Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is the first Dalai Lama on Instagram. He's also over 90 years old. Who will succeed him after he dies? And which social media platform will they join?
The Dalai Lama is considered to be an embodied form of Avalokiteshvara: an enlightened being who has postponed final enlightenment to provide compassion to the world. It's a reincarnated role, meaning that Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama will choose his successor after he dies. In 2025, the 14th Dalai Lama confirmed that he was planning to reincarnate.
There are no rules on who the next Dalai Lama will be. They could be a man, woman, or otherwise. They could be from Tibet, or elsewhere in the world. And the process by which they'll be chosen is extremely complicated.
Learn more about the Dalai Lama from Britannica:
How is the Dalai Lama Chosen? britannica.com/topic/How-Is-the-Dalai-Lama-Chosen
What's the History of the Dalai Lama? britannica.com/topic/Dalai-Lama
Why did the 14th Dalai Lama flee to India? britannica.com/question/Why-did-the-14th-Dalai-Lama-flee-to-India
What does "Dalai Lama" mean? britannica.com/question/What-is-the-meaning-of-the-title-Dalai-Lama
Click here for the full video transcript: britannica.com/video/how-is-the-dalai-lama-selected/-364647
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#EncyclopaediaBritannica
Inspiring curiosity and the joy of learning since 1768.
Web: britannica.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Britannica
Twitter: twitter.com/Britannica
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Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is the first Dalai Lama on Instagram. He's also over 90 years old. Who will succeed him after he dies? And which social media platform will they join?
The Dalai Lama is considered to be an embodied form of Avalokiteshvara: an enlightened being who has postponed final enlightenment to provide compassion to the world. It's a reincarnated role, meaning that Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama will choose his successor after he dies. In 2025, the 14th Dalai Lama confirmed that he was planning to reincarnate.
There are no rules on who the next Dalai Lama will be. They could be a man, woman, or otherwise. They could be from Tibet, or elsewhere in the world. And the process by which they'll be chosen is extremely complicated.
Learn more about the Dalai Lama from Britannica:
How is the Dalai Lama Chosen? britannica.com/topic/How-Is-the-Dalai-Lama-Chosen
What's the History of the Dalai Lama? britannica.com/topic/Dalai-Lama
Why did the 14th Dalai Lama flee to India? britannica.com/question/Why-did-the-14th-Dalai-Lama-flee-to-India
What does "Dalai Lama" mean? britannica.com/question/What-is-the-meaning-of-the-title-Dalai-Lama
Click here for the full video transcript: britannica.com/video/how-is-the-dalai-lama-selected/-364647
~~~
#EncyclopaediaBritannica
Inspiring curiosity and the joy of learning since 1768.
Web: britannica.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Britannica
Twitter: twitter.com/Britannica
Instagram: instagram.com/Britannica
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/britannica.com
