Rev. Danny Fisher

Last month, I posted about China’s increasing insistence that all future incarnations of living Buddhas and bodhisattvas related to Tibetan Buddhism “must get government approval.” The Buddhist Peace Fellowship has composed an open letter to Chinese leaders on the subject, which appears in full below.

September 9, 2007

His Excellency Hu Jintao
President of The People’s Republic of China

His Excellency Wen Jiabao
Premier of the State Council

The Honorable Ye Xiaowen
SARA Bureau Director

c/o Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008

Dear Sirs,

On July 13, 2007, the State Administration for Religious Affairs of the People’s Republic of China issued new “management measures for the reincarnation of living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism,” effective as of September 1, 2007.

As Buddhist teachers from many traditions and nations, we are keenly aware of the debt we owe to all our religious teachers who have freely and independently sustained the teachings of Buddha for generation after generation. With this in mind and acknowledging Tibetan religious practices, we are deeply concerned by what we feel is the inappropriate intervention of the People’s Republic of China in religious matters that affect the Tibetan people, and Tibetan Buddhist practitioners around the world.

We understand the essence of China’s startling decree to be that all reincarnated lamas (tulkus) must have government approval. This measure undermines Tibetan Buddhism’s core beliefs around rebirth and spiritual continuity. It seems aimed at undermining and replacing Tibetan Buddhism’s religious structures, and weakening the widely-recognized authority of legitimate Tibetan religious leaders including the Dalai Lama.

Respectfully, we suggest that history has proven that where religion and national governments become entangled with each other, the result is detrimental both to religion and the nation. But those who suffer most are ordinary people, who cherish the right to choose their religious beliefs and practices.

In less than one year, the People’s Republic of China will host the 2008 Olympic Games. As the games approach, the world’s attention will turn towards a nation that has a rich past and a bright future. But if the present itself is marred by the systematic repression of religious and human rights, China’s leaders will have squandered a great opportunity to be a leader among nations.

In the spirit of wisdom and common sense, we urge you, China’s leaders, to rescind SARA’s new measures to control Tibetan Buddhism. Please do this now so you can in fact fulfill your own Olympic vision of “One World One Dream.”

Sincerely in peace,

Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
Executive Director
Buddhist Peace Fellowship

and

Hozan Alan Senauke
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
& Berkeley Zen Center, CA

Joined by:

Robert Aitken
Diamond Sangha

Rev. Dai-En Bennage
Mt. Equity Zendo
Pennsdale, PA

Leigh Brasington
Alameda, California

Rev. Edward Espe Brown
California

Dr. Colin Butler
Bodhi, Australia

Rev. Eido Frances Carney
Olympia Zen Center
Olympia, WA

Rev. Kyogen Carlson
Rev. Gyokuko Carlson
Dharma Rain Zen Center
Portland, OR

Eugene Cash
San Francisco Insight, CA

Rev. James Ford
Boundless Way Zen , MA

Rev. Dogo Barry Graham
The Sitting Frog Zen Sangha
Phoenix, AZ

Roshi Bernie Glassman
Peacemaker Order

Konjin Gaelyn Godwin
Cloud Gate Zen Center
Houston, Texas

Sunyana Graef
Vermont Zen Center
Burlington, VT

Rev. Zenkei Hartman
SF Zen Center, CA

Isyanto
Nyanaprathama, Indonesia

Ken Jones
Network of Engaged Buddhists, Great Britain

Cynthia Jurs
Open Way Sangha
Santa Fe, NM

Rev. Daijaku Judith Kinst
Ocean Gate Zen Center
Santa Cruz, CA

Ouyporn Khuankaew
Intl Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice
Thailand

Lee, Min Yong
Korea

Rev. Taigen Dan Leighton
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate
Chicago, IL

Dharmachari Lokamitra
The Nagarjuna Institute
Nagpur, India

Jimmy Lominto
Dharmajala, Indonesia

David Loy, Phd.
Xavier University, Ohio

Joanna Macy, Phd
BPF Int’l Advisory Council

Dr. Thant Lwin Maung
Burma

Ken McLeod
Unfettered Mind, CA

Ronald Nakasone, Phd
Budd. Churches of America

Rev. Pat Enkyo O’Hara
Village Zendo, NYC

Rev. Taitaku Pat Phelan
Chapel Hill Zen Center
Chapel Hill, NC

Caitriona Reed
Michele Benzamin-Miki
Ordinary Dharma
Warner Springs, CA

Santikaro
Liberation Park
Norwalk, WI

Rev. Anne Seisen Saunders
Sweetwater Zen Center
National City, CA

Dh. Shantum Seth
Ahimsa Trust
New Delhi, India

Ajarn Sulak Sivaraska
Int’l Network of Engaged Buddhists, Siam

Lama Surya Das
Lama John Makransky
Lama Choying Palmo
(Willa Baker)
Dzogchen Center, U.S.A.

Daniel Terragno
Rocks & Clouds Zendo
Sebastopol, CA

Rev. Katherine Thanas
Santa Cruz Zen Center, CA

Rev. Claude AnShin Thomas
Zaltho Foundation

Tenzin Bob Thurman, Ph.D.
Columbia Unuiversity, NY

Ven. Tsering Palmo
Ladakh Nuns’ Association

Rev. Jisho Warner
Stone Creek Zen Center
Sebastopol, CA

Rev. Sojun Mel Weitsman
Berkeley Zen Center, CA