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China Regulates Buddhist Reincarnation
By Matthew Philips
Newsweek

Aug. 20-27, 2007 issue - 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." But beyond the irony lies China's true motive: to cut off the influence of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual and political leader, and to quell the region's Buddhist religious establishment more than 50 years after China invaded the small Himalayan country. 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.

At 72, the Dalai Lama, who has lived in India since 1959, is beginning to plan his succession, saying that he refuses to be reborn in Tibet so long as it's under Chinese control. Assuming he's able to master the feat of controlling his rebirth, as Dalai Lamas supposedly have for the last 600 years, the situation is shaping up in which there could be two Dalai Lamas: one picked by the Chinese government, the other by Buddhist monks. "It will be a very hot issue," says Paul Harrison, a Buddhism scholar at Stanford. "The Dalai Lama has been the prime symbol of unity and national identity in Tibet, and so it's quite likely the battle for his incarnation will be a lot more important than the others."

So where in the world will the next Dalai Lama be born? Harrison and other Buddhism scholars agree that it will likely be from within the 130,000 Tibetan exiles spread throughout India, Europe and North America. With an estimated 8,000 Tibetans living in the United States, could the next Dalai Lama be American-born? "You'll have to ask him," says Harrison. If so, he'll likely be welcomed into a culture that has increasingly embraced reincarnation over the years. According to a 2005 Gallup poll, 20 percent of all U.S. adults believe in reincarnation. Recent surveys by the Barna Group, a Christian research nonprofit, have found that a quarter of U.S. Christians, including 10 percent of all born-again Christians, embrace it as their favored end-of-life view. A non-Tibetan Dalai Lama, experts say, is probably out of the question.

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How can they create a law to regulate something they can't prove even exists? What if they decide they've reached enlightenment... do they have to ask permission to head off into paradise? Gotta love the Government.

I agree Luna... that just doesn't make any sense.
Why do people feel the need to rule others?
Power... *sighs*
I don't understand people... i probably never will.
*hugs monks*

this is plain stupid...this is too much for me....huh... *hits head against the desk*
why must human boundless stupidity always manifest itself in politics...so that it affects each one of us?

China feels the need for complete cotrol over its people - physically, intellectually and spiritually. They try to deny God (what's the point?). The issue here has political ramifications beyond controlling peoples faith. Tibet was ruled by the Lamas and thus China seeks to assert their political dominance over the Lamas.

Because sista...humans, especially greedy ones, want to have absolute power.
And as we all know.. absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The Chinese government can hand pick their own Dalai Lama, but that does not necessarily mean that people will follow them... unless of course they inact laws stating that all must worship the governement appointed Dalai LAma or face strict stipulations or death....I am guessing that's what it will eventually boil down to.

this idea is tearing me up *heavy sigh*

I guess 'Seperation of church and state' is more of a fairytale around these parts.

They are separated all right - bitter enemies (well the government is bitter anyway).

I don't know much about Buddism but I do know that one day some of these Government Leaders who don't believe are going to die and learn that their Spirit is very much alive in the Spirit World.

Trying to control reincarnation!? Are you kidding me! Next thing you know they will control breathing! "Sir, you breath again in five minutes." Guy is turning purple.

Need permission to reincarnate, this is the stupidest thing ive ever heard.

This is actually really funny!
And just how do they suppose they will monitor this sort of law.
"Oh, hey! I recognize that baby there! He does not have permission to reincarnate????????????"
Oh, funny.