Monday, March 09, 2015
Curious
A Dalai Lama is believed to be reincarnated in a young child upon his death. The current Dalai Lama is saying that may no longer be true. Why? Because the Chinese who have subjugated Tibet claim the right to appoint the next religious leader. Many Tibetans consider that fraud as does the current Dalai Lama. And, it is. The Chinese have taken over the religion for political purposes and now claim that the Dalai Lama "profanes" Buddhism by suggesting that reincarnation comes to an end with him. The turnabout is irony, but the current Dalai Lama has been living in exile for decades because the Chinese pushed him out of Tibet. The Chinese hope to use the appointment of the next Dalai Lama as a PR victory for the government in winning the hearts and minds of Tibetans. The current Dalai Lama is trying to forestall that. It is a curious situation but not unique. The Chinese government also has tried to appoint the bishops of Roman Catholics in China in order to maintain state control. Roman Catholics have protested that too but the government continues its effort. It is a PR black eye for China and for religious freedom, but the Chinese do not care.
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