BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- All the reincarnations of living Buddha of Tibetan Buddhism must get government approval or the approval by the religious affairs department of the government, according to the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA). The so-called reincarnated living Buddha without government approval or the approval of religious affairs departments are illegal and invalid, says SARA. SARA issued a regulation on reincarnation of living Buddha of Tibetan Buddhism recently, stressing that it is an important move to institutionalize management on reincarnation of living Buddha. The regulation will become effective on Sept. 1. The regulation is composed of 14 articles, including the principle, conditions, approval procedures, the duties and responsibilities of religious groups for reincarnation as well as punishment for those violating the regulation. The regulation requires that temples which apply for reincarnation of living Buddha must be legally-registered venues for Tibetan Buddhism activities and are capable of fostering and offering proper means of support to the living Buddha. All the reincarnation applications must be submitted to the religious affairs department of the provincial-level government, the provincial-level government, SARA, and the State Council, respectively, for approval in accordance with the fame and influence of the living Buddha in the religious circle, the regulation says. Tibet became an administrative district directly under the central authorities of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) in the 13th century. Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty conferred the title of living Buddha on Vphag-pa, a religious leader in Tibet at that time. Since then, people began to call eminent monks in Tibet living Buddha. SARA says the regulation is favor of guaranteeing normal religious activities of Tibetan Buddhism and protecting the religious belief of Tibetan Buddhism followers according to law.
