The Dalai Lama may not Reincarnate

By John Graham

March 12th, 2015

Perhaps you saw the article in the New York Times and in the March 12, 2015 issue of the Houston Chronicle reporting the tension between Tibetan Buddhists and Chinese Communists over naming the next Dalai Lama.  Apparently, the current Dalai Lama, who is 79, is upset too because he has said he may decide not to reincarnate.  Of course, that would upset the Chinese government’s plan to engineer a successor who will accept China’s presence and policies in Tibet.

Wow, just when you thought you have heard everything, along comes this mind-boggling idea.  Surely, most people believe the process of identifying the next incarnation of a Dalai Lama is something a government ought not to control.  As the current prime minister of Tibetan government in exile has said, “It’s like Fidel Castro saying, ‘I will select the next pope.’ ”

John Graham, President/CEO