The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and is considered the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. The process of choosing the Dalai Lama is complex and steeped in tradition, and it is believed that the new Dalai Lama is found through a series of signs and visions.
When the Dalai Lama dies, a search committee is formed to find his reincarnation. The committee looks for a child who was born within a certain timeframe and who exhibits certain physical characteristics, such as a birthmark on the back of the neck. The child is also tested to see if he can recognize objects that belonged to the previous Dalai Lama.