Dalai Lama criticized for reincarnation remarks

One senior political advisor said Wednesday the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has to be endorsed by the Chinese government rather than himself, criticizing him for "dual betrayal" to both his motherland and his faith.

"The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has to be endorsed by the central government, not by any other sides including the Dalai Lama himself," said Zhu Weiqun, head of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the national political advisory body.[Special coverage]

Tibetan Buddhists usually believe the soul of a Living Buddha is reborn after death and "soul boy" candidates might be found through the interpretation of arcane signs. The "soul boy," among the candidates, comes out after lot drawing from a gold urn and must be approved by the central government since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), unless the central government agrees to exempt the "soul boy" from the ritual.

Such a rule was inked in the "29-Article Ordinance for the More Efficient Governing of Tibet," which was promulgated in 1793.

The Dalai Lama said last year that he does not wish to have a successor, and that the Tibetan Buddhism tradition of reincarnation should cease with his death.

"Politically speaking, he has betrayed his homeland," Zhu said. "The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must be approved by the central government. Without the central government's approval, all would be illegitimate."

"Religiously speaking, he has betrayed Tibetan Buddhism and the succession system of the Dalai Lama which requires strict religious rituals," he said.

Zhu said the 14th Dalai Lama had taken a very irresponsible and disrespectful attitude towards the reincarnation, citing the political exile's earlier claims that his reincarnation could be "a female, a foreigner or even a bee."

"Now he is talking about a termination of the reincarnation," Zhu said, "is it irresponsible to his own faith?"

He said Tibet has enjoyed stability since the end of the 2008 incident.

"Now the Dalai Lama has to tout his own religious title to gain attention, which has no future," Zhu said.