The Dalai Lama has formally declared that the 600-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama will continue after his death, ending years of uncertainty about the future of one of Tibet’s most sacred traditions. In a statement released on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, the 14th Dalai Lama affirmed that the institution will persist, with his reincarnation to be determined by the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit organization he founded.

The announcement comes just days before the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday on July 6 and marks a significant shift from his previous position on the institution’s future. In 1969, the Dalai Lama had suggested that concerned people should decide whether the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations should continue in the future. However, he has now confirmed that the institution will continue, citing consistent appeals from diverse groups, including Tibetans living under Chinese rule.

The Dalai Lama emphasized that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation, with no external interference allowed. He also insisted that his successor would be born outside China, directly countering Beijing’s claims of authority over the reincarnation process.

The Chinese foreign ministry responded to the Dalai Lama’s statement, saying that the succession must comply with Chinese laws and regulations, as well as religious rituals and historical conventions. Beijing regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist and claims that it alone has the authority to find the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama’s decision has significant implications for Tibetan Buddhism and the future of the Dalai Lama institution, highlighting the tension between the Dalai Lama’s vision for his succession and China’s attempts to exert control over Tibetan religious practices.