The issue of succession of the Dalai Lama is a cultural, religious and a political issue. With the aging of the 14 th Dalai Lama, speculations regarding the appointment of his replacement have become serious. According to Tibetan Buddhism beliefs, the Dalai Lama is considered to reincarnate and the new reincarnation is identified by the way spiritual traditions dictate. But religious traditions clash with political interests as the Chinese government is supposed to control this process. The Dalai Lama has also suggested alternatives, e.g. selecting a successor at the time the Dalai Lama is alive, or having no Dalai Lama going forward. It is a case that raises critical issues of religious independence, cultural survival of Tibet and foreign intervention in religious aspects.

Role of the Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is not only the religious leader of Tibetan Buddhism, but he is also the Tibetan identity. Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, has been the principal figure in the fight to save Tibetan culture, enhance nonviolence and pursue independence with Chinese rule. Besides religion, he plays a role in how human rights are perceived within the international world as well as the Tibet political status. Because of his criticality when it comes to the question of succession it is thought of. Speculations on possible reforms to the conventional reincarnation style and system have been put forward by him in the form of: democratic choice or recognition beyond Tibet. This directly relates to Chinese influences on the continuity of Tibetan religion and the issue of political sovereignty, especially by the efforts to regulate the process of succession. His leadership is the key focus of the future of Tibetan Buddhism.

Historical Succession Practices Explained

Historical practices of the Dalai lama in the succession manner are based on already established customs of Tibetan Buddhism. Once a Dalai Lama dies, senior monks and officials start a search for his reincarnation or a tulku. They entail the interpretation of signs, consultation of oracles as well as the identification of children that were born around the same period of his demise. Once a candidate is identified, certain tests are put in place in order to determine whether this child has been selected correctly, among them being identification of objects that were of the last Dalai Lama. Such a succession is by continuity in the spiritual as opposed to hereditary and political succession. It is a religious, but organized procedure following the centuries-old traditions inherent in Tibetan Buddhism.

14th Dalai Lama's Current Stance
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14 th Dalai Lama, has made it passionately clear on the issue of succession with regard to his successor. He has taken note of the possibility of political interference especially by China and any reincarnation found by the Chinese government will not hold. The possibility he has posed according to him is that he could be reborn outside Tibet or abolishment of the institution in case it is no longer benefiting the Tibetan people. He has equally brought up the possibility of appointing the next person by means of consultation with leaders of Tibetan Buddhist. His position highlights the necessity of religious and cultural continuity and also denies the control of religious matters by the outside.

China’s Position on Successor
China is very stringent and controlling in regards to succession of the Dalai Lama. As explained in the 2007 State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No 5, the Dalai Lama and any reincarnation of a Buddhist leader in Tibet has to be approved by the government. This is a policy that will enable the Chinese state to control the next Dalai Lama selection. This is perceived by the Chinese government as being political in nature together with national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It nullifies the existence of any spiritual succession process that has happened out of its control. Such a stance directly contradicts Tibetan Buddhist culture, when the Dalai Lama has a right to choose his own successor, adding more tension between China and the Tibetan population.

Future of Tibetan Spiritual Leadership
Tibetan spiritual leadership is heavily dependent on the matter of the succession of the 14 th Dalai Lama. With his move in age, this has created an increasing concern of establishing a decent and valid successor. The Dalai Lama has given his reason that the old system of reincarnation can go on and he has also shown prospects of naming someone not inside Chinese occupied Tibet so that there would be no politics. Even as this, China has continued to insist that it will be in control of the process of selecting who comes after it, thereby raising possible questions of authenticity on the kind of successor that it will recommend. Tibetan officials and religious leaders demand that the decision should be made by the people of the Tibetan Buddhist community. The result will have a direct impact on the way the Tibetan religious autonomy and cultural survival will be preserved.

Conclusion

The issue of the Dalai Lama's successor is not only of religious significance but also political. According to the 14 th Dalai Lama, the selection must follow the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and presence of will of the Tibetans. The order by any foreign party, especially the Chinese government to intervene, he has been opposed to and the Chinese government has been seeking ways to influence the succession. This brings into question the freedom of the Tibetan spiritual system. To maintain Tibet's cultural and religious identity it is important to ensure that this process is legitimate and independent. The succession should not be politically influenced but in real Tibetan traditions.