# China tells living Buddhas to obtain permission before they reincarnate **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 4, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442 "2007-08-04T19:47:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/1 "2007-08-04T19:47:24Z")
[This](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2194682.ece) could be an Onion article. > [@](#): > > Tibet’s living Buddhas have been banned from reincarnation without permission from China’s atheist leaders. The ban is included in new rules intended to assert Beijing’s authority over Tibet’s restive and deeply Buddhist people. > > “The so-called reincarnated living Buddha without government approval is illegal and invalid,” according to the order, which comes into effect on September 1. I am stunned. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/2 "2007-08-04T19:48:26Z")
You know, if there ever was a time where (a) Buddha needed to start smiting… ---
**Author:** ![Jaochai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2acd7d/32.png) [@Jaochai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaochai)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/3 "2007-08-04T20:38:42Z")
I actually recognize this. I childishly don’t have a cite, and I think I remember reading it in the China Daily anyway so it probably doesn’t count, but this is not a new thing. The Qing Emperors did the exact same ritual, what with the writing names and putting them in a ball and drawing them out at random. I know the one-party system is pretty mean, but do we really want it to be replaced with a theocracy based on finding random kids and worshipping them, even if it is based on national determinism? ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/4 "2007-08-04T20:47:32Z")
How do they know if someone has reincarnated without their permission? Do they keep tabs on theirs souls with tracking devices or something? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/5 "2007-08-04T21:03:05Z")
I’ve already had spitballs thrown at me over Chinese regulation in my thread in Great Debates, so I’m not getting involved in this Tibetan dance. I don’t want to spread myself too thinly. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/6 "2007-08-04T22:08:34Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] How do they know if someone has reincarnated without their permission? Do they keep tabs on theirs souls with tracking devices or something? [/QUOTE] I’m sure that there won’t be any punishment for actually reincarnating, only against admitting (claiming) to have reincarnated. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/7 "2007-08-04T22:13:16Z")
And what happens if they break the law? Are they executed? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/8 "2007-08-04T23:06:32Z")
If you meet the Buddha on the road, check his permit. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/9 "2007-08-04T23:17:48Z")
I don’t think Buddhists _worship_ any Buddha, even a living one, technically… ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/10 "2007-08-05T01:48:07Z")
[QUOTE=Jaochai] I know the one-party system is pretty mean, but do we really want it to be replaced with a theocracy based on finding random kids and worshipping them, even if it is based on national determinism? [/QUOTE] As if those are the only two options. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/11 "2007-08-05T01:53:32Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] If you meet the Buddha on the road, check his permit. [/QUOTE] Will they set up a system so they can check in for lack of a permit during routine traffic stops? ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/12 "2007-08-05T01:59:43Z")
The law doesn’t take effect until September 1st. Get all your reincarnating done by then, and you’re all good. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/13 "2007-08-05T02:25:29Z")
Of course, initially, this is just absurd, and made me laugh. To the Tibetan system, reincarnation is a proven way of being as a human, and quite logical in it’s very long time of observance. I don’t understand it completely, but the more I read of ancient texts, the more I understand it, bit by bit. Mostly, in reading, I very much respect it, and realize there’s a whole lot to be learned. So, the Chinese Government putting a registration on reincarnation in regards to Tibetan tradition is as stupid as having everyone in the US having to register their babies with the Government when they concieve. How would that go over here? Actually, it’s worse, because it is a political ploy. The Dalai Lama is aging, and China wants to control who the next Tibetan Head of State will be. And, it’s stupid. They may be able to dictate their puppet, but Tibetans will just be more secretive and find the next leader in better terms underground, and carry on that lineage. It’s a pretty amazing system of knowledge, from what bits I understand. If that knowledge brought as much money as oil, the US would be bushwhacking China something awful for their offenses. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/14 "2007-08-05T04:10:42Z")
[QUOTE=elelle] So, the Chinese Government putting a registration on reincarnation in regards to Tibetan tradition is as stupid as having everyone in the US having to register their babies with the Government when they concieve. How would that go over here? [/QUOTE] No, it’s dumber than that. It’s like cracking down on illegal soul-smuggling – except the US is a secular government, while China is an openly atheistic government, which thus is requiring permits for an event that it does not believe happens. Make sense? ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/15 "2007-08-05T14:22:29Z")
[QUOTE=Jaochai] but do we really want it to be replaced with a theocracy based on finding random kids and worshipping them [/QUOTE] well, that may be better than watery tarts distributing swords… (/ obligatory Monty Python reference) (apologies to all. But I just. couldn’t. resist. ) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/16 "2007-08-05T15:19:55Z")
[QUOTE=asterion] Will they set up a system so they can check in for lack of a permit during routine traffic stops? [/QUOTE] “Whats in the baggy, eh? A little Reincarnation Instant Budda..?” :eek: I can’t see traffic stops being effective unless they are expecting waves of Roadside Birthers. And the Minister of Labor says “Here, now. We’ll have None of That!” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/17 "2007-08-06T00:24:29Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] And what happens if they break the law? Are they executed? [/QUOTE] Repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/18 "2007-08-06T01:41:00Z")
So often, when government and religion interact, the result is Deep Stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/19 "2007-08-06T04:15:26Z")
when bodhisitras are outlawed, only bodhi-atmas will be oulaws! With apologies to sanskrit readers (still a good pun)… FML ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442/20 "2007-08-06T11:56:55Z")
[QUOTE=straight man] No, it’s dumber than that. It’s like cracking down on illegal soul-smuggling – except the US is a secular government, while China is an openly atheistic government, which thus is requiring permits for an event that it does not believe happens. Make sense? [/QUOTE] Good point. A better analogy might be if the United States passed a law saying that Santa Claus must get permission from the FAA before he starts his yearly toy-distribution. And it was not done as a joke. Besides, I remember hearing that the Dalai Lama has promised that he will not reincarnate any place under Chinese rule. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-tells-living-buddhas-to-obtain-permission-before-they-reincarnate/414442.md?page=2)