From ABC News:
When Chinese authorities implement a new law this month on the “reincarnation of Living Buddhas,” it will open a new and controversial phase in the looming battle to find a successor for the 72-year-old Dalai Lama.
The Chinese government described the new law as an “important move to institutionalize the management of reincarnation of Living Buddhas,” or lamas, as the monks in senior positions are known in Tibetan Buddhism.
The concept of reincarnation is viewed by non-believers around the world with a considerable degree of scepticism and amusement, but within the context of Tibetan culture it remains a centerpiece in spiritual life. [Full Text]
See also the report from Times of India: China bans reincarnation of living Buddhas without nod
