Although the Tibetan spiritual leader cannot retire from his religious responsibilities, he will gradually step away from his current political role, something he had already begun to do in 2001in favour of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile.

Dharamsala (AsiaNews) – The Dalai Lama plans to retire from political life over the next six months, a spokesman said today, thus reiterating what the leader of Tibetan Buddhism said two days ago in an interview with an Indian TV network.

The 76-year-old spiritual leader, who fled Chinese-occupied Tibet in 1959, wants to step down in order to return to his homeland as an ordinary citizen. The current 14th Dalai Lama, who wants to die on the “roof of the world”, is not likely to convince the Chinese to grant him this wish.

Tenzin Gyatso, which is the short form of the Dalai Lama’s full religious name, wants all political decision regarding Tibet to be taken by the Tibetan parliament-in-exile based in Dharamsala, northern India.

The Noble Prize laureate has not played any political role in the government for several years. “Since 2001 we have put in place a political leadership in exile,” he said. “The major decisions are taken by the elected political leadership. So in order to utilise fully democracy, I felt better not to involve myself in any sort of these works.”

When asked about the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama, he said, “If my death comes in the next few years, then I think most probably the concerned people, including the Mongolian people and the Buddhists living in the Himalayan range, will keep this institution.”

China is not likely to welcome the Dalai Lama’s views. Years ago, it abducted Gedhun Choekyi, the Panchen Lama (second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism) appointed by the government-in-exile, replacing him with someone of its own choosing. Now Chinese authorities hope to do the same with the next Dalai Lama.

To avoid such a possibility, the Buddhist leader has suggested another way. “If the Tibetan people really want to keep the Dalai Lama institution, [. . .] there is [the] possibility to have a deputy Dalai Lama carry forward my work of promotion of religious harmony and human values.” How it would be called, he does not know but he is certain that it ought to continue his work.

Because of China’s occupation, finding his reincarnation will be hard to do in Tibet itself. Years ago, the Dalai lama made it clear that if he died outside Tibet, “logically the reincarnation will appear outside Tibet”.

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