Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal: Dalai Lama may not be the LAST after all

Amber Larson, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly; Massoud Hayoun (America.AlJazeera.com "Tibetan Buddhism’s Dalai Lama may not be the last after all," 9-10-14)

Claims that he'd be the last in a centuries-old line may be a political move, analysts say.

Shugden Dorje protests (starcadet/flickr)

The Dalai Lama’s most recent suggestions that he may be the last in a centuries-old line may have been a political move to coax Beijing into negotiations, analysts say, three years after the religious leader “devolved” his political powers at the head of his government-in-exile to an elected official.

Wherever there are ethnic Tibetans in China, one can find hidden icons of the Dalai Lama, who adherents of Tibetan Buddhism believe to be an incarnation of the B[odhisattv]a of Compassion.

Although Beijing has called the religious leader and political figure a “wolf in monk’s clothing,” Tibet scholars say the Chinese government recognizes the Dalai Lama’s enduring authority among the nation’s restive Tibetan population.

That may explain why the Dalai Lama told German newspaper Die Welt this week that he may be the last, said Richard Barnett, a leading scholar on Tibet and professor at Columbia University.

Dalai Lama's Instructions for Life (Ashley Bolen)

“The Chinese have a real chance of winning over the Tibetan population if they allow the Dalai Lama to come back and treat him well, and he acknowledges them for doing that,” Barnett said.

“This remains the main bargaining chip for the Dalai Lama -- it’s hard for the Chinese to see a way forward without him, but it’s difficult to see a way with him.”

The advocacy of celebrities such as Richard Gere have put pressure on governments to push for a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Beijing in the past, but talks on compromise have always stalled amid Tibet’s calls for autonomy from Beijing.

Nagba protest: Stop lying (dorjeshugden)

The last negotiations between Chinese officials and Tibet’s government-in-exile hit a wall in February 2010.

The idea “that there’s no certainty that the Dalai Lama will return as a spiritual leader or in any other role is a way to pressure China,” Barnett said.

Seditious mantra (America Al Jazeera)

Beijing has on occasion signaled efforts to declare its own Dalai Lama. If the Dalai Lama-in-exile rejects the following Dalai Lama’s reincarnation, that would stymie efforts for China to establish its own, more malleable religious leader. More