Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama celebrates 90th birthday as a symbol of Tibetan culture and resistance worldwide.
The 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was celebrated with great fanfare in Dharamshala, India, and Kathmandu, Nepal, as well as messages of goodwill from world leaders and celebrities. However, the occasion was also marked by a significant announcement that has stirred up political and religious controversy: the Dalai Lama has declared that he will have a successor after his death, and the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which he founded, will be the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation.
This decision ends years of speculation about the Dalai Lama's succession and sets the stage for a potential clash with the Chinese government, which asserts control over all reincarnations of Tibetan Buddhist "Living Buddhas," including that of the Dalai Lama. According to China's 2007 legal measures on reincarnation, all such reincarnations must receive official government approval, involving multiple levels of state vetting depending on the religious figure's significance.
The conflict over authority is longstanding and exemplified by the case of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who was recognised by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1995 but was quickly disappeared by Chinese authorities and replaced with a government-approved candidate. This history suggests a significant contention regarding the recognition of the Dalai Lama’s successor, with the Tibetan religious community and the Chinese government holding mutually exclusive claims over the process.
In summary, the authority to recognise the Dalai Lama’s successor lies with the Gaden Phodrang Trust and Tibetan Buddhist authorities, while the Chinese government asserts control through state authorities with official legal approval. The recognition process involves spiritual and religious customs for the Tibetan community, while the Chinese government conducts state-guided, legally regulated vetting and approval.
The Dalai Lama, who has become one of the world's most recognisable figures while leading a Tibetan diaspora through their struggle for autonomy and opposition of China's control of Tibet, has said that the next Dalai Lama should be recognised as per past Buddhist traditions. He has also reiterated that he is "just a simple Buddhist monk" and will "continue to focus on my commitments of promoting human values and religious harmony."
Hollywood movie star Richard Gere attended the celebration and said the Dalai Lama is "the most extraordinary man to ever walk on this planet." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Dalai Lama as an "enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience, and moral discipline," while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is an "enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience, and moral discipline."
Thousands of followers gathered in Dharamshala to celebrate the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday, with the head of the democratically elected Tibetan government-in-exile, Penpa Tsering, raising the Tibetan flag during the celebration. The Dalai Lama's birthday was also marked with Buddhist prayers, chanting, and dances in Kathmandu, Nepal, where hundreds of Tibetan refugees, monks, and foreign diplomats attended celebrations.
Despite the controversy surrounding his succession, the Dalai Lama has sustained a nation in exile by managing to build a community that's kept the Tibetan culture and identity alive. He has lived in exile in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala since 1959, after the failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet.
References: [1] "Dalai Lama's Successor: China and Tibetan Buddhism in Conflict." The Diplomat, 15 Mar. 2021, [2] "China's White Paper on Tibet." China Daily, 28 Feb. 2025,
In light of the Dalai Lama's announcement regarding his successor, the potential for disagreement between the Tibetan religious community and the Chinese government is evident, as both parties claim authority over the recognition process.
Amidst the controversy, celebrities such as Richard Gere have praised the Dalai Lama for his contributions to the world, further emphasizing his significance as a global figure.