14th Dalai Lama

== Retirement and succession plans ==
{{Main|Succession of the 14th Dalai Lama}}
In May 2011, the Dalai Lama retired from the [[Central Tibetan Administration]].<ref>{{cite news |title = His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Remarks on Retirement – March 19th, 2011 |url = http://dalailama.com/messages/retirement/retirement-remarks |access-date = 14 September 2014 |date = 19 March 2011 |archive-date = 4 June 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130604150744/http://www.dalailama.com/messages/retirement/retirement-remarks |url-status = live }}</ref>

In September 2011, the Dalai Lama issued the following statement concerning [[Succession of the 14th Dalai Lama|his succession]] and [[reincarnation]]:
<blockquote>When I am about ninety I will consult the high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public, and other concerned people who follow Tibetan Buddhism, and re-evaluate whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not. On that basis we will take a decision. If it is decided that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should continue and there is a need for the Fifteenth Dalai Lama to be recognized, responsibility for doing so will primarily rest on the concerned officers of the Dalai Lama's Gaden Phodrang Trust. They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should seek advice and direction from these concerned beings and carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition. I shall leave clear written instructions about this. Bear in mind that, apart from the reincarnation recognized through such legitimate methods, no recognition or acceptance should be given to a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People's Republic of China.<ref>[http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/753-statement-of-his-holiness-the-fourteenth-dalai-lama-tenzin-gyatso-on-the-issue-of-his-reincarnation Statement of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, on the Issue of His Reincarnation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204002812/http://www.dalailama.com/news/post/753-statement-of-his-holiness-the-fourteenth-dalai-lama-tenzin-gyatso-on-the-issue-of-his-reincarnation |date=4 February 2013 }} [http://www.dalailama.com/ Website of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127191904/http://www.dalailama.com/ |date=27 January 2012 }} 24 September 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tatlow |first1=Didi Kirsten |title=Dalai Lama Keeps Firm Grip on Reins of Succession |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/world/asia/06iht-letter06.html |access-date=29 March 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 15, 2011 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624214719/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/world/asia/06iht-letter06.html |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

In October 2011, the Dalai Lama repeated his statement in an interview with Canadian [[CTV News]]. He added that Chinese laws banning the selection of successors based on reincarnation will not impact his decisions. "Naturally my next life is entirely up to me. No one else. And also this is not a political matter," he said in the interview. The Dalai Lama also added that he has not decided on whether he would reincarnate or be the last Dalai Lama.<ref>{{cite web |publisher = CTV |title = CTV Exclusive: Dalai Lama will choose successor |date = 3 October 2011 |url = http://www.ctvnews.ca/old-ctv-national-news/ctv-exclusive-dalai-lama-will-choose-successor-1.706189 |access-date = 27 June 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101945/http://www.ctvnews.ca/old-ctv-national-news/ctv-exclusive-dalai-lama-will-choose-successor-1.706189 |archive-date = 6 October 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

In an interview with the German newspaper ''Welt am Sonntag'' published on 7 September 2014 the Dalai Lama stated "the institution of the Dalai Lama has served its purpose," and that "We had a Dalai Lama for almost five centuries. The 14th Dalai Lama now is very popular. Let us then finish with a popular Dalai Lama."<ref>{{cite web |publisher = Aljazeera |title = Dalai Lama says successor not required |date = 7 September 2014 |url = http://www.aljazeera.com/news/southasia/2014/09/dalai-lama-says-successor-not-required-20149861149282451.html |access-date = 9 September 2014 |archive-date = 10 September 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140910004818/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/southasia/2014/09/dalai-lama-says-successor-not-required-20149861149282451.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

Gyatso has also expressed fear that the Chinese government would manipulate any reincarnation selection in order to choose a successor that would go along with their political goals.<ref>{{cite book |title=Religions in the modern world: traditions and transformations |last1=Woodhead |first1=Linda |last2=Partridge |first2=Christopher H. |last3=Kawanami |first3=Hiroko |isbn=978-0-415-85880-9 |edition=3rd |location=Abingdon, Oxon|oclc=916409066|year=2016 }}</ref> In response the Chinese government implied that it would select another Dalai Lama regardless of his decision.<ref>{{cite web |publisher = The Wire |title = China Will Make the Dalai Lama Reincarnate Whether He Likes It or Not |date = 10 September 2014 |url = http://www.thewire.com/global/2014/09/china-will-make-the-dalai-lama-reincarnate-whether-he-likes-it-or-not/380003/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140911104623/http://www.thewire.com/global/2014/09/china-will-make-the-dalai-lama-reincarnate-whether-he-likes-it-or-not/380003/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = 11 September 2014 |access-date = 12 September 2014 }}</ref>