China Insists on Naming Living Buddhas

[labguy22]

Would anyone care to comment???


China Insists on Naming Living Buddhas
By Associated Press

Fri Aug 3, 6:26 AM
BEIJING - Ratcheting up its control over Tibetan Buddhism, China on Friday asserted the sole right to recognize living Buddhas, reincarnations of famous lamas that form the backbone of the religion's clergy.

All future incarnations of living Buddhas related to Tibetan Buddhism "must get government approval," the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing the State Administration for Religious Affairs.

China's officially atheistic communist government has increasingly sought to direct Tibetan Buddhism, for centuries the basis of Tibet's civil, religious, cultural and political life. Reincarnate lamas, known as tulkus, often lead religious communities and oversee the training of monks, giving them enormous influence over religious life in Tibet.

China already insists that only the government can approve the appointments of the best-known reincarnates, including the Dalai and Panchen Lamas, the No. 1 and No. 2 figures in Tibetan Buddhism.


Be Blessed,
Nick

[dsdrane]

absolutely outrageous...and one wonders why they didn't think of it before now.

[Daniel]

Secular governments have no standing regarding Tibetan Buddhism. What they are trying to do is tranparent to anyone who knows anything about Tibetan Buddhism.

They are trying to kill off the religion by controlling it from the top down.

They tried this about 8-19 years ago with one of the reincarnated lamas. The one they 'chose' is not recognized by the faithful.

And now they are trying this?


~

Know what? The Dalai Lama has talked about not coming back....so that would negate the whole business.

The Chinese are playing a game of chicken.

[KennethJ]

I'm curious to know if the government's religious dictates are really accepted amongst the common people of Tibet. I had a Chinese ESL student who was a lawyer, and went to pains to explain to me that China has no real rule of law. Laws aren't enforced or followed like they are in the western world. It's also estimated that MANY of the adherents of China's "patriotic" catholic church are secretly loyal to Rome. They have a public face of promoting and submitting to the government, but secretly pray for reunification with the Pope. But maybe the situation is different in politically volatile Tibet. But even so, can they really convince Tibetan Buddhists that an occupying government can define and change their sacred traditions?

Ultimately, I think this shows the effective the Dalai Lama is having in communicating the plight of Tibet to the world. China is very insecure about other nations recognizing the Dalai Lama because it exposes their brutal aggression against their neighbours.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by KennethJ

IUltimately, I think this shows the effective the Dalai Lama is having in communicating the plight of Tibet to the world. China is very insecure about other nations recognizing the Dalai Lama because it exposes their brutal aggression against their neighbours.

True. But sadly, not a single country has stood up to China as far as Tibetans are concerned. China acts like a bully- and has gotten away with it since it caused the Dalai Lama to fled his homeland.