SHANNAN, Tibet: The Dalai Lama's call for Tibetans to "embrace the democratic system of electing a leader" is ridiculous, said Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak, a living Buddha of Tibetan Buddhism.

"According to Tibetan Buddhism, the choosing of the Dalai Lama's incarnation should follow historical conventions and religious ritual," said Shingtsa Tenzinchodrak, who became the 14th living Buddha of Shingtsa Temple in Tibet's Nagarze county in 1955 when he was five.

The 59-year-old, who is also a deputy to the National People's Congress, the top legislature, said politics was behind the "ridiculous" suggestion, which was reported by Reuters.