China tells living Buddhas to obtain permission before they reincarnate

Times Online ^ | August 4, 2007 | Jane Macartney in Beijing

[jrg]

Tibet’s living Buddhas have been banned from reincarnation without permission from China’s atheist leaders. The ban is included in new rules intended to assert Beijing’s authority over Tibet’s restive and deeply Buddhist people.

“The so-called reincarnated living Buddha without government approval is illegal and invalid,” according to the order, which comes into effect on September 1.

The 14-part regulation issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs is aimed at limiting the influence of Tibet’s exiled god-king, the Dalai Lama, and at preventing the re-incarnation of the 72-year-old monk without approval from Beijing.

It is the latest in a series of measures by the Communist authorities to tighten their grip over Tibet. Reincarnate lamas, known as tulkus, often lead religious communities and oversee the training of monks, giving them enormous influence over religious life in the Himalayan region. Anyone outside China is banned from taking part in the process of seeking and recognising a living Buddha, effectively excluding the Dalai Lama, who traditionally can play an important role in giving recognition to candidate reincarnates.

end of excerpt

[Paul Ross]

More proof of Chicom “Freedom of Religion”.

[RichInOC]

The Buddha that must be authorized by the government is not the true Buddha.

[chilepepper]

the amount of paperwork the candidate has to fill out to get the reincarnation permit is probably mindboggling!

[small voice in the wilderness]

A Karma Crackdown. This can’t be good for China... Watch for floods, volcanoes, earthquakes, locusts, and general plague stuff. The only ones laughing silently will be the Tibetan monkeys, strangely garbed in robes, and making fruitcakes with omens and karma curses baked inside.

[Dr. Marten]

I posted on this one yesterday.  Amazing how terrified the Chinese government is of one little, old, peace-loving man.

[Dr. Marten]

Irony Ping.

[Talking_Mouse]

The Buddha is a man. The original one was a man and all subsequent ones are men. Don’t know if wimmin are allowed to be the Buddha, maybe somebody can answer that one.

There have been several female bodhisattva (enlightend or awaken human beings) the most famouse is Kwan Yin.

[jrg]

Don’t know if wimmin are allowed to be the Buddha, maybe somebody can answer that one.

Tara, the protectress is a feminine Buddha. An emination of Chenrizik, or Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Infinite Compassion

[RightWhale]

the Buddha of Infinite Compassion

Do they have a Buddha for everything? Our Buddha of Indefinite Compression seems to be busy on Wall Street.

[jrg]

The Buddha that must be authorized by the government is not the true Buddha.

The Panchen Lama is an example of what happens if you're not the authorized one....

[jrg]

Do they have a Buddha for everything? Our Buddha of Indefinite Compression seems to be busy on Wall Street.

Ahhhh, yes Grasshopper.....
there is Sanjye Menla (Medicine Buddha), Amitabha (the Buddha of Infinite Light), Chenrizik (the Buddha of Infinite Compassion), Vajradhara (the primordial Buddha), Samantabhadra, Vajrapani, Green Tara, White Tara, etc.

However, it is very confusing at times determining whether these are being referred to as actual dieties or whether they are being referred to as "enlightened states of mind".

[RightWhale]

They don’t have dieties or deities. It’s just us sitting here in this universe for no apparent reason. Schopenhauer says to avoid painful situations, which sounds like practical advice.

[BulletBobCo]

They can kiss my brass buddhas belly!

[TigersEye]

However, it is very confusing at times determining whether these are being referred to as actual dieties or whether they are being referred to as "enlightened states of mind".

Neither nor. Buddhist 'deities' are symbolic of aspects of enlightened mind and are nothing more or other than that.

[TigersEye]

It’s just us sitting here in this universe for no apparent reason.

That is not a Buddhist view.

[RightWhale]

Some of those Easterners are pretty good at saying what something isn’t.

[TigersEye]

Some westerners have avoidance down to a science too.