Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has welcomed the reaffirmation by the 14th Dalai Lama that the spiritual tradition of the Dalai Lama institution will continue, calling it a moment of “immense joy and spiritual reassurance” for followers across the Himalayan region and beyond.
The statement was made in response to an official communication from the Tibetan spiritual leader, who declared that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue in the future. This decision follows years of appeals from various Tibetan Buddhist communities and institutions urging His Holiness to maintain the tradition.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Khandu expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly the Monpa community and the wider Buddhist population in the state. He voiced support for the process outlined by the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the official office of the Dalai Lama, regarding the recognition of the next spiritual successor.
“We fully support the traditional Tibetan Buddhist process for the recognition of the next Dalai Lama as outlined under the guidance of the Gaden Phodrang,” Khandu wrote, adding, “May His Holiness continue to bless us with his wisdom and presence for many more years to come.”
The Dalai Lama’s statement recalls his 2011 announcement, made during a gathering of Tibetan spiritual leaders, where he said the decision on the continuation of the Dalai Lama lineage should be left to the Tibetan people and the heads of Buddhist traditions. He had said that around the age of 90, he would consult other Buddhist leaders and communities before deciding whether the institution should continue.
Over the past 14 years, spiritual heads, members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, representatives of Tibetan Buddhist organisations, and followers across regions — including from Tibet, Mongolia, the Russian Federation, and parts of Asia such as mainland China — have sent formal requests urging that the institution be preserved.
“In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” His Holiness stated.
He also reiterated that the Gaden Phodrang Trust remains the sole authority responsible for identifying the next reincarnation. The process, he added, will involve consultations with heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the Dharma Protectors tied to the Dalai Lama’s spiritual lineage, in line with established religious procedures.
“No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” the Dalai Lama said in the statement.
The announcement comes amid ongoing concern among Tibetan communities regarding external influence over the succession process, especially from the Chinese government, which has made claims in recent years about its role in selecting the next Dalai Lama. The reaffirmation by the 14th Dalai Lama emphasises the autonomy of the traditional Tibetan Buddhist process and clarifies that succession will remain strictly within the spiritual and cultural framework laid down by past practice.
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