The fourteenth hierarch of Tibetan Buddhism could be the last in a lineage of 623 years.
By: LUIS ALEJANDRO AMAYA E. |
Photo: Archive / THE TIME
Tenzin Gyatso, Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, He became the fourteenth Dalai Lama
When I barely had 4 year old, in 1939, Tenzin Gyatso became the 14th Tibetan Dalai Lama, after a process that mixes the spiritual and the earthly.
Following the ancient tradition according to which the reincarnated soul of the recently deceased Dalai Lama must be sought in a child, the panchem lama of the time, Reting Rinpoche, found the successor of the thirteenth highest Tibetan hierarch, Thubten gyatso, through revelations that indicated that he was in the eastern town of Amdo, in a humble family.
Nevertheless, China, who invaded Tibet in 1959, It also aims to regulate such an intimate and mysterious aspect of the spiritual life of this territory., fingering the reincarnated Dalai Lama, who will succeed Tenzin, currently of 79 years, when he dies. (Read too: China denies the Dalai Lama's right to decide whether or not he will have a successor).
In the same way it does so with the Catholic Church by appointing the local clergy alone., without taking into account the Vatican, with whom he has no relationship.
The issue regained importance this week when controversial statements by the Dalai Lama provoked a harsh reaction from China and created concern among his followers around the world.. In an interview for the German weekly Welt Am Sonntag, Tenzin suggested that, after his death, the lineage of the enlightened supreme monks of Tibetan Buddhism would be broken, that comes from 1394. “The institution of the Dalai Lama has existed for almost five centuries. This tradition may stop with the 14th Dalai Lama, which is very dear. If there was a fifteenth and put this feature to shame, “The institution would be ridiculed.”, Tenzin assured..
"Tibetan Buddhism does not depend on an individual. We have very good organizational structures with very well-prepared monks and scholars.”, He added in statements that, immediately, They had a response from China. “The title of Dalai Lama is conferred by the central government according to secular history.”, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in Beijing, Hua Chunying.
For analysts, The Dalai Lama's words about the end of the succession have to do with a strategy that aims to open more democratic spaces in Tibet, against Chinese impositions. The first step has already been taken, when in the 2011 Tenzin decided to hand over political power to Lobsang Sangay. He preserves spiritual power.
“His democratization strategy has enormous resonance in Tibet, since the Chinese constantly promise democracy, but so far they have not delivered it.”, stated at that time Robert J.. Barnett, director of the Modern Tibetan Studies Program at Columbia University (New York).
Tensions with China have been a constant in Tenzin's life. Their victim was Gedun Chokyi Nyima., to whom in 1995 The Dalai Lama himself recognized him as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchem Lama. (second in command), Choekyi Gyaltsen, who had decided to confront the Chinese by staying in Lhasa, The Tibetan capital, until his death, in 1989.
Upon learning of the designation, Beijing decided to eliminate Chokyi Nyima and appointed Gyeltsen Norbu in his place, so the successor line of strictly Tibetan spiritual origin was broken.
Election and early years
Tenzin, according to history with edges of legend, He called by his own name the emissary sent from Lhasa and, after recognizing the objects of his predecessor (rosaries, ritual implements, books and cups of tea), confirmed to be the soul in which he had reincarnated.
twenty years later, in 1959, had to face a very earthly challenge: the total invasion of Tibet by China after a series of uprisings in Lhasa and three nearby provinces, after which there was almost no reaction from the international community.
To avoid being recognized by the Chinese authorities, He dressed as a beggar and crossed the Himalayas on foot with a group of his followers..
To the 24 years, To his spiritual role Tenzin Gyatso added the politician, upon becoming head of state of the Tibetan government in exile, with Dharamsala as designated headquarters, after receiving the approval of the then Indian Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru. Since then he has traveled the world in search of international support for the cause of the Tibetan people., for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
Tenzin may consider his task accomplished and refer to the figure of the Infinity Knot., symbolizing the eternal wisdom of Buddha.
From that point, The lack of a temporary guide would not be an obstacle to the survival of the Buddhist faith, but the feeling of the end of a cycle would be inevitable.
LUIS ALEJANDRO AMAYA E.
Sub-editor of International
