JANE MACARTNEY, TIMES UK – Tibet’s living Buddhas have been banned from<\/p>\n
reincarnation without permission from China’s atheist leaders. The ban<\/p>\n
is included in new rules intended to assert Beijing’s authority over<\/p>\n
Tibet’s restive and deeply Buddhist people. “The so-called reincarnated<\/p>\n
living Buddha without government approval is illegal and invalid,”<\/p>\n
according to the order, which comes into effect on September 1.<\/p>\n
The 14-part regulation issued by the State Administration for Religious<\/p>\n
Affairs is aimed at limiting the influence of Tibet’s exiled god-king,<\/p>\n
the Dalai Lama, and at preventing the re-incarnation of the 72-year-old<\/p>\n
monk without approval from Beijing.<\/p>\n
It is the latest in a series of measures by the Communist authorities to<\/p>\n
tighten their grip over Tibet. Reincarnate lamas, known as tulkus, often<\/p>\n
lead religious communities and oversee the training of monks, giving<\/p>\n
them enormous influence over religious life in the Himalayan region.<\/p>\n
Anyone outside China is banned from taking part in the process of<\/p>\n
seeking and recognizing a living Buddha, effectively excluding the Dalai<\/p>\n
Lama, who traditionally can play an important role in giving recognition<\/p>\n
to candidate reincarnates.<\/p>\n