Implications of Dalai Lama's reincarnation

It will shape Tibet’s future, the India-China equation and the global discourse on religious freedom.

The succession of the 14th Dalai Lama has deep spiritual, political and geopolitical implications. As the foremost spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a historically political figure, the 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) remains central to the Tibetan struggle for identity and autonomy. With his advancing age, questions about his reincarnation are becoming urgent, influencing not only Tibetans but also India, China and other Buddhist regions.