Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
(Dharamshala, India) — There has been a week of celebrations for the Dalai Lama, who turned 90 years old over the weekend. The Dalai Lama, who hopes to live to be 130 years old says that the Tibetan Buddhist religious institution will carry on long after his death. He says that his successor will be selected by free Tibetans.
The Dalai Lama is the 14th in a line of spiritual leaders said to be the reincarnation of the one before. He said that his institution will have the sole power to recognize the next reincarnation. He has also said that the next one will be born outside of Chinese-controlled Tibet. The Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India after a failed Tibetan rebellion against China in 1959.
Last summer, the Dalai Lama underwent successful knee replacement surgery in New York City. His doctors say he recovered well from the operation and is otherwise in very good shape.
