Fresh when it gets here from
Julie Barrett
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
China tells Buddhist monks in Tibet that they can't reincarnate without state permission.
Apparently Dalai Lamas have been able to control the circumstances of their reincarnation, and that makes the Chinese government hot to pick the next Dalai Lama. Of course, it's a purely political move.
Please, don't think I'm making fun of Buddhists. I'm not. I happen to deeply respect the current Dalai Lama. He's held up to an enormous amount of pressure from the Chinese government, which, of course, is why the Chinese want to pick his successor.
Of course, I'm really poking at the Chinese government - or any government who thinks they can control this aspect of religion.
Yanno, I smell some good story fodder here.
Tags:
Religion