Discussion on China’s politics on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation
NEW DELHI: India-Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO) in collaboration with Tibetan Review magazine organised a discussion on ‘Why Does China Want the Dalai Lama to Reincarnate: Issues & Challenges’ at the India International Centre (IIC) Annexe, Lecture Hall 1 on 31 March from 5:30 pm – 08 pm.
The program started with a welcome note by Mr. Jigmey Tsultrim, Coordinator ITCO. Prof. Anand Kumar of JNU chaired the program and gave the introductory remark to an over packed audience of around 100 people, where he emphasised the relevance of the stated issue which is talked about in many international media currently.
Mr. Jayadev Ranade, President of Centre for China Analysis & Strategy, agrees that the topic is relevant and says that the answer is also simple that China needs it. He believes that China needs the Dalai Lama to reincarnate since they realise that after 50 years of rule they are still not able to win over the Tibetan people inside Tibet. “They know that to solve the Tibet issue peacefully the institution of Dalai Lama is a must or else Tibet issue will never settle down inside Tibet,” he said.
Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director of Tibet House briefly shared his views on the concept of re-incarnation from the point of view of Tibetan Buddhism. He also said that the reincarnation of high learned lamas is a Tibetan Buddhist concept or else the most needed reincarnation is Buddha Shakyamuni. He further said that high lamas reincarnate to continue the work of the predecessor, therefore logically speaking the next Dalai Lama will reincarnate outside of China if the Tibetan issue is not resolved.
Mr. Tempa Tsering, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Delhi, said that China has already tested their reincarnation policy with the 11th Panchen Lama and it failed miserably, at the expense of Chinese communist Party. Tibetans inside Tibet still don’t revere the Chinese appointed Panchen Lama as the real reincarnation of 10th Panchen Lama. Hence, even if they try to play the same game with the Dalai Lama it will meet the same fate.
The talks were followed by an intense interactive session with questions from the audience including Indian civil servants, retired military officers, political officers of different foreign missions in Delhi, representatives from various think-tanks s well as scholars from JNU and Delhi University.
– Report filed by ITCO –