Reincarnated soul boy explained

Reincarnated soul boy (Chinese: 转世灵童) is a title used in the reincarnation process of living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism, it is a title for reincarnated practitioners before they formally become living Buddhas.

The reincarnated soul boy is identified by traditional methods. Generally speaking, there can be one or more candidates. After a sitting-in-the-bed ceremony is held, he will become a living Buddha.

In 1793, 29-Article Ordinance for the More Effective Governing of Tibet (Chinese: 钦定藏内善后章程二十九条) was published, it states that to eliminate cheating and corruption in the selection process, the Golden Urn must be used for reincarnated soul boys so one soul boy can be picked to become the living Buddha.

In 2007, the State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No. 5 (Chinese: 国家宗教事务局令第5号) was published by the Central Government. Article 7 states that no group or individual may carry out activities related to searching for and identifying the reincarnated soul boy of the Living Buddha without authorization.^[1] Article 8 states that lot-drawing ceremony with Golden Urn is applicable to those rinpoches, or lamas who were reincarnated previously in history. Request of exemption is handled by State Administration for Religious Affairs, for those with great impact, request of exemption is handled by State Council.

See also

• Golden Urn
• The Discourse of Lama

Notes and References

1. 第七条　活佛转世申请获得批准后，根据活佛影响大小，由相应的佛教协会成立转世指导小组；由拟转世活佛僧籍所在寺庙管理组织或者相应的佛教协会组建转世灵童寻访小组，在指导小组的指导下实施寻访事宜。转世灵童由省、自治区佛教协会或者中国佛教协会根据宗教仪轨和历史定制认定。任何团体或者个人不得擅自开展有关活佛转世灵童的寻访及认定活动。 Article 7 After the application for the reincarnation of a living Buddha is approved, according to the influence of the living Buddha, the corresponding Buddhist association will establish a reincarnation steering group; the management organization of the temple where the living Buddha is intended to be reincarnated or the corresponding Buddhist association will form a reincarnated soul boy search group, and guide the group The implementation of the search matters. The reincarnated soul boy is recognized by the Buddhist Association of the Province, Autonomous Region or the Chinese Buddhist Association according to religious rituals and history. No group or individual may carry out activities related to searching for and identifying the reincarnated soul boy of the Living Buddha without authorization.