I Said: Be Done with the Reincarnation System

Aik TC SG

I Said: Be Done with the Reincarnation System

So now the word ‘blasphemous’ has start to creep into the Buddhist faith, no least from a lay person against a religious leader of the faith. One starts to wonder, how such individual as Padma Choling has become more knowledgeable and authoritative then the Dalai Lama himself on such an issue.

The Office of the Dalai Lama was start by Gedun Drub, the 1^st Dalai Lama to promote the smooth transition of spiritual leaders from one generation to the next. This is a tradition of the Gelugpa sect although the belief in reincarnation is followed in all Tibetan Buddhism. It is the prerogative of the Office of the Dalai Lama to decide whether there is a need to follow strict historical conventions and required religious rituals in such selection, and certainly not that of the Chinese government. The present Dalai Lama should know that pretty well for himself. After all, he is the one who will be deciding where he wishes to be reborn. He certainly does not need to seek the approval of the Chinese government on when to die and where/when he will be reincarnated.

Has Padma Choling and the Chinese government forgotten, that Tibetan Buddhism is now practice not just by the Tibetan people alone but by people of many races throughout the world? That the Dalai Lama is not a piece of property of the Communist China, but a religious leader to many others not connect with Tibet or Tibetans?

It would be more palatable if the Chinese government would come out in all honesty that they need the next Dalai Lama to be born in Tibet, i.e. a Chinese citizen so that they can make use of him as a mouth piece to control the Tibetan population and fulfill their agenda in Tibet in as smooth and as fast a way as possible.

The present deadlock that we see between the Dalai Lama and Chinese government is not doing the religion any good. One can see that whatever the Dalai Lama says, whether he is going to be the last Dalai Lama, or he is going to be born out of the China, the Chinese government will ultimately and eventually select their own Dalai Lama irregardless of whether the Tibetan people accept such appointment or not. The likelihood is that, the majority would not care or respect such an appointee. A situation of this nature would erode the importance of Buddhism to the Tibetan people.

It may be best that the Dalai Lama give his now ‘famous smile’ to the Chinese government and said ‘I will reincarnate myself in Tibet’ and be done with the whole reincarnation system. After all, in the present modern context, the system does not serve any more useful purpose. If the whole issue continues to drag, the eventual ultimate loser will be Buddhism itself. It will then be a sad day indeed.

Ee Hoe Hean Club SG

Let the tibetan people living in China have a vote on whether or not the reincarnation system should be continued or not. I don't think the Dalai lama can decide on this issue alone. If he says that there will be no more Dalai lamas after his death, it might split the population of Tibet. Some may accept the decision of the current Dalai lama, others may not and insist that there must be a spiritual leader for tibetans.

Let the people decide.

Aik TC SG

Yes, ideally it would be good for the Tibetan Buddhists peoples to decide for themselves on this issue. But such a situation will never happen there, it is a communist controlled country. If such a situation can happen, the country would be a multi-parties political system elected by the people by now.

The government had passed laws that require the next Dalai Lama to be a Tibetan born in China. His appointment and that of all other reincarnated high Lamas will need to be approved by them as well. It is to counter such laws that the Dalai Lama had made other suggestion such as the possibility of him being reincarnated outside of China, away from the control of the Chinese authorities. His latest suggestion of not getting reincarnated is also because of the same reason. The Chinese are worry, as what is spoken by him would carry considerable weight and authority to the Tibetans in China. The Chinese know it, and that is why they are trying to neutralized what he said by stating that it is a blasphemous act on the part of the Dalai Lama. Whatever the situation is or will developed into later ultimately the Chinese government will get their way and appoint a Dalai Lama when he passed away. The Dalai Lama latest statement is that, he is going to live to the reap old age of 100. He is 80 this year.

In any case, it does not matter to the Chinese, no do they care if their appointing of a new Dalai Lama would lead to the eventually spit in the Buddhist followers there into two opposing camps. It suits them fine as well, as it would weaken the Tibetans’ unity, thus making it easier to control them.