In an interview with a German newspaper the Dalai Lama reportedly said that once his tenure as a spiritual leader ends, there should be no successor.
In an interview with a German newspaper the Dalai Lama reportedly said that once his tenure as a spiritual leader ends, there should be no successor.
According to the published text he told the reporter, “The 14th Dalai Lama now is very popular. Let us then finish with a popular Dalai Lama. "If a weak Dalai Lama comes along, then it will just disgrace the Dalai Lama."
Tibetan Buddhism has upheld the tradition of naming successors for nearly 5 centuries.
In the mid 1600s the post was expanded from being one of spiritual guidance to a position involving a political leadership as well.
Since the exile of many Buddhists from Tibet in 1959, the governmental role of the current Dalai Lama has been heightened.
While he officially abdicated his authority in government in 2011, he remains a strong presence in the movement to once again have religious and political freedom in Tibet.
Due to the multiple responsibilities involved with the title, one scholar believes the interview message may have gotten a bit confused.
He feels that the declaration to not name a successor was meant to reference the political aspects of the position.
