08.26.07

Chinese Law Bans Reincarnation

Posted in News of the World, What I'm Reading, Reality is Weird at 12:46 am by Spencer

As reported by Matthew Philips on the Newsweek web site, from the 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.”

As the article notes, this is all about eliminating the influence of the Dalai Lama and (the Chinese hope) furthering its conquest of Tibet and the destruction of its culture.

In 1996, the Chinese abducted the last Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima (when he was 6 years old) for the same reasons. In Tibetan Buddhism, the Panchen Lama is the one who formally recognizes/proclaims the new incarnation of the Dalai Lama. And vice versa — the Dalai Lama formally recognizes incarnations of the Panchen Lama. In a sense, they are brothers who recognize each other across time.

The Panchen Lama and his parents have never been seen or heard from again. All the Chinese government will say is that they are still alive but held in secret “for their protection.” In all likelihood they were murdered long ago.

The Chinese later proclaimed another monk under their control as the Panchen Lama. He too is kept under wraps, though he is sometimes brought out for show. No Tibetan Buddhists recognize the Chinese Panchen Lama.

The Chinese Communist government is, basically, engaging in magical warfare against Tibetan Buddhism, and the Dalai Lama in particular.

The current Dalai Lama — Tenzin Gyatso — just turned 72, and since fleeing the Chinese invasion in 1959 he has lived in the remote refugee settlement of Dharamsala in northern India. The Dalai Lama is the head of the Tibetan Government in Exile, in accordance with Tibetan tradition. He also travels the world, a photogenic and lovable thorn in China’s world image.

The Dalai Lama is what the Tibetan Buddhists call a bodhisatva — a being who has achieved enlightment but rather than transcend has chosen instead to continue to incarnate so they can help other beings achieve enlightenment. Rather than escape hell, they stay and help others escape. In life after life. It is the ideal of compassion made most holy.

Tenzin Gyatso is the 14th incarnation of the Dalai Lama. He has said that his next incarnation will not be born in China.

In this context, the new Chinese “law” makes much more sense. And, really, is more disturbing than funny. (Though it’s awfully damn funny at first.)

Meanwhile, the first rail line to Tibet was opened just in the last couple years. It was built with the intention and expectation that it would greatly accelerate ethnic Chinese migration into Tibet, which is slowly being turned into an “exotic tourist destination”, and all that entails.

Hey, it worked great against the Native Americans, right?

Permalink