November 11, 2007: China’s Application Form for Reincarnations
Effective September, in China all spiritual reincarnations must get government approval, otherwise they are “illegal or invalid.”
This decree by China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs is not simply the works of madmen. It is that, but it is also targeted at managing what will happen when the 14th Tibetan Dalai Lama dies. China wants a reincarnated soul they can manage.
The Dalai Lama has always maintained that the 15th Dalai Lama will not be born in an occupied Tibet. “Logically,” he says, “the previous life escaped from Chinese hands so the next life should also be out of Chinese control.” He also added that there is the option of him not choosing to reincarnate at all if the Tibetan people feel they ought to discontinue the system.
All Tibetan Buddhists believe in reincarnation, but only the holiest of souls can be identified at birth. Before each Dalai Lama dies, he typically leaves poetic clues to help the Tibetan order determine the next incarnation. Chinese Regulation would definitely simplify the laborious location process, but application form scantrons have no space for Haikus.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-08/04/content_5448242.htm