In a resounding message to China, Buddhists from across the Himalayas have declared that no external agency, individual, or government will be allowed to interfere in the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. “This is tradition, and it will remain so,” has been the unwavering stance echoed by Buddhists worldwide.
This resolve was powerfully reaffirmed during the first General Assembly of the Indian Himalayan Council of the Nalanda Buddhist Tradition (IHCNBT) in New Delhi on March 21–22, 2025. The Assembly passed a historic resolution stating that if any government or organisation, for political motives, attempts to appoint a candidate as the next Dalai Lama, the people of the Himalayas will reject such an imposition, refuse to offer devotional obeisance, and publicly denounce any such move.
The meeting resulted in two significant resolutions. The first affirmed that the recognition of reincarnated spiritual leaders in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition is a deeply religious and cultural process, followed with great sanctity in Nalanda Tibetan Buddhism. It underscored that this system, rooted in the principle of life after death, is an intrinsic part of Nalanda Buddhist philosophy.
The resolution left no room for ambiguity—no government or individual has the right to interfere in this sacred tradition. It further asserted that the responsibility for overseeing this process rests solely with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the institution of ‘Gaden Phodang,’ which holds the exclusive authority over the reincarnation process. Any external interference, it warned, would be a direct assault on religious freedom.
China has long sought to manipulate Buddhist communities—both within its borders and beyond—by attempting to impose its own version of the reincarnation process. However, this resolution serves as an unyielding declaration that Buddhists across the world are determined to follow their sacred traditions and will not succumb to Beijing’s political agenda.
Buddhists attending the General Assembly of the Indian Himalayan Council of the Nalanda Buddhist Tradition singing the Indian National anthem during the event which was held at New Delhi on March 21-22 2025.
The global backing for the traditional reincarnation process is evident. In 2022 and 2023, two leading Japanese Buddhist organisations issued statements reaffirming their commitment to the authentic process of recognising reincarnations, reinforcing the pan-Asian and worldwide support for the cause. With this latest resolution, a wave of similar declarations is expected from Buddhist communities across different nations, making it clear that the sole authority over the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation belongs to the 14th Dalai Lama himself.
Significantly, the Dalai Lama has previously stated that when he turns 90, he will provide further clarity on his reincarnation. On July 6 this year, he will reach this milestone, making his upcoming statement one of great spiritual and political significance.
The IHCNBT’s resolution also highlighted the centuries-old spiritual and cultural bond between the institution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Himalayan Buddhist community. It underscored the Dalai Lama’s extraordinary contributions in preserving, promoting, and strengthening the religio-cultural heritage of the region. The Council reiterated that the continuation of the Dalai Lama’s institution and the reincarnation process is a deeply cherished aspiration of all Himalayan Buddhists.
“In the Himalayas, we pray for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s long and healthy life and for the endurance of the Dalai Lama institution for centuries to come,” the Council declared. General Secretary Maling Gombu emphasised the historic nature of this gathering, which was attended by leading Buddhist organisations.
The resolution also drew upon the Dalai Lama’s own words. His newly published book, Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People, released on March 10, 2025, reaffirms Tibet’s deep-rooted spiritual and historical ties with India. The book details how, since the seventh century—when Buddhist texts were first translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan—Tibetans have regarded India as “the land of the noble ones” (Aryavarta). It highlights that Tibetan Buddhist traditions, including philosophy, psychology, logic, and cosmology, trace their origins to India’s Nalanda school. The Tibetan script itself was modelled on the Indian Devanagari script, while Tibetan medical sciences, astrology, and calendar systems have been profoundly shaped by Indian traditions, including Ayurveda and the Kalachakra Tantra.
The resolution reaffirmed that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has always considered India his second home.
The people of the Indian Himalayan region, from Arunachal Pradesh to Ladakh, share a deep historical and spiritual connection with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his institution. Acknowledging his unparalleled contributions—not only in safeguarding the religio-cultural fabric of the region but also through his four principal commitments of promoting human values, fostering religious harmony, preserving Tibetan culture and environment, and reviving the ancient Nalanda tradition—the IHCNBT’s General Assembly unanimously appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to confer the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, upon His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
In a powerful display of unity and conviction, the General Assembly concluded with a congregation of Buddhist leaders singing the Indian national anthem, a symbolic reaffirmation of the deep civilisational ties between India, Tibet, and the broader Himalayan Buddhist world.
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