The 14th Dalai Lama at the enthronement ceremony [File Photo]

After the 13th Dalai Lama died, the local Tibetan government confirmed Reting as the Regent, who helped rule Tibet before the next Dalai Lama was found. At the same time, one of the relatives of the 13th Dalai Lama's was confirmed as an assistant Regent. What the Regents were urgent to do was to search for the reincarnation of the last Dalai Lama. According to their religious ritual, the steps taken were as follows:

First, Oracles and learned Lamas were consulted, and information below was acquired. At the beginning, curious cloud formations were seen in the northeast from Lhasa. It was recalled that after the Dalai Lama died, his body was placed seated on a throne in his summer residence, facing toward the south; but after a few days it was seen that the face had turned toward the east. Then on a wooden pillar on the northeastern side of the shrine where the body sat, a great star-shaped fungus suddenly appeared. All of this information indicated the direction where the new Dalai Lama should be sought.