Choosing the Dalai Lama

"When a child is suspected to be the rebirth of the Dalai Lama they
are taken to a room with all manner of Holy possessions (such as
prayer beads) and are asked to pick out which objects they like the
most. If they are the next Dalai Lama they always choose all the
objects which previously belonged to them."
http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/2415?page=3D6

"Now in selecting the next Dalai Lama (or any Lama I believe but don=92t
hold me to it) high ranking monks, traditionally led by the Panchen
Lama in the Dalai Lama=92s case, search for signs and follow dreams for
guidance. Then they begin searching for a child who was born around
the time the last Lama departed. This child should be an old soul who
is wise beyond its years and are suppossed to go to Lhasa and go
through a series of tests. The choice is confirmed when the new Lama
selects an object that belonged to the old incarnation. For instance
the current Dalai Lama selected a rosary from a series of objects that
had previously belonged to the last Dalai Lama."
http://gandhi.worldhistoryblogs.com/2007/11/21/his-holiness-the-dalai-lama-m=
ay-consider-choosing-his-own-successor/