalai Lama lineage. The conference, occurring just days before His Holiness’ 90th birthday on 6 July, will bring together leaders and representatives from the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism—Gelug, Kagyu, Nyingma, and Sakya—to discuss this critical issue.
The Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of the Gelug school and a global figurehead for Tibetan Buddhism, is anticipated to deliver a video message addressing the politically sensitive topic of reincarnation. As the 90-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate approaches this milestone, the question of who will succeed him as the 15th Dalai Lama—an unbroken lineage spanning 500 years—has become increasingly urgent, particularly given his reported health concerns and the geopolitical tensions surrounding Tibetan Buddhism.
Penpa Tsering, president of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Tibetan government-in-exile, emphasized the significance of the timing. Speaking to Asian News International (ANI), he referenced a 2011 document in which the Dalai Lama indicated that decisions or consultations regarding his reincarnation would take place when he reached 90. “This year, as His Holiness turns 90, we have timed the conference to align with this moment,” Tsering said.
Namgyal Dolkar Lhagyari, another CTA official, reiterated the Dalai Lama’s 2011 statement, noting that he had explicitly mentioned making an important announcement about his reincarnation or emanation at this age. The Dalai Lama has previously outlined that, should the lineage continue, the Gaden Phodrang Trust in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, would oversee the recognition of his successor.
The issue of succession is fraught with political implications, particularly due to China’s efforts to control Tibetan Buddhism through its “Sinicization” policy, which seeks to align the religion with Chinese state ideology. In 2007, China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs mandated that all Buddhist reincarnations within China require government approval, a move widely seen as an attempt to influence the selection of the next Dalai Lama. This policy, described by Tibetologist Claude Arpi as an effort to erase the Indian origins of Tibetan Buddhism, has raised concerns among Tibetans and the CTA estimated, especially given China’s labeling of the Dalai Lama as a “separatist.”.
Arpi told The New Indian Express, “The Dalai Lama is not only the leader of all Tibetans but also of one million Indian Himalayans, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. His role transcends borders, and any attempt to control his succession is a direct challenge to the spiritual and cultural identity of these communities.”
The Dalai Lama, who stepped down as the political leader of the CTA in 2011 to focus on his spiritual role, has consistently advocated for a “Middle Way” approach, seeking greater autonomy for Tibet rather than independence. In his recent book, Voice for the Voiceless, he underscores the Tibetan people’s enduring aspiration for freedom, stating, “If you keep people permanently unhappy, you cannot have a stable society.”
His Holiness has also made provocative remarks about his succession in recent years, suggesting that the next Dalai Lama could be born outside Tibet, possibly as a woman, or that the lineage might end with him. In a 2011 statement, he asserted, “Reincarnation is a phenomenon which should take place either through the voluntary choice of the concerned person or at least on the strength of his or her karma, merit, and prayers. No one else can force or manipulate the person concerned.”
The CTA is also preparing to mark the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday by launching a year-long series of global events dubbed the “Year of Compassion.” These will include prayers for His Holiness’ long life, as well as religious and cultural programs. Tsering noted that while the Dalai Lama’s succession could involve traditional reincarnation or the naming of an emanation during his lifetime, recent indications, including insights from his new book, suggest reincarnation as the more likely path.
As the Tibetan Buddhist community and the global diaspora await the Dalai Lama’s announcement, the conference in Dharamsala is poised to shape the future of one of the world’s most revered spiritual traditions amid complex political realities.