 China on Friday announced new regulations to tighten controls over Tibet, saying, "All the reincarnations of living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism must get government approval, otherwise they are illegal or invalid," state media reported.| "Look for the union label. Or else." |
China's State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) issued a set of regulations on reincarnation of Tibetan living Buddhas, which will take effect as of September 1, according to Xinhua News Agency. The regulations require that a temple which applies for reincarnation of a living Buddha must be "legally-registered venues for Tibetan Buddhism activities and are capable of fostering and offering proper means of support for the living Buddha," SARA said in a statement. "The selection of reincarnates must preserve national unity and solidarity of all ethnic groups and the selection process cannot be influenced by any group or individual from outside the country." Tibet became an administrative district directly under the central authorities of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama fled from Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. The central government views the Dalai Lama as the leader of a Tibetan independence movement. |