This is almost as ridiculous as it is evil:
In one of history’s more absurd acts of totalitarianism, China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month and strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is “an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation.”
The article is a little incoherent, though:
By barring any Buddhist monk living outside China from seeking reincarnation, the law effectively gives Chinese authorities the power to choose the next Dalai Lama, whose soul, by tradition, is reborn as a new human to continue the work of relieving suffering.
How does a Chinese law constrain the actions of Tibetans outside of China (or Tibet)? The Dalai Lama doesn’t live in China, and can reincarnate himself into any Tibetan child born outside of Chinese territory he cares to. The author further suggests that this law will allow the Chinese to put forth their own Dalai Lama to compete with the next version of the current (and only, I suppose) one, but I don’t see how.
More research into this brouhaha is called for.
2 Comments
Beyond absurd; one doubts that it is true.
Well, coverage is turning up in a lot places. Here’s a more coherent explanation.