The Dalai Lama has confirmed that after his death, a successor will be appointed to ensure the continuity of his role as spiritual leader of the Tibetan community.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that their senior monks are reborn after death, and a Dalai Lama is chosen by Buddhist officials if they are convinced that the one they are choosing harbors the spirit of his ancestor.
The current Dalai Lama, the 14th, was identified as a reincarnation when he was two years old.
In March, he announced that his successor would be born outside China and would release more details around his 90th birthday - which is this week. This was significant as he had previously said that the line of spiritual leaders could end with him.
Now in a statement issued on the occasion of his 90th birthday, he has reiterated that the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, an organization he founded in 2015 to preserve and support the Dalai Lama's religious duties, will choose his successor.
"I affirm that the institution of the Dalai Lama will be immortalized," he said in a message read at the McLeod Ganj monastery in northern India, where he has lived in exile since fleeing Chinese-controlled Tibet in 1959.
Senior officials of the group, including his aides, will carry out search and recognition procedures in accordance with past tradition, according to its website.
"I will leave clear written instructions regarding this. Remember that other than recognized reincarnation through such legitimate methods, no recognition or acceptance should be given to a candidate elected for political purposes by anyone, including those in the People's Republic of China." (A2 Televizion)
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