Can he do that?

The now 74 year old Dalai Lama is considering naming his successor before he dies to prevent meddling of China in the selection process after his death. The successor would be chosen either by the Lama himself or by his counsel. China has plans to place a Chinese selected successor.

The problem I have with this announcement by the Lama is that his successor is supposed to be found by other monks after he dies. The Dalai Lama reincarnates into a child. The monks search the country looking for a child born around the time of the Lama's death and then test the child by asking him to identify personal items of the previous Lamas from among many such items. This is how the current Lama was found, but His Holyness says that he would not be reincarnated in any country that is not free, and most assuredly not in any country controlled by China.

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