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Source: The Hindu

Context

A quieter yet more important battle is taking place in the Himalayas as India and China compete for naval supremacy. This conflict is not about resources or territory, but rather over spiritual authority in Himalayan Buddhism, which has grown important to regional identity and geopolitical significance.

Background of China, India, and the Conflict over Buddhism

• While Buddhism has traditionally advocated nonviolence, in the twenty-first century it has evolved into a geopolitical chessboard, with monasteries that once functioned as centers of meditation and monk education now on the front lines of national power struggles. 
• The rebirth of lamas has become a question of both faith and sovereignty.
• In places like Ladakh, Tawang, and even isolated Bhutan, Buddhist culture is being shaped not only by the sacred but also by strategy.

Buddhism as a Strategic Asset

From Spirituality to Strategy

• Himalayan monasteries, once dedicated to meditation and learning, are now becoming tools in geopolitical strategies.
  
  
• Nations view control over Buddhism as a way to influence borderland identities and secure soft power in sensitive regions.
  

China’s Control-Oriented Approach

• Since the 1950s, China has worked to dominate Tibetan religious institutions.
  
  
• It has:
  
  
• Exiled lamas (spiritual leaders).
  
  
• Taken over monasteries to reduce independent influence.
  
  
• Declared itself the sole authority on reincarnations, central to Tibetan Buddhism.
  
  
• In 2007, China mandated state approval for all “Living Buddhas”, asserting that religious legitimacy flows from the Communist Party.
  

Buddhism as Statecraft in China

• China uses Buddhism as a tool of statecraft by:
  
  
• Maintaining a state-run database of reincarnated lamas to control succession.
  
  
• Surveilling monasteries to track political or spiritual dissent.
  
  
• Expanding Buddhist diplomacy to influence neighboring nations.
  
  
• Beijing funds shrines, invites monks to state events, and redirects local loyalties toward China by controlling religious leadership.
  

Strategic Implications

• For China, Buddhism is no longer just a faith; it is a political instrument to secure influence in the Himalayas and reshape borderland cultural dynamics.
  

The Dalai Lama Succession Crisis – Geopolitical Implications

Impending Dual Succession

• The 14th Dalai Lama, now 90 years old, has declared his intention to reincarnate outside China, most likely in India.
  
  
• In contrast, China plans to appoint its own Dalai Lama using the historical “Golden Urn” method, a Qing-era ritual for selecting high lamas.
  
  
• This could result in two rival Dalai Lamas, one backed by India and another by China.
  

A Looming Schism

• Dual leadership may force Himalayan Buddhist communities to choose allegiances.
  
  
• A Dalai Lama based in India could strengthen pro-India loyalties, while one in Lhasa (Tibet) may shift sentiments towards China.
  
  
• This religious divide could significantly impact border stability.
  

Geopolitical Impact

• Regions like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Nepal, and Bhutan could see shifts in political balance due to religious reverence for rival Dalai Lamas.
  
  
• These areas are crucial for India-China border dynamics.
  

Proxy Conflicts in Tibetan Buddhism

Sectarian Disputes as Strategic Tools

• Disputes within Buddhist sects, such as the two Karmapas in the Karma Kagyu school, have become proxy conflicts with India and China supporting different claimants.
  
  
• China backs marginal and ostracised sects like the Dorje Shugden sect to weaken the Dalai Lama’s authority in exile.
  

India’s Strategic Challenge

• India must ensure Buddhist populations, especially in Ladakh and Himalayan regions, remain aligned with Indian nationalism rather than Chinese influence.
  
  
• Maintaining spiritual authority aligned with India is essential to safeguard border security and cultural stability.
  

China’s Strategy to Control Buddhism

• Post-1959 Control Drive: After the Dalai Lama fled to India (1959), China feared Tibet’s separation and intensified its efforts to control Buddhism.
  
  
• Marginalisation of Independent Lamas: Many independent Lamas were expelled or marginalised to prevent dissent. Most Buddhist institutions were co-opted under state control.
  
  
• Direct Monitoring of Monasteries: The state monitors monastic activities, deciding who can enter monasteries and what teachings are allowed.
  
  
• State-Sanctioned Reincarnation (2007): China declared that all living Buddhas must be approved by the state to gain legitimacy, controlling spiritual succession.
  
  
• Recent Intensification:
  
  
• Creation of a national database of Lamas.
  
  
• Infrastructure development (roads, facilities) near monasteries to gain monks’ goodwill.
  
  
• Hosting Buddhism conferences with lavish hospitality for visiting monks to secure loyalty.

India’s Approach and Challenges

• Despite the Dalai Lama’s presence since 1959, India did not fully leverage its position for decades.
  
  
• In the last decade, India has grown more active but its approach is fragmented and lacks a central vision.
  
  
• Soft Power Initiatives:
  
  
• Development of a Buddhist Circuit under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, linking Kushinagar, Sarnath, and Gaya to attract pilgrims.
  
  
• Asserted that Buddha was born in India, strengthening cultural diplomacy.

Key Contrast

• China: Uses statecraft, controls Buddhism, and integrates it into political strategy.
  
  
• India: Relies mainly on soft power and cultural promotion without aggressive political integration.
  

Practice Question Q. Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate.