Is there life after death? A promise to return by the figurehead of the world’s Tibetan Buddhist religion raises deeper questions about mortality.
I will be reincarnated says Dalai Lama
Future thinking: At 90, the Dalai Lama is planning for his death — but he says it will not happen until he is 130 years old. Glossary
Dalai Lama - The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
Tibetan - From Tibet. China conquered the country in 1950. It has been accused of trying to erase its culture, which is highly respected in the West.
Communist - An economic system entailing collective ownership of all means of production in contrast with capitalism, which holds that industry and businesses are controlled and run for profit by private owners rather than by the government.
Exile - Forced out of one's country, often as a form of punishment.
Reincarnation - The idea that, after we have died, our soul or essence is reborn into another being.
Buddhism - A religion of eastern and central Asia. It began with the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama on suffering.
Hindus - Followers of Hinduism, an Indian religion with more than one billion followers.
Jains - Followers of Jainism, an ancient Indian religion whose followers live a life of non-violence and non-attachment to worldly possessions.
Sikhs - Followers of Sikhism, an Indian religion and philosophy.