Wait ... what?

[Myrina]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/08/22/china-bans-reincarnation-_n_61444.html?ref=fb&src=sp

"In one of history's more absurd acts of totalitarianism, China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month and strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation."


This oughta be from The Onion. :wtf:

[Kookaburra]

1. Bwahahahahahahaha!

Thanks Myrna. I needed that laugh today.

[lunatica]

2. It is forthwith ordered that those we kill shall stay killed...dammitt!

Hahahahahaha!

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. IIRC, the Dalai Lama is usually a reincarnation. This would control who gets to be selected, and

by whom.

[Myrina]

5. Well, that's their ultimate aim ... but ... really? Legislating reincarnation?

:shrug: Wow.

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. They replaced the second-in-command with their own person.

A long time ago. There has long been a movement to have him released. I forget the name of the title, but obviously, the spiritual skills of an adept are important for the job. Simply placing someone in such a position would damage the entire thing. Ahem.

[I Have A Dream]

4. That's what I thought too! It must be from The Onion!

:rofl:

It's official: The world's gone batsh*t crazy right before my very eyes!

:crazy:  :wow:  :crazy:

[Cleita]

6. On a practical note, the law will effectively prevent

the Buddhists from announcing any child they believe to be a reincarnated lama from being able to do so. The Chinese will instead find a suitable substitute that they proclaim is the reincarnated lama. It's diabolically clever because to ignore this law puts the Buddhists in the position of being outlaws and therefore legally criminal.

[BlueIris]

8. I'm still not convinced it's not satire.

Somebody tell me it's definitely not.

[Cleita]

9. It's not satire.

They reported it on BBC News yesterday, unless the commies in China are having a joke at our expense.

On edit: They also reported it on Al Jazeera.

[BlueIris]

10. Um...

I'll join you in the :wtf: then. Because: yeah. I'm pretty sure the PRC boys can't ban reincarnation.