is there no end to China's inscruitable mischief

Get a load of this tid bit from Newsweek. It would appear that the Chinese State Administration for religious Affairs has issued a statement that has banned Tibetan Buddhist Monks from reincarnating…..You read correctly. It would appear that the department has issued a law that lays out strict procedures by which one can reincarnate. The mental images of foetuses filing for appropriate forms or permission tickles my warped sense of humour.

Beyond the all too apparent absurdity is a less benign intention. That is to further isolate the current Dalai Lama exiled the spiritual and political leader. Since invading Tibet over 50 years ago they have pursued a policy of Chinafication of that small mountainous country.The law makes it illegal for exile monks from seeking Chinese authority for reincarnation thus giving the Chinese authority to choose the next Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama’s soul by tradition is reincarnated as a new person to continue his role of continuing to alleviate suffering and administer to the people.

It should in fairness be pointed out that Tibet under the theocracy was a poor and mean place for the average peasants. It was akin to a C16th Asian feudal system. It has been long argued that under the current Dalai Lama and time things would have changed.

Tibet today houses more ethnic Chinese than Tibetans most in the capital Lhasa. Slowly but surely Tibet is being turned into a Chinese province with complete with culturally oppressive and rules that favour the Chinese.