In a significant announcement from his office on Tuesday, 2025, the 14th Dalai Lama confirmed that the ancient tradition of the Dalai Lama will be upheld and continued. The statement follows years of growing appeals from Tibetan and Buddhist communities across the world urging the continuation of this spiritual lineage.
This decision comes over a decade after the Dalai Lama first publicly raised the question of succession during ameeting on September 24, 2011, with the heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions. At that time, he stated that it should be the collective will of the Tibetan people and global Buddhist followers to determine whether the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations should persist. He emphasized that around the age of ninety, he would consult with spiritual leaders and the public to reassess the matter.
Now, 14 years later, the spiritual leader revealed that he has received ongoing appeals urging him to preserve the institution. These requests have come not only from the Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile but also from Buddhist communities in Mongolia, the Russian Federation, and throughout Asia—including inside mainland China. Many Tibetans inside Tibet have also sent heartfelt appeals through informal channels.
In response to this collective request, the Dalai Lama affirmed the institution’s continuation. He emphasized that a clear path has already been laid out in his 2011 statement, which assigns the responsibility of identifying his successor to the Gaden Phodrang Trust—his official office.
He outlined that the Trust will consult respected figures from various Tibetan Buddhist schools and traditional Dharma protectors closely associated with the Dalai Lama lineage. The search and recognition process will strictly adhere to historical spiritual protocols.
Importantly, he reiterated that no external body or government has any legitimate authority in recognizing his reincarnation. The decision, he said, will be made solely by the Gaden Phodrang Trust in accordance with Tibetan spiritual tradition.
This affirmation arrives amid rising international concern and speculation surrounding the future of Tibetan spiritual leadership, especially regarding potential external political interference. By reinforcing community authority and traditional procedure, the Dalai Lama has ensured a transparent and authentic succession process rooted in centuries-old customs.
