Spanish
Dharamshala (India).- Visions in the waters of a sacred lake, prophecies of an oracle in a trance, and a secret test in which a child must recognize objects from their past life, this is the centuries-old method with which Tibetan Buddhism faces its greatest crisis in decades: the imminent need to find the successor to the Dalai Lama, who turns 90 this Sunday.
The traditional process: a mystical search
Tradition, governed by centuries-old rituals, dictates that the search begins after the death of a Dalai Lama. The responsibility of finding his "yangsi", or reincarnation, falls on the highest lamas, who follow a map of mystical clues. The first sign usually comes from the Nechung Oracle, a state medium who, in a violent trance, can reveal the region of rebirth. With these clues, a delegation travels to the sacred lake Lhamo La-tso, in Tibet, where meditation can induce visions in the waters that show the shape of a house or the initial of a town. A search team is then sent incognito to find a child who matches the prophecies. The lamas look for particular physical signs on the candidate's body, such as large ears or auspicious marks. Upon finding it, the ultimate test arrives: collections of objects, such as rosaries or walking sticks, are presented to him, and he must recognize real articles and copies, without hesitation, those that belonged to the Dalai Lama in his previous life.The Modern Crisis: The Missing Heir
The final validation of the finding traditionally falls to the Panchen Lama, the second most important spiritual figure in the lineage. But this delicate system broke down in 1995.You may be interested in: The Dalai Lama charts the path to find his reincarnation, in a clear challenge to China
A few days after the Dalai Lama recognized Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, a six-year-old boy, as the new Panchen Lama, he disappeared along with his family, in an act described by human rights organizations as the kidnapping of the "world's youngest political prisoner". Instead, Beijing installed its own candidate and has passed laws granting the Communist Party the power to authorize all reincarnations.The Counteroffensive: Breaking Tradition to Save It
This interference has forced the Dalai Lama to consider options that break with centuries of tradition, designed to protect the institution from political manipulation. In his recent book, "Voice for the Voiceless", the Buddhist leader stated that his successor would be born "outside of China". With this, he has raised the possibility of choosing a successor in life, who reincarnates in exile, or even that the reincarnation is a woman. His most drastic option, he has suggested, would be to be the last of his lineage, a sacrifice to ensure that the figure of the Dalai Lama is not turned into a political tool of Beijing.Hope as a Strategy
In the midst of this geopolitical battle, the exiled community clings to faith. "We are happy. His Holiness has said that he will live 130 years," explained to EFE Tashi Lhamo, president of the Tibetan Women's Association.
This belief, which the Dalai Lama himself has fostered, functions as a shield that provides time and comfort. Therefore, the Religious Conference that begins tomorrow in Dharamshala is the setting where the leader is expected to announce his final move in this complex game of spiritual chess.
