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Dalai Lama rebuked

The Chinese government has issued its response to the Dalai Lama's proposal to have a 'referendum' on his reincarnation, in his lifetime (see earlier post).  However,  the stated reason for governmental displeasure is breathtaking:   "The Chinese government has a policy of religious freedom and respects Tibetan Buddhism's religious rituals and historic conventions,...the Dalai Lama's related actions clearly violate established religious rituals and historic conventions and therefore cannot be accepted,"   
    This is as if Gordon Brown told British Muslims how to interpret the Koran...

Dalai Lama defies reincarnation rule

Following the curious Chinese government ruling that nobody may reincarnate without permission, covered here in August,  the Dalai Lama proposes to hold a vote on the subject of whether he will reincarnate as a small boy, or during his life, or not at all.   Watch this space for government response.  Meanwhile, Pope Benedict is not - as expected - going to meet him in December when he is in Italy.  It may be simply a scheduling matter, but there is suspicion of Chinese pressure. They met before, once - below.   

Buddhist festival

Poignantly Sunday is the Buddhist festival of Pavarana, marking the end of a period of contemplative confinement in Burmese monasteries.

The festival originates from the story of monks who remained silent in order to keep unified during the rainy season when they had to live together in close confinement. The Buddha found out and called them foolish, instigating instead a ceremony of confession and openness.

Aung San Su Kyi, the opposition leader under house arrest, said of the festival...

Burma:monks in protest

Hundreds of Buddhist monks have taken to the streets in Burma in protest against the military government.  This will be taken very seriously indeed, as monks are held in high esteem and have previously spearheaded major  protests.  You will not find anything about it on the government website, though.

More war-like Buddhist monks

Update on war-like Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka- it seems they are not alone. Burmese Buddhist monks have caused a storm by taking 20 people hostage in their temple and setting officials cars on fire. In this case they weren't joining with the military but protesting against the military Government's hike in fuel prices. They released their hostages yesterday. This picture is of Buddhist monks in Burma in 1997 taking clubs to mosques in the country after a Buddhist girl was reportedly raped by a Muslim man.

Buddhist protest off in Thailand: some home thoughts...

Just how useful is  it to have a "State religion"?  We have one - the CofE, entangled with the legislature and monarchy. So does Saudi Arabia. Some countries firmly refuse to have one at all. In Thailand, there has been an ongoing campaign and hunger strike  by Buddhist monks  demanding that Buddhism be officially  made the "state religion", but now the Bangkok Post reports that they have given up their fight after a graceful line from their Queen on her 75th birthday on Sunday: "everyone does not want Buddhism to be mixed with politics, but  it should be held in high esteem as a guiding light for all Thais". For some heavy-duty research results on state religions worldwide, try this.  Interesting figures also here.

Warlike Buddhist Monks...

Some eyebrows are raised by the decision of one group of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka to back the government's military threat against the Tamil Tigers.  "Peace and Love?" say shocked voices. "What?" But the NY Times report makes it clear enough that the involvement of Buddhist clerics in politics has a long and turbulent history.