DHARAMSHALA (INDIA), 19 Mar. (Reuters/EP) – The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has suggested the possibility that when he dies his reincarnation will arise in India, where he has been living in exile 60 years, and has warned of the political motivations behind China's maneuvers to try to appoint his successor.
Surrounded by green mountains with snowy heights, sitting in his office, the 14th Dalai Lama receives Reuters a day after the anniversary marking his escape from the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, disguised as a soldier.
The Dalai Lama went into exile in March 1959 after an uprising against China in which Tibetans demanded greater autonomy, a revolt that was harshly repressed by Beijing, that classifies the religious leader as a dangerous separatist.
The leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, of 83 years, He is already thinking about what will happen after his death and anticipates Beijing's attempts to interfere in his election.. "La reencarnación del Dalai Lama es algo muy importante para China. Están más preocupados por quién será el próximo Dalai Lama que yo", assures, dressed in his traditional red cassock with yellow scarf.
"En el futuro, you might see two Dalai Lamas, one from here, in a free country, and another chosen by China whom no one will recognize or respect. This will be an additional problem for China. ¡It is possible, can happen!", he adds in the middle of a laugh.
China has already warned that its leaders have the right to approve the Dalai Lama's successor, as part of a legacy inherited from the times of the Chinese emperors.
Tibetan tradition establishes that the soul of the Buddhist leader is reincarnated upon death in the body of a child., Therefore, many Tibetans suspect that any attempt by China to interfere in the process will be part of a plan to exert influence in the community..
Born in 1935, The current Dalai Lama was identified as the reincarnation of his predecessor when he was just two years old.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Geng Shuang, stressed this Tuesday in a press conference that the current Dalai Lama, the number fourteen, fue elegido siguiendo rituales centenarios que fueron "respetados y protegidos" in the rules and ordinances that regulate the region.
"Por lo tanto, reincarnations, including those of the Dalai Lama, They must respect the rules of the country (China) y seguir los rituales y la historia de la religión", He has assured.
UPCOMING DEBATES
Most of the six million Tibetans living in Chian continue to worship the Dalai Lama despite bans by the Chinese government., such as not showing your portrait in any public place.
The Dalai Lama affirms that contact between Tibetans living in their homeland and those in exile is increasing, despite the fact that no official meetings have been held between China and its associates since 2010. However, From time to time, some retired Chinese officials with connections to Beijing visit him informally., assures.
The role of the Dalai Lama after his death, including who will be, could be discussed during a meeting of Tibetan Buddhists in India this year, according to advance. He himself recognizes that there is no reincarnation of Buddha, but his teachings must be kept.
"Si la mayoría del pueblo tibetano quiere mantener esta institución, entonces hay que mantener esta institución", assures. "Entonces, aquí surge la cuestión de la reencarnación del decimoquinto Dalai Lama", shells.
If there is finally one, "no debería tener responsabilidad política", says the Dalai Lama, who renounced his political responsibilities in 2001, developing a democratic system for those around 100,000 Tibetans living in India.
During the interview, The Dalai Lama speaks passionately about his love of cosmology, neurobiology, physics and psychology. If Beijing ever allows his return, He assures that he would like to talk about all these topics at the university, although he has no illusions about his return while China remains under the communist regime..
"China es una gran nación, antigua, but its political system is totalitarian, there is no freedom. Así que prefiero seguir en este país", points out, in reference to his exile in India.
The Dalai Lama was born into a farming family in Taktser, a small town on the north face of the Tibetan plateau, within the Chinese province of Qinghai.
"Nuestra fuerza, our power, It is based on truth. El poder de China se basa en las armas", state, pero insiste en que "a corto plazo, weapons are much more decisive, pero a largo plazo la verdad es más poderosa".
