Tibetans Challenge China

Tibetans challenge China over reincarnation law

DHARAMSALA, INDIA. The democratically-elected Tibetan government-in-exile (TGIE) has challenged China over a new law designed to limit Tibetan Buddhism’s role in identifying reincarnated lamas.

Its purpose is to ensure that future “reincarnations” of “Living Buddhas” – such as the Dalai and Panchen Lamas – are puppets of the Chinese Communist Party rather than independent individuals who support Tibet’s political and religious freedom. But the Tibetans are fighting back.

As reported on this website (Death of reincarnation for Buddhist lamas? 8 August), the so-called “Order No 5”, issued by China’s State Administration of Religious Affairs, concerns “Management Measures for the Reincarnation of ‘Living Buddhas’ in Tibetan Buddhism.”

But the Tibetan parliament, which sees this as yet another attempt to destroy its culture, has passed a resolution appealing to the entire international community to help nullify the law.