Speaking ahead of his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama has indicated that the Tibetan Buddhist institution could continue after his death after all.
The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet’s Buddhists, on Monday gave his strongest indication yet that the centuries-old institution could continue after his death.
Speaking at prayer celebrations ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6, Tenzin Gyatso told followers that “there will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about its continuation.”
Tibetan Buddhists believe that the Dalai Lama can choose the body into which he is reincarnated, as has happened on 14 occasions since the creation of the institution in 1587. But the current Dalai Lama has suggested in the past that he could potentially be the last.
you seem to be mistaking this for hubris. The CCP means to use the finding of the next Dalai Lama as a tool to further destroy Tibetan culture and identity, as they have done with the Panchen Lama.
To me, this indicates that he is feeling more confident in their ability to find the first(?) Dalai Lama outside of occupied Tibet - and keep them safe from abduction.