US child named reincarnation of important Buddhist spiritual leader by Dalai Lama

An eight-year-old boy has been dubbed as a 'reincarnation' one of Tibetan Buddhism's most important spiritual leaders, Dalai Lama.

The child's formal title is the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche, making him the third most senior Lama in Tibetan Buddhism.

Reincarnation is belief that is integral to Buddhists, as they believe that after death, the Dalai Lama would be reincarnated in a child who would be chosen after a series of rituals.

Tenzin Choejor

Though born in the US, the boy is of Mongolian heritage and he has suddenly become a very important figure, especially considering China's ongoing occupation of Tibet and opposition to the Dalai Lama.

When the Dalai Lama last named their Panchen back in 1995, they were arrested by the Chinese Government and was replaced with their own candidate.

Fears persist that something similar could happen when the Dalai Lama himself eventually passes away, an event he has predicted will not take place on Chinese-controlled territory, indicating that his successor could emerge from another country where Tibetan Buddhism is practised such as India, Nepal, Bhutan or Mongolia.

The successor will not be reincarnated in Chinese controlled territory. Credit:Alamy Stock Photo

Tibet has been controlled by Beijing since the 1951 invasion, with the Dalai Lama soon following, fleeing after an unsuccessful Tibetan uprising in 1959.

Since then, he has been a shunned figure by the Chinese government, and those who interact with him are likewise ostracised with punishments ranging from erasing famous figures to sanctioning entire countries.

Back in 2016, the Dalai Lama visited Mongolia and Jetsun Dhampa had reportedly been born, but the search that was put in place to find the child was stopped after the borders were closed by the Chinese Government, as well as delaying a series of loans and cancelling diplomatic meetings.

According to The Times, the boy's father is Altannar Chinchuluun, a professor of mathematics at the National University of Mongolia, and his mother is Monkhnasan Narmandakh, chief executive of major company Monpolymet.

Dalai Lama. Credit:Photo by Diptendu Dutta/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The question of who gets to appoint Buddhist spiritual leaders has come back into focus and sets the stage for the eventual wrangling over who the next Dalai Lama will be.

The Buddhist spiritual leader is 88-years-old now and has already said he will not be reincarnated in territory owned by China, essentially invalidating any candidate Beijing puts forward for the position.