Dalai Lama declares spiritual legacy will endure beyond his lifetime, institution set to carry forward sacred tradition
by Utsav RoyOn July 2, 2025, just days before his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama confirmed that the centuries-old institution bearing his title will continue even after his passing. This decisive declaration puts an end to longstanding uncertainty over the future of one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most revered spiritual lineages.
The announcement marks a turning point in his stance, which previously left the continuation of the role open to public debate. He recalled that as early as 1969, he had said the decision to maintain the Dalai Lama lineage should rest with the Tibetan people and followers of Tibetan Buddhism. He also referenced past intentions to reassess the institution’s future upon reaching 90, in consultation with senior Lamas, the Tibetan public, and global Buddhist communities.
Despite no formal discussion over the last 14 years, the Dalai Lama said he had received ongoing appeals urging the institution’s preservation. Appeals came from Tibetan spiritual leaders, members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, the Central Tibetan Administration, various NGOs, and Buddhist communities from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, the Russian Federation, mainland China, and other parts of Asia.
Most impactful were messages from within Tibet itself, delivered through various channels. Given China’s control over Tibetan religious affairs and its claims on the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation, such support from Tibetans inside China holds particular significance.
In his statement, the Dalai Lama also reaffirmed that his reincarnation will be found outside China, challenging Beijing’s assertion that it alone has the right to identify his successor. He referenced a statement issued on September 24, 2011, which clarified that the responsibility of recognizing the next Dalai Lama lies solely with the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the official institution managing his spiritual and temporal affairs.
“The Gaden Phodrang Trust holds exclusive authority in identifying the future Dalai Lama,” he emphasized. “No outside power has any right to interfere in this matter.”
This pivotal announcement follows recent celebrations where the Dalai Lama participated in prayer gatherings with thousands of followers in the Himalayan town where he has lived in exile since fleeing Tibet in 1959. His escape followed a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Lhasa, after which he and many others established a government-in-exile that continues its work today.