Washington, D.C.: The President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Mr. Penpa Tsering, sharply rejected Beijing’s claim over the Tibetan Buddhist reincarnation process during an address at the National Press Club on Thursday, calling China’s invocation of a “golden urn” system both historically unfounded and politically motivated.
In a pointed address, Tsering announced that the Tibetan government-in-exile will host a conference to dismantle China’s favorite myth the so-called 1793 Qing dynasty decree requiring a “golden urn” lottery to select reincarnated lamas. Beijing calls it a sacred imperial tradition. Tibetans call it what it is: bureaucratic fan fiction with political motives.
“There is no documentary evidence to substantiate this claim,” President said. “The reincarnation system is a matter of faith, not a political tool. The Tibetan people, not Beijing will decide the future of the Dalai Lama lineage.”
That didn’t stop China, of course, from turning reincarnation into a government-administered process. In 2007, the officially atheist Chinese Communist Party issued “Order No. 5,” declaring that all Buddhist reincarnations must receive state approval. Because, apparently, enlightenment now requires a stamp from the Politburo.
President couldn’t resist pointing out the absurdity: “Were the eight Dalai Lamas before 1793 not real Dalai Lamas? The tradition existed long before that. Even after 1793, the urn was rarely used mainly manipulated in the case of the Chinese-appointed 11th Panchen Lama.”
He also highlighted Beijing’s theological gymnastics: “A communist government that does not believe in religion is ordering His Holiness not to be reborn outside Tibet.” Then, with the Dalai Lama’s signature wit, he added: “If the Chinese government truly believes in reincarnation, they should start by finding the reincarnations of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.”
It’s a fair point. The same government that bulldozes temples and jails monks now claims divine jurisdiction over rebirth. Since when did the Party of Marx start quoting metaphysics?
President Penpa Tsering clarified that the Dalai Lama’s July 2 statement reaffirmed the continuation of his lineage through the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which will oversee the next selection “in consultation with the heads of Buddhist traditions and oracles” not Beijing’s bureaucrats. For Tibetans, it was a moment of reassurance. For China, a nightmare of unpredictability.
“If there’s one thing China cannot handle, it’s unpredictability,” President said. “The Dalai Lama’s statement brings both clarity and continuity to our people.”
He also reminded the audience that the Dalai Lama hasn’t yet decided whether his successor will appear as a reincarnation or an emanationbut either way, the choice will come from Tibetan faith, not Chinese paperwork.
Internationally, the tide seems to be turning. The 2020 U.S. law allows sanctions against Chinese officials involved in handpicking the next Dalai Lama, while several European governments have issued statements defending Tibetans’ right to choose their spiritual leaders.
Still, Beijing’s spiritual ambition remains unshaken. From managing online speech to reincarnations, the Chinese Communist Party seems determined to regulate every realm physical, digital, and now metaphysical.
As one Tibetan observer put it after Tibetan President’s talk, “Only in China can an atheist government demand approval for the next Buddha.”
