China has introduced a set of rules restricting the activities of Tibetan monks, especially concerning the Dalai Lama, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports. According to a manual distributed to monasteries in Gansu province, monks are banned from displaying photos of the Tibetan spiritual leader and engaging in what are described as “illegal religious activities and rituals” after his death.
This training manual, aimed at Buddhist clergy in the Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, outlines 10 specific regulations, including a prohibition on disrupting the process of recognizing the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. The Chinese government, seeking to control the reincarnation process traditionally determined by Tibetan Buddhist beliefs, contrasts with the Tibetan stance that the successor should be selected according to their religious traditions.
RFA noted that the 14th Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, is a central figure in Tibetan Buddhism and its longest-serving leader. Beijing’s latest measures are seen as part of a broader attempt to suppress Tibetan religious freedom and enforce loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party over religious doctrine.
Bhuchung Tsering from the International Campaign for Tibet in Washington criticized the move, telling RFA that it undermines the universally accepted freedom of religion for Tibetan people that China claims to uphold. The Chinese government’s efforts include political re-education in monasteries and restricting contact with the Dalai Lama.
ALSO READ: China Bans Tibetan-Language Blog, Sparks Outcry from Tibetan Community
Further, the manual warns monks against any activities that could harm national unity or social stability in the name of religion and forbids cooperation with “separatist groups” outside China. It also targets the spread of “separatist ideas” through various media.
Experts and rights groups argue that these campaigns are an extension of Beijing’s systematic suppression of Tibetan identity, religion, and culture. Exiled former political prisoner Golok Jigme, now a human rights activist in Switzerland, emphasized the focus on eradicating Tibetan identity through these political measures.
China‘s State Party Committee has stressed the Sinicization of religion and adherence to the Communist Party’s policies among monks in Tibetan areas, as per RFA. Critics, including former USCIRF Chair Tenzin Dorjee, view these actions as a violation of religious freedom in Tibet, with potential future implications for religious practice in the region.
China insists that it has the sole authority to select the next Dalai Lama, contrary to Tibetan beliefs in the spiritual leader’s reincarnation process. Meanwhile, the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has expressed intentions for his successor to be chosen outside China‘s influence, ensuring a continuation of Tibetan Buddhism free from Beijing’s interference.
About Post Author
