Living Buddhas Need Beijing's Stamp of Approval

Earlier this week the Chinese Government put into effect a new edict requiring all reincarnated Living Buddhas to get approval from Beijing. This is widely interpreted as an effort by the Communist Party to keep the exiled Dali Lama from having a say in reincarnations in Chinese-controlled Tibet.

However, as is often the case in China, the edict promulgators neglected the details and don't seem to have thoroughly thought through the implications. Beijing did not, for example, specify what government forms a would-be Living Buddha will need to fill out and file and whether there is an open filing period. The new law raises many metaphysical questions and answers none. If the reincarnation is rejected by the Communist leadership where is the soul supposed to go? Is there an appeal process? What will happen to scofflaw Living Buddhas that ignore the new regulation and continue to do Living Buddha things in defiance of Beijing?

The Dali Lama could tie this package up nicely by simply decreeing that all Chinese Communist Party Politburo members will henceforth be reincarnated as Living Buddhas. Beijing's reaction would be delicious.