China tells living Buddhas to obtain permission before they reincarnate (not a joke)

[ZombieHorde]

I ran into this article while trying to find out if Buddhas can reincarnate.

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Jane Macartney in Beijing

Tibet’s living Buddhas have been banned from reincarnation without permission from China’s atheist leaders. The ban is included in new rules intended to assert Beijing’s authority over Tibet’s restive and deeply Buddhist people.

“The so-called reincarnated living Buddha without government approval is illegal and invalid,” according to the order, which comes into effect on September 1.

The 14-part regulation issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs is aimed at limiting the influence of Tibet’s exiled god-king, the Dalai Lama, and at preventing the re-incarnation of the 72-year-old monk without approval from Beijing.

It is the latest in a series of measures by the Communist authorities to tighten their grip over Tibet. Reincarnate lamas, known as tulkus, often lead religious communities and oversee the training of monks, giving them enormous influence over religious life in the Himalayan region. Anyone outside China is banned from taking part in the process of seeking and recognising a living Buddha, effectively excluding the Dalai Lama, who traditionally can play an important role in giving recognition to candidate reincarnates.

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Link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2194682.ece

This is a dark situation for Tibetan Buddhists, and lovers of free religion.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

1. For a second there

I thought this was a headline from The Onion!

[ZombieHorde]

3. I edited the thread title to be more clear.

[niyad]

2. you mean this ISN'T from the Onion? how in the hell does the chinese govt

think it can stop reincarnation? or PROVE that a living buddha was reincarnated?

this sounds like something der chimpenfuhrer would do.

[uppityperson]

4. Issue is no new living Buddha can be identified, only by China's permission

For the first time China has given the Government the power to ensure that no new living Buddha can be identified, sounding a possible death knell to a mystical system that dates back at least as far as the 12th century. China already insists that only the Government can approve the appointments of Tibet’s two most important monks, the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.