RULER OF TIBET

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19805, 22 May 1934, Page 5

RULER OF TIBET

MANNER OF SELECTION. Somewhere in the huddle of houses that are the suburbs of Lhasa there was found last month the newly-born babe who will reign as the 14th Dalai Lama —Master and God of 2,000,000 souls, scattered over an area of 463,000 square miles on the top of the world. Dalai Lama, the Ruler of Tibet and the man who never dies, died recently. The Tibetans believe in reincarnation, each Dalai Lama being supposed to be a, new incarnation of the Buddha himself, whose Spirit is declared to pass from the dead to the future Ruler. It is now believed that the Spirit of Lord Buddha has passed into this new-born babe, lying in ' s home at the edge of the “Forbidden City.” The Tibetans have no recognised law of succession. When their eocratic Ruler dies the monks look out for a child who was bom at the moment the Ruler died, and that child is the future monarch of the country. The three great Abbots of the three famous monasteries of Lhassa act as Regent during the minority of the child-Ruler. When he attains majority he is duly placed on the Throne of Tibet. These three Monks ;.om the monasteries of Ganden, Sera, and Drepung set out to hunt for this child, bare-footed and clad in their yellow robes. Their mission—the strangest kir I ia the world—had to be fulfilled with special urgency to ease the disturbed minds of the monks and civil population of Tibet. There was at the time a particular danger threatening this mysterious country. Tashi L, ma, the spiritual Head of the Tibetans, was anxiously waiting to be the Temporal ruler. Though he Is at present an exile in China, yet It is possible that any day the Tashi may pounce upon Lhassa with the help of the Chinese authorities. So, under these circumstances, the Mystery child had to be f- rnd quickly and proclaimed at once as the future Ruler of Tibet. When they first saw the babe the three Abbots bowed in reverence before him. They bathed him then in exotic perfumes specially made from mount: ’n herbs, and afterwards annointed him with sandalwood paste to the accompaniment of plajntive tunes from monk-musicians. This ceremony was repeated for three days, and at the end of the third day the child was borne in a palanquin to the palace. This palanquin is about 500 years old, and is always used on pedal occasions. It is made of gold and silver, and silk and velvet are used for the seat and cushions. It is believed that this palanquin is the oldest of its kind in the world, ar.d it is therefore guarded by Tibetan soldiers in the Potala—the Royal Palace of the Dalai Lama, The child will shortly be lormally placed on the Throne. Important Tibetans, monks from varic- s monasteries, and the three Abbots will gather round the Throne with torches in their hanas. They will circle the Throne three times, and all of them will then sit on the floor to meditate for one hour on Buddha. After this they will rise up and chant the mystic verses in honour of the child Ruler. After a short stay in the Royal Palace the child will be taken to Ganden Monastery, where he will be undethe training of the old Abbot of that monastery. There ne .'ill be brought up as a strict celibate. He will be taught the ancient doctrine of Buddha and how he renounced the whole world. Meditation will be practised by him as he grows older.