No discussion needed on Dalai Lama's successor
- Source: Global Times
- [08:23 March 08 2010]
- Comments
Padma Choling, chairman of the Tibet autonomous regional government said the 14th Dalai Lama is still alive and it is too early to discuss the issues related to the reincarnation of him. Photo:Xinhua
There is no need presently to discuss the issues related to the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, a senior Tibet official said Sunday.
Padma Choling, chairman of the Tibet autonomous regional government, made the remarks during this year's NPC session.
"The 14th Dalai Lama is still alive and it is too early to discuss this issue now," he told hundreds of domestic and overseas journalists.
The Dalai Lama has previously made a series of assertions, saying that he might choose his reincarnation when alive, that he could stop his reincarnation, that his reincarnation could be designated, that his reincarnation could be a female, or that his reincarnation would be found inside or even outside China.
"People don't know which assertion is what he really wants," Padma Choling said.
He said the reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism should follow strict historical conventions and religious rituals.
"The selection of the 11th Panchen Lama was approved by the central government through lot-drawing in 1995 in strict accordance with religious rituals and historical conventions in Tibetan Buddhism," he noted.
"The reincarnation cannot be decided by certain individuals," he said, adding that the so-called Panchen Lama picked by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama was illegitimate and invalid.
The so-called Panchen Lama and his family are now living a good life as ordinary citizens in Tibet, he said.
Tibet has nothing to hide, and will make visits to the region easier.
"As always, we welcome tourists, journalists and government officials to visit Tibet and take a look there to better understand the region's current situation," he said.
Commenting on Tibet's regulations on foreigners' access to the region, the chairman said Tibet is "a very special place" due to its "high altitude, its inconvenient traffic" in addition to other limited conditions.
The current regulations could help journalists better understand China's policies for Tibet, and better protect their personal safety, he said.
Xinhua – Global Times
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