On Monday, the Chinese government urged the Dalai Lama to continue to respect the traditional Tibetan succession policy whereby high lamas seek out his reincarnation after his death, after he issued a statement saying that he and his advisors are reviewing the secession system.

Tthe People’s Republic of China, which is officially atheist, must legally approve all reincarnations of “living Buddhas”, a class of holy leader in Tibetan Buddhism who are believed continue to reincarnate after reaching Enlightenment, also known as bodhisattvas.  The Dalai Lama and the Chinese government have had differences about succession before.  When the Dalai Lama made it clear that he did not wish to reincarnate in the territory of the PRC, a law was passed compelling him to reincarnate in Tibet.  Perhaps more shockingly, in 1995, the Dalai Lama named a boy in Tibet as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, another important Tibetan leader.  The Dalai Lama’s choice was put under house arrest, and Chinese officials chose another one to take his place.  Many Tibetans view this government replacement as a fake.

Tibetan Buddhism is by far not the only religion to be regulated in this way.  Other state-approved religions need government approval for their clergy.  Most notably, Chinese Catholics (the only officially recognized Christian sect) are not allowed to take any support or orders from the Vatican, which still recognizes Taiwan.  As to whether the Chinese can force a reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in their own soil, we’ll have to wait and see.

[Reuters]

During the course of this holiday weekend packed with alcohol, fire works and alcohol it’s likely you worried about your mortality. Well take heart in the tale of James Leininger, a young boy whose family claims he is the reincarnated soul of a World War II fighter pilot.

Leininger first began spooking his parents with a preternatural understanding of antique military aircraft, followed by gory crayon drawings of aerial battles with Japanese airplanes which gave way to horrific night terrors involving a violent, suffocating death inside a cockpit. Little Jimmy’s parents eventually narrowed down which soldier’s soul was trapped inside their son after the boy mentioned a specific aircraft carrier he was stationed on.

They’ve since “confirmed” their findings with the pilot’s family and war buddies.

Also, you can read about this experience in their NEW BOOK Soul Survivor AVAILABLE NOW at all your finer literary retailers.

Thanks to Weird Things reader John Houdi for the tip on this story.