A bizarre dispute involving the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Communist Party has broken out at China's annual meeting of parliament.

Tibetan Buddhists believe the soul of a senior lama is reincarnated in the body of a child on his death.

But the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has suggested he will not be reincarnated when he dies, prompting atheists of the Communist party to demand the tradition must continue.

The message was conveyed at a meeting on the sidelines of the China's National People's Congress in Beijing.

The head of Tibet's regional congress, Padma Choling, said that the Dalai Lama has to return, just as he has done for generations.

"Whether [the Dalai Lama] wants to cease reincarnation or not ... this decision is not up to him," Mr Padma said.

"When he became the 14th Dalai Lama, it was not his decision.

"He was chosen following a strict system dictated by religious rules and historical tradition and also with the approval of the central government.

"Can he decide when to stop reincarnating? That is impossible. What he wants is to distort reality. It's impossible in my view. Tibetan Buddhism follows tradition. If he goes ahead with this there will be division."

This debate has nothing to do with Buddhism and everything to do with power.

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China accuses Dalai Lama of 'profaning' Buddhism by signalling end to reincarnation