After apparently telling a German newspaper of the possibility that he may not be reborn, the Dalai Lama was criticized by the Chinese government and told to respect the principles of reincarnation.

In the German newspaper, Welt am Sonntag, the Dalai Lama told his interviewer that he may be the last in his succession since he does not see himself being reborn in Tibet or China. He said that there has been a Dalai Lama for nearly five centuries, and the current one is vastly popular around the world. Hence, it would be good to finish the line with a popular leader.

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The statement prompted the normally atheist government to accuse the Dalai Lama of not respecting his own religion's traditions of reincarnation. They claimed that China has a history of religious freedom and respect for TIbetan Buddhism, which they say that the current Dalai Lama is attempting to distort and negate through his ulterior motives and seperatist propaganda.

China continues to perceive the Dalai Lama as a threat to their rule in Tibet and said that by essentially announcing the end to his lineage, the current Dalai Lama was insulting all traditional Tibetan Buddhists and their belief that their spiritual leader will be reborn in their country.

Others point out that the statements made by the Dalai Lama, were taken out of context since he actually began his statements by saying, "Sometimes I make a joke..."

The Director of Columbia University's Tibetan Studies program, Robert Barnett, observed that such words of self-depreciation are actually important parts of Tibetan Buddhism and are expected of the Dalai Lama to show humility to his followers.

In the German interview, the Dalai Lama also said that his role as a political leader has been obsolete for centuries.  And as a spiritual leader, Tibetan Buddhism does not need an individual to rely on. He thinks that future Tibetans will no longer need a Dalai Lama at their helm and instead will have highly trained organizations of  monks and scholars in Tibet, as well as India, to guide them.

However, he also adds that it is his wish to be reborn and help ease the suffering of mankind anywhere that he is needed, thereby putting an end to the misunderstanding that he believes his lineage will come to an end.

TagsDalai Lama, reincanation