“I still hope to live over 130 years.” An important spiritual leader tries to reassure his followers

Old Dalai Lama said on Saturday that he hopes to live until over 130 years, given that for a few days he is trying to end the speculation about his succession, saying that he will reincarnate after death, according to Reuters.

The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader spoke in a ceremony organized by his followers that pray that he would have a long life. The important spiritual leader will turn 90 on Sunday.

Dalai Lama previously stated, in December, that he could live up to 110 years. The previous Dalai Lama died earlier than expected at 58.

“I still hope to live over 130 years,” said the Dalai Lama in front of hundreds of followers from all over the world, who gathered in the city of Dharamshala, in northern India, where he lives after fled Tibet in 1959, following a sowed revolt against Chinese domination.

“We have lost our country and live in exile in India, but we have managed to help the beings a lot. So, living here, in Dharamshala, I intend to serve beings and Dharma as much as I can,” he said, referring to Buddha's teachings, according to a translation of his speech.

China considers Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed revolt against the Chinese occupation, as a separatist and states that she will decide who will follow them.

Dalai Lama said instead that his successor will be born outside China and urged his followers to reject any person designated by Beijing.

Dalai Lama said he would reincarnate in the “Free World” and, this week, he told his followers that the only authority that can recognize his reincarnation is his non-profit institution, Gaden Phodrang Trust.