By Tiserax It has been reported for some time that there are two incarnations of the Dalai Lama in Lhasa and one in Amdo, The latter was discovered by the Panchan Lama but far is still there, being unable, for various Feasons {0 proceed to the sacred capital. "It also transpires that the Tibetans were making all the necessary preparations for the selec~ tion of the new Dalai when it was disclosed that any selection carried out without the presence of a high Chinese official would not be recognized, It was further learned that the selection also called for the presence at the ceremony of the Panchan Lama, the Panchan being considered the teacher and the Dalai the pupil: or as it has been explained, the Panchan is the father and the Dalai the The selection of a Dalai or a Panchan has always been an elaborate affair, attended by all the high dignitaries in the' lama world, and the two Chinese ambassadors to Lhasa. In itself the ceremony seemed to be quite simple. On occasions there would be two or three names but why this is so no ex= planation has been offered. The ceremony of finding the incarnation of a Dalat seems to be so clear and so definite that there Is little possibility of a mistake being made, So many distinctive marks are looked for and so many signs of his holy origin that it seems quite unnecessary to call for more than one name, At the present time, apparently, three names have been submitted.
So it becomes evident that religion is not the dominating influence in the selection of Dalai Lama: polities specially at the pre~ sent time are playing a very important part and as the years pass will no doubt more and more dominate the religious and spiritual situation in the Land of the Lamas.
The boy selected to become the future Dalai is usually of a very tender age and as such is neither a lama nor a king. His training is in the hands of very powerful men who can mould him to whatever way of thinking they determine, It is, therefore, a decided catch to nominate and dominate the future ruler of the Forbidden Land. In the course of time he may become strong and powerful and be inclined to follow an in= dependent line of action, but he will never become stronger and more powerful than {he lame hierarchy that constantly surrounds him.
Drebung, with its lama roll of 7,700 re~ sident priests, is probably the largest and strongest religious institution in the world.
occasion the number has been known to reach nine and 10,000 monks. Drebung is ex~ ceedingly wealthy' and is the most important seat of learning in the Land of the Lamas. The inmates in this great religious institution fare not inclined to spend all their time re~ eating prayers and reading their bibles—modern rifles have found their way into Drebung and to what extent the lamasery is farmed is unfortunately not known. Rifles filter into the Forbidden Land from every frontier but the lamas have shown a decided preference for the Remington, as well as some well-known Russian rifles.
Tibet is a wide country and as the roads converse on Lhasa robber bands are not infrequent. Sometimes the lamas are called 10 the nomadic encampments surrounding Lhasa and and to do so unarmed would be taking a risk. It is, therefore, not unusual to see the lamas and drabas in different parts of the Roof of the World proceeding to a prayer meeting fully armed. Again, lamas merchants carry large sums of money from Lhasa to Tachienlu to buy Chinese tea and other produce. To travel unarmed would be inviting the nomadic brigands to come and help themselves. Arms are, therefore, necessary, even in Lamaland if the lama-merchant, is to carry on business.
In the selection of a now Dalai Lama powerful Drebung naturally claims first place. At the ceremony her lamas occupy more seats than others and her voice is Toudest in acclaiming the new follows, that not only in the selection, but int the discovery of the incarnation, this institu tion claims. priority. The chief lama in Drebung has enormous power and influence and this lamasery is the only one in the Land of the Lamas thi dare to question the word of the Dalai This has been done and the Dalai has wisely recognized its prestige and authority. The Dalai Lama may be the appointed temporal ruler of Lamaland and religious help him in this, he rules with the dark hand of Drebung ever hanging! above this head.
Now these powerful institutions are faced with a new and strange problem. The last Dalai died in December, 1933, and according, to precedent the new 'a reincarnation of the last, should, and could have been found within one or two years. Five years and more have passed and the Lama Throne is still vacant and likely to remain so for an indefinite time. Those responsible for the Aiscovering, selecting and placing of the new
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.