Chinese Government: We Will Choose Next Dalai Lama

Via The Tibet Post:

London: China is set to announce a new constraint on Buddhists practicing in Tibet, with a barring of Buddhist monks outside of China to be recognized as a reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The ban, set to be made law next month would effectively permit the Chinese government to select the future Dalai Lama.

The new law stipulates that Buddhist monks in Tibet must seek permission from Chinese communist regime for reincarnation has been described by Chinese state administration for religious affairs as an important move to “institutionalize management of reincarnation”.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has made it clear in recent months that the next Dalai Lama will be born and receive religious training in a safe and free environment outside of China. As the new law stands, however, it would seem that two Dalai Lama’s would emerge, one Communist state backed and the other religiously supported.

Read the complete piece here.

Quite troubling indeed. However, I think it is important to note that while this specific ban may be a new development, Chinese government attempts to assert control over the tulku system is not. One person in particular who comes to mind is Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, who after being recognized by the Dalai Lama at the age of six, was then kidnapped by government officials and has never been seen again. After this terrible atrocity, Gyaincain Norbu, the son of two Communist Party members, was then handpicked by the Chinese government and presented as the Panchen Lama.

The Dalai Lama has repeatedly said that his next reincarnation will be born in a free country. When the day comes that another child of Communist Party affiliates is marketed by the state-run Chinese press as the 15th Dalai Lama, I hope that people throughout the world remember this.

Gendhun Choekyi Nyima (last photo before going missing in 1995)