According to Newsweek, a new law goes into effect next month in China that strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate. Yes, you heard that right.
A statement by the State Administration for Religious Affairs says it is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation." The law is aimed primarily at Tibetan Buddhists.
Could Google have anything to do with this?
Google this year agreed to censor itself in China. Whenever people search for interdicted Chinese keywords on a blocked list maintained by the government, google.cn displays the following at the bottom of the page: "In accordance with local laws, regulations and policies, part of the search result is not shown." This may have emboldened the government to get into censoring the afterlife.
Also, Google just released it's "Sky" version of Google Earth, which allows users to scan the heavens. Coincidence?
Anyway, we're sure some similar Google-like disclaimer is in store for hapless Buddhists as they reconfigure in the afterlife.
The spirit of the Buddhist after death goes through a process lasting 49 days that is divided into three stages called "bardos." At the conclusion of the bardo, the person either enters nirvana or returns to earth for rebirth.
Will the departed find this etched to the bottom of the bardo of rebirth?
"In accordance with local laws, regulations and policies, some of the six realms of existence will be off limits. The human realm, the jealous god (asura) realm and the god (sura) realms require a bit of paperwork to be submitted to your local cadres. We're sorry, but submission before death will not be processed.
"The preta (hungry ghost) realm will remain open to anyone who can stand it. Intense suffering in the hell realms are always allowable. Unimaginable pleasures in the god realms are, or course, out of the question without rigorous review.
"And certain forms in the animal realm require a long personal interview, group self-criticism sessions and the successful completion of the Communist Party of China's new team-building and motivational course, which involves wearing bamboo hats and drab grey uniforms with rice bags slung across your shoulders as you trudge along a narrow mountain path under the scorching sun, your clothes soaked in sweat. Forever."
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If someone broke the law, how would anyone know?
Coming up next, America to limit the number of blessings an individual can receive from God. Such blessings are viewed as disruptive to a Free Market and, according to leading psychologists, damage a person's sense of self-reliance. Congress hopes this new law will discourage the whole “have mercy on whom I will have mercy” attitude God has taken in the past. A list of suggested blessings has been prepared for review and is expected to be mailed to God soon after the law takes effect.
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