Articles in this Cluster
03-07-2025
The BBC reports from Kirti monastery in Aba (Ngaba), Sichuan—long a center of Tibetan resistance—where heavy surveillance, police presence, and restrictions underscore Beijing’s tight control as the Dalai Lama turns 90. Monks quietly describe repression and curtailed religious freedoms amid fears of punishment for mentioning the exiled leader. Aba saw major protests in 2008 and many self-immolations, earning “Martyr’s Row” notoriety. China touts development and insists Tibet is integral to the nation, labeling the Dalai Lama a separatist and vowing that his reincarnation will be chosen in China. New education rules require Tibetan children to attend Mandarin-language state schools and bar monastic study before 18, which scholars warn could profoundly weaken Tibetan Buddhism and language. With information flows tightly restricted, Tibetans inside China remain largely silent as the succession question looms.
Entities: Dalai Lama, BBC, Kirti Monastery, Aba (Ngaba), Sichuan, Chinese government • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
03-07-2025
The Dalai Lama announced he will have a successor, affirming he will be reincarnated and that the centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist institution will continue after his death. In a statement ahead of his 90th birthday, he said the search and recognition of his reincarnation must follow traditional Buddhist practices and be overseen solely by the Gaden Phodrang Trust, rejecting any interference—particularly from China. Beijing insists it has authority over the process and that the successor must be found within China, raising expectations of rival claimants. The Tibetan government-in-exile welcomed his decision and warned China not to politicize the reincarnation. The selection traditionally begins after the Dalai Lama’s death and can take years.
Entities: Dalai Lama, reincarnation, Gaden Phodrang Trust, China, Tibetan government-in-exile • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
03-07-2025
The Dalai Lama, ahead of his 90th birthday, announced that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue after his death and that his successor must be chosen without Chinese interference. He said the Gaden Phodrang Trust, in consultation with Tibetan Buddhist leaders and traditional protectors, holds sole authority to identify the next reincarnation according to established practices. China insists the selection must occur within its jurisdiction and be approved by Beijing, a stance condemned by the Tibetan government-in-exile and rights groups as a violation of religious freedom. The decision carries major political and spiritual significance for Tibetans and Tibetan Buddhists worldwide.
Entities: Dalai Lama, Gaden Phodrang Trust, Tibetan government-in-exile, Chinese government, Tibetan Buddhists • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
03-07-2025
The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has confirmed there will be a successor after his death, clarifying that the next Dalai Lama should be identified according to traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices and overseen by his Gaden Phodrang Trust—explicitly rejecting Chinese involvement. China, however, insists it must approve the reincarnation, setting up a likely clash that could produce rival claimants: one backed by Beijing and another recognized by senior monks loyal to the current Dalai Lama. The article explains the traditional process—searching for signs after the incumbent’s death and identifying a child who recognizes the predecessor’s belongings—and outlines the Dalai Lama’s shifting stance, from suggesting the institution might end to asserting his successor will be born in the “free world.” It also notes his historical and spiritual role, exile since 1959, global advocacy for Tibetan autonomy, Nobel Peace Prize, and his 2011 move to relinquish political authority.
Entities: Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, Gaden Phodrang Trust, Chinese government, Tibetan Buddhism • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
