Dalai Lama announces approaching retirement

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri May 11, 2007 7:31 AM EDT

Article Source: CNN

world-news, china, tibet, dalai-lama, buddhism, leaders

"The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, said he was ready to retire in a few years but will keep championing causes to help the Tibetan people, culture and environment.

Speaking at Smith College in Massachusetts Wednesday to about 5,000 students, faculty and invited guests of the Tibetan community, Tibet's exiled and revered spiritual leader said he already sees himself semi-retired.

"Within a few years' time, I will retire completely," the 71-year-old monk and Nobel Peace Prize winner said."

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{"commentId":699708,"authorDomain":"ajcook"}

A.J. Cook

This is amazing; he has been one of the great spiritual leaders of the world for over 50 years. I would put his significance in terms of actual accomplishments ahead of the Pope.

They say he's had a chosen successor since 1995; the boy has been isolated since he was 5 years old.

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2 votes

#1 - Fri May 11, 2007 7:34 AM EDT

{"commentId":700691,"authorDomain":"sirensongs"}

sirensongs

They say he's had a chosen successor since 1995; the boy has been isolated since he was 5 years old.

Not exactly - the boy who's been kidnapped and held under house arrest since age 6 (who just turned 18) is not a future Dalai Lama, but the new incarnation of the 11th Panchen Lama, another high lama in the Tibetan tradition. The significance of the Panchen Lama is that traditionally (through the ages) he has helped to identify the new Dalai Lamas, and the DLs in turn identify the PLs.

{"commentId":700691,"threadId":"102273","contentId":"713270","authorDomain":"sirensongs"}

3 votes

#2 - Fri May 11, 2007 1:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":701202,"authorDomain":"ajcook"}

A.J. Cook

This is interesting; the article actually misrepresents that but the role of the Panchen Lama sounds really interesting.

I've studied Eastern Religion, including Buddhism but there is alot of secular/cultural element to Tibetan Buddhism I'm not familiar with and the more of it I'm exposed to the more interesting it gets!

{"commentId":701202,"threadId":"102273","contentId":"713270","authorDomain":"ajcook"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Fri May 11, 2007 4:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":701082,"authorDomain":"Spaman"}

Spaman

Yes - but I was not aware that a DL ever fully retired - he is that forever, lifetime after lifetime. I wonder how he thinks he can retire... its more than just a job - its a dynamic ongoing role, and not one where he can pass responsibility onto another being...

Something doesn't quite add up.

{"commentId":701082,"threadId":"102273","contentId":"713270","authorDomain":"Spaman"}

2 votes

#3 - Fri May 11, 2007 3:24 PM EDT

{"commentId":701211,"authorDomain":"ajcook"}

A.J. Cook

Your point is interesting too because my understanding is that reincarnation plays a significant role in the spiritual identity of an incoming Dalai Lama.

It's kind of unclear exactly what he is retiring from too, given that he's expressed an interest in continuing his Tibetan political agenda and his humanitarian effports...

{"commentId":701211,"threadId":"102273","contentId":"713270","authorDomain":"ajcook"}

1 vote

#3.1 - Fri May 11, 2007 4:04 PM EDT

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