Many Buddhists believe that Lhasa Apso dogs are reincarnates of the Dalai Lama. After the soul of the Dalai Lama passes from the human body, it is said to move to a Lhasa Apso. After the life of the Lhasa Apso has ended, it returns to the Dalai Lama. It is this cycle that keeps the breed upheld as highly important in Tibetan cultures and likely to remain that way.