The Chinese government has told Tibet’s “living Bhuddas” that they must have permission to be reincarnated.
The new regulations, which come into force on September 1, are to “regulate the management of the reincarnation of living Buddhas”, the State Administration for Religious Affairs said in a statement on its website (www.sara.gov.cn).
“Temples which apply for reincarnations of living Buddhas must be legally registered venues for Tibetan Buddhism activities and capable of fostering and offering proper means of support to the living Buddha,” it said.