China's administration for Religious Affairs has banned Buddhist monks from reincarnating without government permission.

According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month and strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation."

This is so sad its hilarious. I want to know what the form 27 b/6 ((c) Terry Gilliam) for this looks like. Do you get to select your preferred species? What about life goals? The source of this story is msnbc and is apparently legit - yet another attempt to diffuse the Dali Lami's influence over the country.