HONG KONG — China announced last month new regulations governing Tibetan Buddhism, including a stipulation that senior monks, known as "living Buddhas," cannot be reincarnated without government permission.
"The reincarnation of living Buddhas must undergo application and approval procedures," the new regulations stipulate. "Living Buddha" reincarnations with a "particularly great impact," such as presumably of the next Dalai Lama, "shall be reported to the State Council for approval."
The new regulations, which come into effect Sept. 1, were issued by the State Religious Affairs Bureau under the State Council, which implements religious policy set by the Communist Party. Its director, Ye Xiaowen, far from being a religious leader, is an alternate member of the Communist Party's Central Committee and hence, by definition, an atheist.