US child named reincarnation of Buddhist spiritual leader by the Dalai Lama

New Delhi: A US child is named the reincarnation of a Buddhist spiritual leader by the Dalai Lama. It is interesting to note that the child is a Mongolian boy born in the US and that he has a twin brother.

The move will likely anger China, as it has previously insisted on recognizing only Buddhist leaders chosen by its exceptional government-appointed individuals. In 1995, when the Dalai Lama named a new Panchen Lama, the Chinese authorities arrested the child and replaced him with their candidate.

There are fears that a similar situation could occur when the Dalai Lama eventually dies. He has predicted that this event will not happen on Chinese-controlled territory, indicating that his successor could come from another country where Tibetan Buddhism is practised, such as India, Nepal, Bhutan, or Mongolia.

In 2016, the Dalai Lama visited Mongolia and announced that a new incarnation of the Jetsun Dhampa had been born, sparking anger from China. The unveiling ceremony occurred in Dharamshala on March 8, when the Dalai Lama announced the reincarnation of Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche of Mongolia.

The Dalai Lama was recognized as a reincarnation of the faith's previous leader in 1937 when he was just two years old. He was forced to flee Lhasa nine years later following a failed uprising.