9. Reincarnating without government approval
This law serves as another way for the Chinese government to exert control over Tibetans, who worship living Buddhas and believe in reincarnation. Government officials want to select the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the most important spiritual leader in Tibetan culture.
The current Dalai Lama has been in exile since 1959. The Chinese government has referred to this Nobel Peace Prize winner as a “wolf in monk’s clothing,” who is hell bent on dividing China. Tibetans believe he is the 14th reincarnation of a monk who lived in the 14th century.
sluderlaw.comEDIT BY JME
Lamas, senior religious figures, are able to choose whether they’ll be reborn and where. Under Chinese law, only Buddhist monasteries can apply to be considered for reincarnation. Some experts suspect the Dalai Lama will choose to not reincarnate at all to prevent a government-appointed Lama.
Tibet is an autonomous region in China. However, it is heavily regulated by the Chinese government.
Photo edit by Jamie Montgomery
