Only Dalai Lama Has Authority Over Reincarnation, Says Government
New Delhi, July 4, 2025 —
The Government of India has officially stated that only the Dalai Lama holds the authority to decide on his reincarnation, rejecting any external claim over the process. The response comes a day after the Tibetan spiritual leader empowered the Gaden Phodrang Trust to take charge of the succession process.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, in a strong endorsement of the Dalai Lama’s position, said that the authority to determine the next incarnation lies solely with him and the religious conventions followed by the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
“The Dalai Lama is the most respected institution for Buddhists worldwide. The decision on reincarnation must follow the established spiritual traditions and can only be made by the Dalai Lama himself. No outside force has the right to interfere,” Rijiju said.
His statement is being viewed as a clear rebuttal to China’s repeated assertions that any successor to the Dalai Lama must receive its approval. Beijing has long maintained that it must be involved in the recognition of the next spiritual leader.
On Wednesday, the Dalai Lama publicly reiterated his stand, stating: “I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has the sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation. No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.”
The spiritual leader’s 90th birthday will be observed on July 6 in Dharamsala. Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Rajiv Ranjan Singh will represent the central government at the celebrations.
