The absence of Tibetan supreme spiritual leader the Dalai Lama from political life will be a “setback and cause difficulties” but the Tibetans’ peaceful struggle will go on, the top-most elected leader of the Tibetan exiles in India has said, while indicating that the next Dalai Lama may not be “searched for” and chosen among anyone living in Tibet under the current Chinese rule and policies.
In a clear snub to China and its policies in Tibet, the current “Kalon Tripa” (chief executive or Prime Minister) Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche said that the current Dalai Lama had already indicated earlier that he would be “re-incarnated” in a “free country” after his life-time. It’s a clear indication perhaps that the next Dalai Lama may not be “searched for” and chosen among anyone living in Tibet under the current Chinese Communist regime.
The Dalai Lama will remain the supreme spiritual leader and is considered a living re-incarnated God by the Tibetans as per the Tibetan tradition. “He will not move away from the just cause of the Tibetans,” Prof. Rinpoche said.
Commenting on Thursday’s announcement by the Dalai Lama on transfer of political authority to an elected leader, Prof. Rinpoche said, “In the absence of direct involvement of his holiness, there would be difficulties and setbacks. But the (Tibetan) struggle will not disappear. That will not happen.” “His holiness’ (Dalai Lama’s) leadership cannot be substituted by any other method or way. That is very clear. But we shall have to learn how to lead a life, particularly a political life (without him). It will be hard but we shall have to learn,” he added.
Prof. Rinpoche has already completed the maximum of two terms as the directly-elected Kalon Tripa.
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‘Dalai has faith in Karmapa’
AGE CORRESPONDENT
DHARAMSALA
March 11: The Tibetan administration-in-exile under the Dalai Lama has rejected allegations that Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje — a leader of a Tibetan Buddhist sect — is a Chinese agent and has stated that the Dalai Lama has “100 per cent faith in the Karmapa”. Speaking to reporters on Friday, the “Kalon Tripa” Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche said,
“The Karmapa is not a Chinese agent. The Dalai Lama has 100 per cent faith in the Karmapa.”
Prof. Rinpoche said that “the issue is one of financial irregularities and foreign exchange recovery” but that the “Karmapa has nothing to do with financial transactions”.