Last updated at 12:16 28 November 2007

The Dalai Lama could end 600 years of history by forgoing rebirth in a bid to stop China seizing control of his reincarnation, he has revealed.

The exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader proposed to hold a referendum among his 14 million followers to decide whether he should be reborn.

If the majority vote "no" it would end a lineage that reputedly dates back to the 14th century, when a young shepherd was appointed the first Dalai Lama.

But if they vote "yes" he might appoint a reincarnation while he was still alive, breaking the tradition of being reborn as a small boy after his death.

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Traditionally, the death of a Dalai Lama triggers a search for his reincarnation among children born in Tibet at the same time.

But many Tibetans fear the death of the current, 14th Dalai Lama, 72, would be

seized by China in a bid to thwart their battle for independence.

China has held control of the Himalayan nation since 1950 and the Tibetan spiritual leader has been in India since 1959.

The 1989 Nobel Peace laureate, who has met several world leaders including George Bush, yesterday said a referendum was on the cards.

“Yes, a referendum, yes, it's possible,” he said at an interfaith conference in the north Indian city of Amritsar.

“When my physical condition becomes weak and serious preparation for death has started, then that should happen,” he said.

“According to my regular medical check-up it seems another few decades, I think, are there, so no hurry.”

The Dalai Lama has traditionally been chosen by senior monks who interpret signals from the last reincarnation, scour the region for promising young candidates and then set a number of tests.

The current Dalai Lama was born into a farming family and identified at the age of 2 after passing tests, including identifying his predecessor's rosary from among several others.

He fled Tibet in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule and has been living in India ever since, heading a 200,000-strong Tibetan exile community from the northern town of Dharamsala.

He now campaigns for greater autonomy within China, but Chinese leaders accuse him of still seeking independence for Tibet, which they see as an integral part of their territory.