The 15th Tibetan Religious Conference will be held in Dharamsala, northern India from July 2 to 4. Leaders and representatives of the four major Tibetan Buddhist sects – Gelug, Nyingma, Kagyu and Sakya – will gather together, and it is expected that important discussions will be held on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.
Coinciding with the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday on July 6, he is also expected to respond to or make a statement on the reincarnation issue at this conference.
It is worth noting that the leader of the Kagyu sect, Karmapa Rinpoche, will not attend the meeting, and his absence may cause dissatisfaction among some Tibetans.
Penpa Tsering, the Prime Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration, said that this is the first time that the exiled Tibetans have held such a large meeting during the term of this cabinet since the regular meetings of various sects in Tibet.
He mentioned that the only official document on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama is a statement issued in September 2011, which clearly stated that the Dalai Lama will make a decision or consult with others on his reincarnation at the age of 90.
Penpa Tsering also criticized the Chinese government’s interference in Tibet’s religious affairs. He pointed out that “a non-religious Communist regime is trying to manipulate Tibetan Buddhist affairs, which is a serious violation of religious freedom and is completely untenable.
They should talk to the living 14th Dalai Lama to resolve the Sino-Tibetan conflict, rather than trying to use the next Dalai Lama as a political tool.”
Nangjie Zhuoka Lagali, a member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, also said that the Dalai Lama had made it clear as early as 2011 that he would make an important decision on his reincarnation arrangements around the age of 90.
Tenzin Tsundu, a member of the Tibetan Youth Congress and an exiled Tibetan activist, pointed out that this religious leaders’ meeting has far-reaching significance. During the meeting, the Dalai Lama’s advisory group may also meet with leaders of various factions to seek opinions and make suggestions on his reincarnation affairs.
The convening of this meeting not only concerns the future spiritual inheritance of Tibetan Buddhism, but will also have an impact on the international attention and political direction of the Tibetan issue.
