Dalai Lama to quit role as head of the exiled Tibetan government

The Dalai Lama, 75, has stated he is seeking to quit his role as ceremonial leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile. This was reported by one of the Dalai Lama's aides on Tuesday. It is being speculated that this represents another step in the process of the aging Dalai Lama in passing the torch of succession.

As the leader of the dominant Gelug arm of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is the top religious leader in Tibet. However, many of the Dalai Lama's predecessors also served as Tibet's ruler. This Dalai Lama was ruler of the country when Chinese troops forced him into fleeing to India in 1950.

The New York Theological Seminary is an institution dedicated to religious tolerance, multiculturalism, diversity and social justice. The mission of the seminary is to prepare men and women, from every background, for careers in ministry.