[TigersEye]

I'm trying to remember when Buddhism renounced the privilege of kicking around the state (when it can), ...

I'd like to know what examples you can remember to support that blanket statement. Out of curiosity.

[muawiyah]

Nepal, Bhutan, Ceylon(Sri Lanka), Burma ~ all these places have had nearly theocratic rule, but the all time winner of a Buddhist state is, ta-da, TIBET!

Yes, Tibet, where the Dalai Lama was the head of state.