Link here.
Ah gotta love the good ol’ Commie Party, so intent on stifling all hint of organized dissent that they willingly make themselves out to be an upside-down herpes-filled ass. Maybe they can also start institutionalizing management of bowel movements so that when they start shitting the people, the people start shitting.
Seriously, though, what the fuck?
We had a thread about this a while back, and like then, I don’t see what so confusing about this. China wants to control Tibetan Buddhism for political reasons. This law gives them a tool to do so. Anyone in China who claims, without government sanction, to be a re-incarnation of a previous religious figure is now automatically breaking the law. The only people in China who can publically proclaim themselves to be reincarnates are those hand-picked by the Chinese government. It’s a fucked up law, no doubt about that, but the logic behind it isn’t hard to puzzle out.
FWIW, I believe the Dalai Lama has said that he does not intend to reincarnate in China when he dies, which is itself a political move to cut the legitimacy out from under whatever puppet the Chinese choose to replace him after he kicks.
King Knute comes to mind. These are the same jerks who created the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association to exert control over Chinese Catholics.
Oh I can understand why they would want to have such a law, but for a country so concerned with saving and losing face, you think they’d aim for laws that can somehow seem reasonable, even if takes spinning it from an extreme angle. I assume it would also be a matter of pride not to enact laws, in globally-observed Tibet no less, that could possibly make them a laughingstock.
Yes. He may be the last known DL for a while. This sort of freaks me out a little. What will happen to Tibetan Buddhism?
You think China enacts laws to save face???
Most Machiavellian regime on the planet right now. Bar none.
Adding to what Miller said is the fact that Tibet was a theocracy and so by controlling the priesthood they are controlling the country’s traditional political power.
I was under the impression that most of the higher end reincarnations are chosen at childhood. In that case, it seems to me it’s more a matter of who “trains” him than who gets to choose him.
I don’t remember his name, but there’s a current Lama who’s a Spanish kid from Granada. “Not reincarnating in China” is not the same as “not reincarnating.”
This is what happened with the Panchen Lama, the second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism. There are now rival Panchens - the one the Chinese government recognizes, and the one recognized by the Tibetans in India. There’s a fascinating book on the subject called, I believe The Search for the Panchen Lama.
No, but they clearly do things to save face, or at least not lose face. They’re making a ton of concessions with regards to the Olympics, for example. The Party could find a way to accomplish the same ends without enacting this insane law, which can only bring ridicule and loss of face. The Party’s usually much better at sugar-coating cruel and unfair dictates.
Sorry, I’m confused as to what is ridiculous here: A law banning someone from claiming they are a reincarnation of someone else, or someone claiming to be a reincarnation of someone else? :dubious:
Here is the thread we had a few weeks ago about this. As I said there, it could almost be an onion article.
Nah the ridiculous thing here is this fool who thinks Yemen is in Calgary. :dubious:
You one of those cute kids who’s inferioty complex makes them need to dis everyone’s religion so they feel better about themselves?
You don’t need an inferiority complex to mock religions, maybe fall into one in your later years, but not to mock.
I guess lol. I’m just trying figure out which Tibetan Buddhist pissed in his wheaties.
Geez, that hurt. Ouch. Maybe I should change it to say ‘Yemen or Calgary’ just so you aren’t confused by the slash?
You one of those credophiles who thinks that drinking specially prepared kool-aid is a shortcut to heaven, or just one of the normal loons that regularly bangs his head on the floor to imaginary figures just for the heck of it?
What is interesting is that you can’t see why both sides in this situation aren’t ridiculous and laughing along with me. It’s just downright goofy.
Nah I knew what ya meant. Just figured I’d take a random did at ya since that seems to be your thing. After I posted it had second thoughts that maybe I over reacted. Was pissed that there’s effectively nothing that can be done about this and china just gets a free pass to be an asshole.
Nah I’m the kind of credophile who has a negative balance with visa.
Well I see your point, and I apologize for over reacting. However try looking at it from the perspective of someone who actually believes in reincarnation.
Islam gets along just fine without a Caliph; Tibetan Buddhism can survive without a Dalai Lama.
Good point. No violent schism in Islam. Nope. Got along just fine.