By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, January 25: The Prime Minister of Tibetan government in exile (Sikyong) Dr. Lobsang Sangay condemned the ‘Authentic Living Buddha list’ published by China’s religious affairs administration on January 18, calling it ‘an attempt to control the reincarnation system of Tibetan Buddhism’.
The Tibetan PM told ANI on Friday that the Chinese government lacks credibility and legitimacy in spiritual matters. “I am sure they have plans to control the reincarnation system and the reincarnation lamas. But, it will not be credible because neither they have the legitimacy nor credibility in spiritual matters,” Sangay was quoted as saying.
According to the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the system is placed to counter ‘fake’ lamas who it said are undermining Tibetan Buddhism by cheating believers out of cash. However, the Tibetans living in exile see it as an intrusion into their religious beliefs and freedom.
The Chinese government recently launched an online database consisting of 870 names, pictures and locations of their ‘legal living Buddhas’ approved by the state.
The Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) India organized a signature petition against the ‘Living Buddha list’, which will be sent to the respective offices of China and their Embassies around the world.
“We recognize the list moving in opposite direction to the actions taken against the Panchen Lama (Dalai Lama appointed) or the death of Tulku Tenzin Delek in Chinese prison. China has no right in publishing such list,” said Tenzin Tselha, National Director (SFT India).
The student organization mocked the list by carrying out a street protest. The student organization set up a pseudo enrollment booth where activists wearing Chinese President Xi Jinping mask held a list of conditions for enrollment.
