tibetan buddhists believe lamas and other religious figures can consciously influence how they are reborn, and often are reborn many times so they can continue their religious pursuits. these tulkus are referred to in sources translated from chinese as "living buddhas". in 2007, the chinese government passed a decree, based on the prior religion work for some questions《中共中央、国务院关于进一步做好宗教工作若干问题的通知》published in 1991, that reincarnated lamas must be approved by the central government.