China’s Communist State ‘orders’ Dalai Lama to reincarnate in ‘approved’ place inside China
NTDV reports on the ridiculous bureaucracy.
Monday the Chinese regime announced that the Dali Lama must follow the traditional reincarnation method in choosing his successor. Chinese authorities banned reincarnation without state approval in 2007 but now say the latest order is for the purpose of “preserving tradition.” The announcement has been met with anger from the Tibetan community. Here’s more.
On September 1st, 2007 the Chinese regime banned reincarnation without state approval, yet now the officially atheist regime is ordering the Dalai Lama to reincarnate in China after he dies.
The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in Northern India, is reported to be thinking of choosing the next Dalai Lama from outside of China. Yet the Chinese authorities announced on Monday that he must not break with tradition, and that the next Dalai Lama, the highest title in Tibetan Buddhism, must be chosen following the reincarnation tradition.
But there is a catch—the Chinese regime says it has to approve the reincarnation of any living Buddha.
In 1995, the Dalai Lama, following the reincarnation tradition, named a boy in Tibet as the next Panchen Lama, the second highest title in Tibetan Buddhism. The Chinese regime put the boy under house arrest, and installed another Panchen Lama in his place.
The Tibetan Government in Exile reacted with anger at Monday’s announcement.
[Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of Tibetan Government in Exile]:
“The Communist people do not believe in the tradition, and if they are believer of tradition then they should preserve all the traditions, and they also respect the religious freedom. There is no religious freedom, there is no preservation for tradition, and then why they are talking about tradition? They have no right to talk about tradition.”
Many Tibetans see the decision by the Chinese regime simply as another way to curb the influence of the Dalai Lama.
[Tenzin Norgey, Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy]:
“The latest statement by Padma Choling, (Chinese-appointed governor of Tibet), the authorities are desperate to curb the influence of the Dalai Lama, and they want to specifically, the current statement pinpoints that the authorities (are) preparing to appoint their own Dalai Lama, once the current Dalai Lama passes away.”
It’s still not clear how and when the Dalai Lama will pick his successor, but he’s hinted that the new Dalai Lama could be handpicked by him or picked through elections. This may lead to a situation where there are two Dalai Lamas—one in India, picked by the Dalai Lama and one in China, picked by the Chinese regime.
March 10th being the 52nd Anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against the Chinese occupation forces that rolled into Lhasa, the Dalai Lama saddened the Tibetans and the supporters of the movement world wide with this announcement.
He had hinted however that this retirement from active role as its Political Head would help the Tibetan cause.
The Dalai Lama would however be the Spiritual leader and icon of Tibetan Bhuddhism and continue without doubt to inspire all spiritual seekers world wide.
HINDU WORLD VISION 