INTERVIEW WITH HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA by Raimondo Bultrini

submitted on Sun, 07/15/2007 - 18:51 in Travel Asia with Raimondo Bultrini Niche by zorg

INTERVIEW WITH HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA MCLEOD GANJ (Northern India) Raimondo Bultrini A few days ago the XIV Dalai lama of Tibet publicly declared that his successor could possibly be chosen by a method of democratic election, similar to the way the conclave of cardinals elects the Pope – a sensational innovation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of rebirth, which is based on devotion to a master capable of overcoming the barrier between life and death to reincarnate as leader of his people.

In his residence in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh this highly esteemed spiritual leader, assigned the Nobel Peace Prize, has for the first time agreed to clarify doubts about the real meaning of this apparent historic inconsistency. H.H. Dalai Lama: Basically the Dalai Lama is considered to be one of the highest lamas. Among the various cases in past history some masters indicated clearly where they would be born in their next life. In some cases the lama chose what his future reincarnation would be before his death.

In my case my reincarnation was discovered and made head of this Buddhist tradition. However, some of the leaders of the various schools, like the heads of the Yellow Hat Sect (the Gelugpa School, that of the Dalai Lama. Ed.) have always been elected for their qualifications of maturity and wisdom. In other cases the guidance of a school passes from father to son. Therefore there is already a range of possibilities in the tradition and consequently it is logically possible to take into consideration an election among qualified spiritual masters. I’ve been saying this for years; it isn’t an innovation.”

Raimondo B: Is Your Holiness thinking of a sort of temporary Regent or a figure invested with the title Dalai Lama elected by ballot?

H.H. Dalai Lama: When I spoke of the concept of an election I only wished to express or to demonstrate one of the various possible ideas - not necessarily in line with the old tradition - that could be used if the people want to keep the institution that I now represent. I wanted to put forward this idea, so that when the Dalai Lama is no longer here some wise people with a steady mind might say, ‘Oh, yes, this or that spiritual person could undertake this task’.

Raimondo B: Maybe the idea would never have come into your mind in the years when you were in Tibet?

H.H. Dalai Lama: One point I have already very clearly expressed is that if the situation remains as it is for several more decades, when the end of my life comes, if the Tibetans want to find a child who will be the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama, it is certain that my rebirth will not be in Tibet; it will be in a free country, because the main duty of a reincarnation is to finish the tasks started in his previous life. At the same time the Tibetan Community and the heirs of the tradition should take into account the fact that the institution and the thoughts of the Dalai Lama are not limited to Tibet alone, because there are people who follow or show interest in Tibetan culture and spirituality in many parts of the world.

Raimondo B: Do you mean to say that these people could also have a say in the criteria of the selection of the Dalai Lama?

H.H. Dalai Lama: I think so. In former times the only foreigners we had close relationships with were the Mongols. In fact, IV Dalai Lama was a Mongol. But today certainly there are also people of the Northern Himalayas, of India, who are very close to the Dalai Lama, like millions of people in other parts of the world, so why not them too?

Raimondo B: Including Westerners?

H.H. Dalai Lama: Yes. You see, in the past the institution of the Dalai Lama directed both spiritual and temporal powers, but in the last six years we have already had elections to proclaim our governmental and parliamentary leaders in exile. That is why I have said for a long time that at present my position is one of semi-retirement. In the religious field too there have been the heads of the various schools for many centuries, such as Shakya Trizin, Karmapa Rinpoche, or the heads of the Kamtsang Kagyu (Kam tshang; bka’ brgyud), the Drikung (‘bri kung) Rinpoche and Drugpa Kagyu, and the same among the Nyingma and Gelug. In the past these leaders had very little contact with each other but in the last forty years their contacts have been much more frequent and recently we have established an Advisory Committee of the various religious heads, which will naturally have a very important role in this context. So, I repeat, I have spoken of various possibilities, but it is no longer very much my business; they are the ones who will decide.

Raimondo B: Very few people, though, think that a master of your caliber could be substituted by an elected leader.

H.H. Dalai Lama: No. Think of the Pope: it’s not just anybody who can be elected; it cannot be someone just found by chance in any group of candidates, it has to be someone from the College of high Cardinals. These cardinals have already acquired their qualifications through many years of training and practice. Therefore, also in our case, the choice would be made by truly qualified masters who can find an ideal candidate. That is why I think that things will eventually go the right way.

Raimondo B: Your predecessor and a series of divinations indicated many details of how and where the Dalai Lama would be reborn. Are you too in the same mental process today?

H.H. Dalai Lama: As you know, in general my favorite prayer is to be able to serve others, and particularly Tibetans and our nation. My usefulness to the Buddhadharma and to the people is uppermost in my thoughts, as it was in my previous incarnations. As for my next life – sometimes I have a feeling – how can I explain it – a sort of intuition. Yes, sometimes it happens, but I don’t think it’s the time to talk about it yet (laughs). At times I feel I could be manipulated. Sometimes I have the feeling I could be born in some place or other, but it’s too soon to say and also not very useful.

Raimondo B: Not even to reveal whether it would be in the East or in the West?

H.H. Dalai Lama: (Laughs) Recently, when I was in Mongolia, someone asked me if the next Dalai could be reborn there. I didn’t reply. Certainly it is possible, but if I say something the Chinese are always immediately ready to take every word I say and manipulate it. As you know, I express myself freely, but the Chinese always think there is some political motivation behind what I say, so I prefer to keep quiet.

Raimondo B: Will Peking try to elect your successor?

H.H. Dalai Lama: Of course, for sure, but I repeat that the rebirth will not be in China in these conditions.

R.B: What connects you mentally with your predecessors?

H.H. Dalai Lama: There are indications in my dreams and also at the level of feelings and, as I said, intuitions.

Raimondo B: Is there the possibility for those who intend to follow your path to reincarnate in a better world?

H.H. Dalai Lama: According to our tradition anyone can dedicate their virtues to Buddhahood, but if you wish to attain it you have to practice during your lifetime. It is very difficult to practice without a physical body. That is why you need to dedicate yourself, through your virtues, to the project of a good future life. We can say that there are millions of worlds in which there is the Buddhadharma. When you dedicate your merits you can pray to find yourself in a world where the Buddhadharma exists. It can happen in your practice that you find yourself able to identify and visit one of these planets without your physical body, and to say, ‘This is the place I’d like to be reborn in and to increase my virtues, because it is a beautiful place. It is very possible.

Raimondo B: It is considered that the Pope is elected by virtue of the Holy Spirit. You are considered to be the incarnation of a god, in any case.

H.H. Dalai Lama: No. Let’s take Buddha Shakyamuni, he himself said, ‘I am Buddha’, but at the same time he gave us the freedom to examine his words, to analyze them and not to follow them with blind faith. All the other Buddhas that manifested in the past said the same thing and so do the Dalai Lamas. I do not say you should take my words as the words of a god. This is the strength of the Buddhist tradition.