China Bans Reincarnation Without Government Permission

MSNBC:

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."

Read the whole story: MSNBC

Comments

[Wiredwilly]

The arrogance of people who think politics is the ultimate be-all and end-all of existence is amazing. Perhaps the Chinese Government will next pass a law proclaiming it impossible for the Sun to shine without it going through a Committee. Perhaps Mr. Bush will wiretap the rivers. Perhaps Bin Laden will fly an airplane into an abstract idea such as time. Politics is a feeble effort to survive without killing each other and generally causes the opposite effect. Essentially, we are isolated on a blue Planet floating in infinite space light years from nowhere. Anyone who is honest will realize no one is even close to understanding the complexity of the Universe what-so-ever and everyone is basically full of shit. Simpletons, unaware they are too teriffied to face reality, read a few books & think they comprehend everything. Total idiots like Bush and Bin Laden become so delusional they actually think they act in the name of God. More astonishingly people even less aware follow them. When people realize everything they think is essentially incorrect, they gain humility, sit down and shut up. We would all benefit if everyone in Iraq would do that. We would also benefit if the Governments of the World would have a bit more humility. The problem is not Oil, money, land,or power. The problem is ego.

[PerryClease]

And I thought that the Bush Administration was delusional.

[SmackwaterJack]

See there, you're correct on both counts! :)

[wadenelson1]

In order to try and enforce the ban, Chinese officials have quit issuing visas for out-of-body travel.

[waiguoren]

Fascinating how the enlightened bloggers at this site instantly take Newsweek's slant as gospel, though they are forever complaining of MSM deception in damn near every other instance.
I suppose stories meant to make China look ridiculous are never out of season, and are always accepted unthinkingly, even by those who otherwise pose as sceptics.

This reincarnation flap involves issues that Newsweek is most likely totally ignorant of, and certainly unable and/or unwilling to address.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

To begin with, it seems obvious that a lot of us responded to this just to have a little fun. Government bureaucrats with their proclivity to try to control speech are fodder for mockery in every nation.
As one who lives on the Pacific Rim in a state that engages in vast trade with China, I know what an important nation China is to the world. And I respect the energy of the Chinese people. That said, I do not respect the Chinese government one damn bit. I also feel that our entanglement with China has been way too much to their favor and that their control of so much of our money poses a threat to our national economic security. China can be a valuable trade partner, but China is still no friend of Democracy. The idea that trade would bring democracy to China, must be seen as fully disproved by now.

[waiguoren]

Hoppy,
Sure, y'all having fun. I can dig it. No harm there.
But listen up real good, and try to get this: China does not exist so that "trade" or the USA, or the 82nd Airborne, or any other wholesome American dream will bring it "democracy­."
Ask yourself this: Do those making out like bandits from Chinese labor give a rats ass about "democracy'? Does Bush and his henchmen give a rat's ass about bringing "freedom" to Eye-rak? You talk of trade, they talk of bidness is bidness.
As for you, old wadenelson1, Oh, just speculation on my part, what else?, but pure speculation, y'old kettle you.

[wadenelson1]

>This reincarnation flap involves issues that Newsweek is most likely totally ignorant of, and certainly unable and/or unwilling to address.

Do you have any evidence or is this merely speculation on your part?

If the latter, then aren't you the pot calling the kettle black?

[TheWesternBreed]

It's not too often that I read an article and begin to wonder if I am hallucinating and can't be seeing what I am seeing. Of if it is a gag. But of all the insane government actions I've ever heard of, this is at the top or way, way up close to it.

I understand that the nervous men running the PRC are just trying to claim the right to approve the next Dalai Lama and make that problem go away, but that anyone could do this with a straight face...and about to host the Olympic Games in Beijing...­.

[StopThePlanet]

I would like to see how they would prove reincarnation and how they intend to enforce it.

[SmackwaterJack]

See, ya learn something new everyday.

I was wondering why reincarnation was down.

I wonder if it applies if you are coming back as a "Red Menace"?

[kittycago]

how would they monitor this?

[SmackwaterJack]

Hire the Ghostbusters?

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

This is going to work about as well as the Avignon Papacy.

[Rand]

I'm not sure if this is the silliest or the most bigotted thing that the Chinese government has done

I suspect it may be both!

[cocksman]

....Does this includes " TURD BLOSSOM "

[Smirk]

Eww! Let's hope so.

[CountryBeforeParty]

Hey! There's a sale at Wal-Mart!!!!

[Smirk]

How absurd, and a perfect example of why government and religion shouldn't mix.

[lodger]

It's about damn time religous beliefs were held to some rational standards. China has taken the lead on population control, now they're going to the source of all irrational thought.
I can't wait to see China vs. The Pope- Olympics '08, maybe?

[googlymoogly]

Right with you lodger, "It's about damm time" if anthing they should know. China has been around a lot longer than most countries.
The Faith-Based Initiative hasn't caught on in China and hopfully never will.

Alah Ackbar

http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/