'cause the regime don't like it, man

China tells living Buddhas to obtain permission before they reincarnate. Something about this story, for me it brings to mind a fairy tale or even some trippy science fiction. I don't mean to offend anyone's beliefs but it's like, the repressive government vs. the ancient mystical order. Bizarre yet at the same time familiar.

they couldn't print it if it wasn't true

"The May Day Mystery refers to a series of cryptic ads which have been placed in the Arizona Daily Wildcat, the newspaper of the University of Arizona, every May 1 since 1981."

site devoted to the topic here