Dalai Lama won't seek Rebirth

by René | March 8, 2009 at 02:31 pm

772 views | 45 Recommendations | 18 comments

It's up to the people of Tibet whether he will come back. The Dalai Lama is exempt from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Please read article for further details.

Taipei - The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in an interview with Taiwan television aired Sunday, said he is in excellent health - but won't seek reincarnation. In an interview with Taiwan's Formosa TV, which was conducted in India to mark the 50th anniversary of China's occupation of Tibet, the Dalai Lama said it would be up to the Tibetan people to decide if there should be a reincarnation after his death.

Related stories and gallery: Global Demos mark 50th anniversary Tibetan Uprising.

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zeet

at 15:05 on March 8th, 2009

Yep, the ultimate enlightenment is to get off the Karma-wheel, coming back and back and back until you're ready to move on. Karma is a b****, and the Dalai Lama knows it. I hope his wish will come through.

René

at 16:18 on March 8th, 2009

You all have no clue. Didn't you read the article?

Roy C

at 16:36 on March 8th, 2009

I do it, Cypresso. I read an article quickly and then go back and realize that I was in too much haste and didn't actually respond to some key point that I had skipped over.

Then I say to mysel, "What the hell?"

René

at 17:00 on March 8th, 2009

Bodhisattva, "An enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others."

The Dalai Lama has given the choice of his reincarnation to his people.

What do you think they will do?

JAR (not verified)

at 18:57 on March 8th, 2009

as long as there are Tibetans there will also be a Dalai Lama, its always been that way, and it will always be that way after the death of the current Dalai Lama but we'll have to see when he is actually reborn, a few years after his death or many years after his death.

Its not the choice of the Dalai Lama or the people. What will happen will happen regardless of the wishes of both the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people. The cycle of birth and rebirth is endless lasting into eternity.

The Dalai Lama was answering a question which is put to him often and like many others he replies that its up to the Tibetan people.

In my opinion, because of the presence of the Chinese in Tibet, the Tibetan culture and spirituality is becoming more weak, diluted with general Chinese culture and in the end may disappear.

The Chinese also want to choose the Dalai Lama.

There is a struggle between the idea of a "Dalai Lama" who ruled all aspects of Tibetan life, and the idea of "democracy" which is based on the vote. During the time of the Dalai Lama he introduced the elected government (in exile) and seeks to maintain the Tibetan culture but on a more modern footing.

Tibetans are marking the 50th anniversary this year of the failed 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule that forced the Dalai Lama, their spiritual leader, to flee into exile in India.

Maybe the Dalai Lama will decided not to reborn as the Dalai Lama but as a Hollywood superstar?

Babel-Fish

at 04:13 on March 9th, 2009

"The Chinese also want to choose the Dalai Lama."

No they do not recognize religion but allowed it to exist.

As Rene explained you all needed to read the article, it was a hint I am sure.

The Dalai Larma is using politics, he does not want the Chinese government to ban the religion remember they are fully fledged socialist of whom have formed their own type of communism. "But religion is the opium of the people" so religion should not alllowed to rule the state is the norn opinion.

In the eyes of the Chinese government the Dalai Larma has been removed from his seat of power.

The religion is a religion of peace the Dalai Larma is not the leader of the Tibetian people but of its monks.

But he has given the people the option to choose if he is to be reencarnated, by doing this he is not involved in any un-peaceful actions that the people may carry out in his name. He is not the one to start violence or struggles to obtain his religious throne and to free Tibet from the Chinese.

He must be a man of peace he has no other path to tread but one logic path of peace.

Perhaps we should all learn what this religious man is teaching us, he is leaving us a legacy.

Thanks Rene, hope my line of thought led to what you saw with in the story of a wise holy man.

JAR (not verified)

at 08:39 on March 9th, 2009

Babel-Fish,

The Chinese already decided who the Panchen Lama is, who No2 spiritual leader, although their choice has been rejected by the Tibetan people.

I read all the article.

The Chinese have stated that on the death of the current Dalai Lama they will decided who will be the next Dalai Lama?LOL

The Chinese already have regulations in place to select the next Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama yesterday reiterated comments he made earlier this month to the Japanese newspaper, Sankei Shimbun, that the Tibetan people should have a role in choosing his successor. Speaking at a gathering of world religious leaders in Amritsar, India, he discussed the prospect of a referendum before he dies:

"When my physical condition becomes weak, and there are serious preparations for death, then the (referendum) should happen", he said.

China's Foreign Ministry immediately issued a condemnation of the proposal: "The Dalai Lama's statement is in blatant violation of religious practice and historical procedure", it said.

Selection, instead of reincarnation, of a Dalai Lama is not contrary to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, however. A central tenet of Tibetan Buddhism holds that a lama can choose the circumstances under which his reincarnation is reborn or his successor is chosen. The Dalai Lama has consistently stressed that reincarnation or succession of the institution of the Dalai Lama is not necessarily automatic, and is ultimately to be decided by the Tibetan people.

The Chinese Government has recently sought to consolidate its control over Tibet's political future by strengthening its grip over the process for recognising reincarnated lamas, including the Dalai Lama. In September it announced new regulations which state that only the Chinese authorities can approve the recognition of all reincarnated lamas. The new regulations and China's assertion of "historical procedure" (a reference to the 17th Century Golden Urn system whereby names of proposed reincarnated lamas would be drawn from an urn and sent to the Chinese Government for the final decision) indicate China's determination to be seen as the ultimate authority over Tibetan Buddhism.

Free Tibet Campaign comments:

"The Dalai Lama has made it clear that, whatever China may say, the decision on his successor is for the Tibetan people, both inside and outside Tibet. It is clearly preposterous that the Chinese Communist Party, an avowedly atheist organisation, can consider itself competent to recognise the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, or any lama."

René

at 08:56 on March 12th, 2009

Thanks, jar, there are two Panchen Lamas, depending on one's view:

At present there is a dispute over the 11th Pachen Lama with the Dalai Lama recognizing Gendhun Choekyi Nyima and the Chinese government selecting another, Erdini Gyaincain Norbu.

Babel-Fish

at 08:59 on March 12th, 2009

Thanks I have learned something to day, it throws my analysis out of the window. lol

I did not see a mention of Emperor of China not having time to read 17th Century Golden Urn system I assume this honor could only be carried out by the emperor? The Chinese are in fact showing much disrespect for the religion of many of their own citizens however they have not banned the religion.

nyctuber

at 22:39 on March 8th, 2009

That is one crazy culture

JAR (not verified)

at 00:25 on March 9th, 2009

all cultures are "crazy" with its own values and belief system, some would consider the America culture not to be crazy but "insane!"

nyctuber

at 03:42 on March 9th, 2009

Voting on whether your leader should reincarnate is Twilight Zone crazy.

René

at 07:30 on March 12th, 2009

For those who might believe that Buddhism is a totally 'non-violent' system, you might want to explore the Shambala legend. A good place to start.

Also:

"Behind snowy peaks, somewhere to the North, lies a Mystical Kingdom, where a line of Enlightened Kings is guarding the innermost teachings of Buddhism for a time when all truth in the outside world is lost in war and greed. Then, the King of Shambhala will emerge with a great army to destroy the forces of evil and bring in a new Golden Age."

Babel-Fish

at 09:02 on March 12th, 2009

It's in the small print, might of guessed.

Barry Artiste

at 18:43 on March 12th, 2009

But will he have a choice?

René

at 18:28 on March 13th, 2009

He made the choice. He is allowing the people of Tibet to decide. IMO it's a given, and he knows it too. What he has done is practically say it is not for the Chinese to decide.