China Wants Control of Reincarnation of Tibetan Living Buddhas

As of September 1, China is tightening control overIn 1995, the Dalai Lama's chosen reincarnation of the
Tibetan Buddhism with a new law requiringPanchen Lama - the second holiest figure in Tibetan
government permission for the reincarnation of lamas.Buddhism - was rejected by Beijing. Instead, China
Tibetan activists say this is another attempt byappointed its own Panchen Lama and detained the
communist Chinese leaders to undermine TibetanDalai Lama's choice. But few Tibetans consider the
culture and even absurdly to control the religiousChinese Panchen Lama as a legitimate leader.
afterlife. VOA's Heda Bayron has more on the storyLamas are often reborn to continue their good work.
from our Asia News Center in Hong Kong.There are often many candidates of a lama's
The new law bans Tibetan lamas, or monks, fromreincarnation, but only one will be recognized.
reincarnating without Chinese government approval.The Dalai Lama has said he will be reincarnated
China, which has ruled Tibet for more than half aoutside Tibet - raising the possibility of two Dalai
century, says anyone outside China cannot influenceLamas in the future - a Chinese appointed one in
the reincarnation process and only monasteries inTibet and another in exile.
China can apply for permission.But Tenzin Norgay, a spokesman for the Tibetan
Experts and activists say the law is clearly aimed atCenter for Human Rights and Democracy in
excluding the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the DalaiDharamsala India - home of the Tibetan exile
Lama, from selecting reincarnated lamas or Livinggovernment, says Tibetans are not likely to accept a
Buddhas - which form the core of Tibetan Buddhism'sChinese-appointed Dalai Lama.
leadership."How could an atheist party be able to recognize the
And, they say, the law effectively paves the waynext Dalai Lama? You look into the sentiments of the
for China to interfere in the future reincarnation ofTibetan people, the Beijing appointed Panchen Lama
the 72 year-old Dalai Lama, who China regards as adoes not have any respect," said Norgay. "So similarly
"splittist".even of this regulation comes into effect, if they
John Powers, an expert on Tibetan Buddhism atchoose a Dalai Lama of their own, it's not going to be
Australia National University, says the law is "absurd"of any use. Ultimately it should come from the
but at the same time, "chilling".respect being shown by the Tibetan people."
"They're [Chinese government] trying to exercise asChina says the new regulation aims to preserve social
much control as they possibly can over religiousharmony - a reason Beijing often uses in situations
practices and over peoples' lives," he said. "It's notinvolving ethnic, economic or political conflict. Beijing
even just exercising control of the present life, theyhas been showering the region with economic
even trying to control future life and death. This sortprojects to end poverty and isolation - including the
of thing would only occur in a totalitarianhigh tech Beijing to Tibet railway, which opened last
government."year.
Communist China exercises strict control over allBut rights groups say Tibetans are feeling that their
religion. For instance, millions of Chinese Catholics areculture will be diluted because of this
allowed to worship only in thegovernment-sponsored influx of Han Chinese into the
government-sanctioned Patriotic Church, whichregion. This law is seen as even more threatening to
functions outside of the Vatican. The Patriotic Churchthe most fundamental aspect of Tibetan life - the
appoints bishops in China without approval from thespiritual realm.
Pope.More than 130,000 Tibetans live in exile. Many monks
Human rights organizations have long criticized Chinaand nuns flee Tibet every year often via a
for religious repression and human rights abuses intreacherous hike in the Himalayas.
Tibet.