The Roadmap of Faith: Why Six Million Tibetans Stand With His Holiness
By Khedroob Thondup
I am one of six million Tibetans who wholeheartedly support His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s roadmap for his next reincarnation. This is not merely a matter of faith, nor simply a question of tradition. It is the assertion of a people’s right to determine their spiritual destiny, free from external interference, and to safeguard the continuity of our culture and identity.
For Tibetans, the Dalai Lama is not only a spiritual leader but the embodiment of our collective resilience. His roadmap for reincarnation is both pragmatic and visionary: pragmatic because it anticipates the political attempts to manipulate or distort the sacred process; visionary because it ensures that Tibetans themselves, whether in Tibet or in exile, will remain the guardians of authenticity. His Holiness has made clear that the choice of his reincarnation belongs to the Tibetan people and the Tibetan Buddhist tradition—not to governments or institutions seeking to impose their will.
This clarity resonates deeply among us. In Tibet, despite decades of repression, the devotion to His Holiness remains unbroken. In the diaspora, scattered across India, Nepal, Europe, and the Americas, our unity is anchored in his guidance. To say that “all Tibetans support him” is not hyperbole; it is the lived reality of a people whose spiritual and cultural survival depends on his leadership. The roadmap is our collective shield against appropriation, a declaration that Tibetans alone will decide the future of the Dalai Lama institution.
Critics may dismiss this unanimity as romanticized, but they misunderstand the nature of Tibetan solidarity. We are a people fractured by geography yet bound by memory and devotion. The Dalai Lama’s roadmap is not an abstract doctrine—it is a lifeline. It tells us that even in exile, even under occupation, Tibetans remain the authors of their own destiny. That is why support is total, unwavering, and absolute.
The world should understand: reincarnation is not a political appointment. It is a sacred process rooted in centuries of Tibetan Buddhist practice. His Holiness has outlined how he will leave instructions, how senior lamas and institutions will discern his rebirth, and how the Tibetan people will recognize their leader. This roadmap is both a spiritual covenant and a political safeguard. It ensures continuity while denying legitimacy to any attempt by external powers to manufacture a false Dalai Lama.
As one Tibetan among millions, I affirm this truth: our support is unanimous because our survival depends on it. His Holiness has given us a path forward, one that honors tradition while protecting against distortion. In Tibet and across the diaspora, we stand united. The Dalai Lama’s roadmap is not only his vision—it is our collective will.
Khedroob Thondup is a former Tibetan diplomat and parliamentarian, and nephew of the 14th Dalai Lama. He is also the editor of the book: Dalai Lama, My Son and Tibet in Turmoil.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and should not be attributed to Tibet Express.