Gaden Phodrang Trust

Prelims: Current events of National and International Importance

Why in news?

Recently, the 14^th Dalai Lama affirmed that the Gaden Phodrang Trust will be the sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation.

• Gaden Phodrang – It is registered in 2011 in Dharamshala, India that is specifically tasked with recognising the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation.
• Origin – Gaden Phodrang originally refers to the residential quarters of Dalai Lamas at Drepung Monastery, Lhass, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
• Later, it became a term used for the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, established after the 14^th Dalai Lama who fled to India in 1959.

The 14^th Dalai Lama (Lhamo Thondup), born in 1935 in Tibet, was officially enthroned in 1940, at the age of 4-5 years.

• Chinese involvement post-1959 – After Tibet came under Chinese control, the Chinese government claimed authority to approve or reject reincarnations of high Lamas, including the Dalai Lama.
• The Chinese authorities introduced the controversial "Golden Urn" method, giving the state power to approve reincarnations, which many Tibetans reject.
• Due to increasing Chinese interference in September 2011, the 14^th Dalai Lama issued a formal statement outlining the process for identifying his reincarnation.

Reference

The Indian Express| Gaden Phodrang Trust