Final answer:
A spiritual lineage is the transfer of spiritual wisdom and authority through generations of teachers and students, and can be exemplified by the Guru-Shishya tradition in Hinduism and the lineage of the Dalai Lamas in Tibetan Buddhism.
Step-by-step explanation:
A spiritual lineage refers to the transmission of spiritual knowledge and authority from a series of teachers to their students. This is often seen in religious or philosophical traditions where successive generations of disciples continue the teachings and practices of their predecessors. A spiritual lineage is akin to a lineage in kinship terms, where individuals are connected through a continuous line of descent.
Examples of spiritual lineages are readily found in many religious traditions. For instance, in Hinduism, the Guru-Shishya tradition is where a guru (spiritual teacher) imparts knowledge to the shishya (disciple), who then may become a guru for the next generation. Another example is in Tibetan Buddhism, where the lineage of Dalai Lamas serves as both spiritual and temporal leaders, with each Dalai Lama viewed as a reincarnation of his predecessor and a custodian of religious teachings.
In both cases, the lineage represents an unbroken chain of wisdom, faith, and practice, believed to retain the original spirit of the founding teachers. It serves to legitimize current leaders and practices by establishing a historical connection to the past.