Hey Buddy, You Got a Permit For Dat Reincarnation?

Okay. I don't know how I missed this Newsweek story from over a month ago. China in what has to be one of its most bizarre moves, has decreed that Buddhist Monks in Tibet are forbidden to reincarnate without government permission. I ain't makin' this up folks. Here's the link to the article By Matthew Philips. The State Administration for Religious Affairs ( I don't know about you but the term "State Administration for Religious Affairs" sends shivers up my spine) says that the law is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation." Well those Tibetan Buddhists have nothing to worry about. We all know that once the government institutionalizes a program, well, it's just gonna run like a top. Smooth as silk. If you do have a complaint you'll just have to go to the Hypnotic Regression department (take the escalator down, deeper and deeper into a state of total relaxation).

Of course regulating reincarnation has nothing to do with their real intentions. As the article points out, it's their latest strong arm tactic to do what they've been trying for 50 years. To cut off influence from the Dalai Lama (who's been in exile in India for 48 years) and squash the Buddhist order in Tibet. The plan is to set up a puppet Lama (not THAT kind of Llama) of their choosing who has been legally and officially reincarnated - in Tibet. One who has properly disembarked from his metaphysical plane. One who had his spiritual passport properly stamped. One who will do what they tell him.

China, China, China. Ancient and glorious culture. So much potential, and now that the world knows the lead in the toys was ALL the fault of Mattel's design flaws and that you're completely innocent, maybe you can focus on living up to it.

I just hope that someone in Washington hasn't read this and realized that reincarnation can be used by illegal immigrants to get past that wall they want to build. DHS will be all over that. And you thought the lines at airport security were long.