Buddha Chants

A News item says that China has tightened its rules on reincarnation of new living Buddhas, saying that those reincarnated without Goverment approval would be illegal and invalid. Henceforth all reincarnations of living Buddha should get Government approval. This is considered as an important move to institutionalise management on reincarnation.The Notification lays down the principle, conditions, approval procedures and duties and responsibilities. The temples which apply for reincarnation of living Buddhas should be registered and capable of fostering and offering proper means of support to the living Buddha. Can you beat it? The Chinese government have at last gotten round to controlling the sprouting of reincarnation of Buddhas and the deisputes between the lamas and the monasteries about the fake and the real incarnations. A time will come when the Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas will be Government sponsored and Government approved. So much for freedom of religion in China. Here in India we have Godmen claiming to be reincarnation of the Shirdi Saibaba, the Kalki Avatar in South India with thousands of followers. a transvestite Police officer who claimed that he was the reincarnation of Radha and recently a child in UP claiming to be the reincarnation of Kalpana Chawla. We believe in reincarnations without let or hindrance, as it is ingrained in our religious ethos. The more the merrier. More "Breaking News" for our over 100 channels who may even sponsor reincarnations to raise their TRPs. The Chinese have done the right thing in clamping restrictions on reincarnation. Who knows, we may have people lining up as reincarnations of Mao, Chou En Lai, the Gang of Four or Deng Zio Ping who may ease out the present rulers of China. Very wise precaution indeed.We, however, would have no qualms about allowing a thousand Nehrus and Gandhis to bloom not to talk of the dasavataras repeating themseleves ad nauseam. We dont have to queue up before government offices and apply for recognition in triplicate to be processed and recognised with a government stamp of approval along with the PAN card so they dont cheat on the taxes. . Mera Bharat Mahaan !