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.” But beyond the irony lies China’s true motive: to cut off the influence of the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual and political leader, and to quell the region’s Buddhist religious establishment more than 50 years after China invaded the small Himalayan country.
The story reminds Sheila Lennon of the biblical “Slaughter of the Innocents” by Herod. Reminds me of the Life of Brian:
STAN: Women have a perfect right to play a part in our movement, Reg.
FRANCIS: Why are you always on about women, Stan?
STAN: I want to be one.
REG: What?
STAN: I want to be a woman. From now on, I want you all to call me ‘Loretta’.
REG: What?!
LORETTA: It’s my right as a man.
JUDITH: Well, why do you want to be Loretta, Stan?
LORETTA: I want to have babies.
REG: You want to have babies?!
LORETTA: It’s every man’s right to have babies if he wants them.
REG: But… you can’t have babies.
LORETTA: Don’t you oppress me. (more)
This is just wrong in so many ways — not that we don’t deserve “an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation”, you know, we’ve worked hard for it — but are they saying they recognise one Dalai Lama, any Dalai Lama, as the honest-guvnor reincarnation of the very previous fellow? And is this something that falls within the voluntary control or power of enforcement of the People’s Republic of China? Or what?
Makes about as much sense in its own way as Faith-Based Family Planning, or Creationism in schools, I suppose.
I’m half-remembering a story from ages ago about the current incarnation being the last, but I have no idea where that came from, or whether or what level of ambiguity or disinformation that might have been, even assuming I didn’t dream it. Did I get far away enough from the suggestion yet?
…oh, right. Wikipedia indicates that Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama has personally threatened, in a non-threatening sort of way, more than once, that he might just not come back at all, and then where would we be? kind of thing. The relevant section of the Dalai Lama’s FAQ (yes, of course he’s got he can haz a FAQ, duh):
At the present moment, the Dalai Lama’s institution is useful to the Tibetan culture and the Tibetan people. Thus, if I were to die today, I think the Tibetan people would choose to have another Dalai Lama. In the future, if the Dalai Lama’s institution is no longer relevant or useful and our present situation changes, then the Dalai Lama’s institution will cease to exist.Personally, I feel the institution of the Dalai Lama has served its purpose.
No “and then where will you be?” as such, but I think you know what I’m saying. The important thing is, I didn’t dream it.
(va Subterranean)