A "Living Buddha"

At 23 years old Karmapa Lama is the third highest ranking Lama and could be the successor to the Dalai Lama. His traditional Tibetan education, his work with the Chinese and his modern personality (he has an iPod, a play station and he enjoys "Indiana Jones" movies) may help him unite Tibet's elder leaders, alienated Tibetan youth and China. Karmapa Lama believes Tibetans must modernize to survive:

"Tibet ... has developed over many generations its own way of thinking, a way of living which is pretty much outdated," the Karmapa told Reuters in a rare interview at his home in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala, the base of Tibetan exiles.There is a gap between the old Tibetan mentality and the youth of today ... that is a huge problem," he said through a translator. "I definitely feel I can be the bridge between the two." -Reutgers

Traditionally the Dalai Lama will inform monks of his reincarnation and they will seek the child Lama, however Tibetans fear China will elbow in their own successor.But Karmapa Lama may not even want the title saying that Tibetan society today is a democracy.This spring marks fifty years of peaceful resistance in Tibet and Free Tibet is asking Tibetans and their supporters will also take to the streets on March 7 to mark fifty years of resistance. takepart and click here for a list of marches taking place across the world.