04/10/2019, 09.24
INDIA – TIBET – CHINA
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Delhi, the Dalai Lama hospitalized for pulmonary infection

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism will remain in care at the Max Super Specialty Hospital in South Delhi for a few days. His personal doctor reassures that "there is no reason to worry". Beijing has always considered him a "wolf in sheep's clothing", even though the Dalai Lama has renounced his political office.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - The Tibetan world is anxious following news that the Dalai Lama was admitted to a hospital in New Delhi yesterday, suffering chest pains. His assistant Tenzin Taklha reports to Reuters that doctors have diagnosed the 83-year-old leader of Tibetan Buddhism with a pulmonary infection and for this he will remain in the hospital for two to three days. The assistant reassures the faithful by adding that "now his condition is stable". Furthermore, he has no imminent commitment planned, so he will be able to make a full recovery.

Phayul, headquarters of the Tibetan diaspora in Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), reports some details on the sudden admission of the religious leader:  After having returned on April 8 to the McLeod Ganj residence from a five-day visit to the Indian capital, the Dalai Lama contracted fever and cold, which caused the lung infection. Dr. Sadhutsang Tsetan Dorjee, his personal physician, says he is currently being treated at the Max Super Specialty Hospital in Saket, South Delhi. " There is no need to worry as there is no major concerns for Kundun’s health [the Tibetan name of the Dalai, ed]", he concluded.

Tenzin Gyatso, XIV Dalai Lama, fled from Lhasa in 1959, during a Tibetan revolt against Chinese military rule, finding refuge in India. Although he has tried many times to dialogue with Beijing, to safeguard the autonomy of Tibetan religion and culture, threatened by a "cultural genocide", the Communist Party has always branded him as a "dangerous separatist" who wants Tibet's independence .

In the desire to be able to return to Tibet, in 2011 he gave up his political office to remain only spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. But the Chinese Communist Party continues to consider him a "wolf in sheep's clothing".

One of the greatest concerns of the Chinese Communist Party is to be able to dominate the succession of the XIV Dalai Lama. For this, in 1995, Beijing imprisoned Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Panchen Lama (the second Tibetan Buddhist office) recognized by the Dalai and imposed a Panchen Lama chosen by the Party, Gyaincain Norbu.

Later China established that any "reincarnation of a lama", in order to be true, needs Party approval. Recently, in mid-March, the Dalai Lama stated that his future reincarnation could emerge in India and not in China.

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