‘Wondering’ Souls: Reflections on Gendun Chophel and Dhondup Gyal

By Tenzin Nyinjey

The life of a people lies in its history, culture, literature, religion and the arts. These are taught in Tibetan schools in India. Unfortunately, not much progress has been made as far as Tibetan students’ interest in them is concerned. Part of the blame lies in our inability to teach students in a manner that can stimulate their intellect. Our students, after all, are not encouraged to ask questions.

When I was a young student, I recall falling my eyes on the Dalai Lama's autobiography My Land and My People kept on the altar by my parents along with other sacred idols of worship. In the book, I saw pictures of Mao and the Tibetan leader exchanging khatas as their faces glowed with smiles for each other.

October 19 – A Day of Solidarity!

By Tenzin Nyinjey

On 27 April 1998, Pawo Thupten Ngodup immolated himself in the heart of Indian capital Delhi. Ngodup’s demand was legitimate. He wanted China to end its illegal occupation of Tibet. He wanted Tibetan independence, Tibetans to rule for and by themselves—free from foreign dictation—something that is enjoyed by every dignified people on earth and recognized by the ideals of the United Nations.

Ngodup’s fiery and ultimate act of non-violent protest, his hands joined together in a gesture of peace and non-violence while his whole body enveloped in mortal flames, was a fitting tribute to the indomitable spirit and determination of the Tibetan people, or for that matter any people on this earth, resisting oppression and tyranny. His heroism sent out a clear message to humanity: one could make only two choices in life, either to live with dignity or bow down to slavery. Ngodup chose the former. He chose freedom. He chose liberty.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Birthday greetings to Archbishop Tutu

China’s South Africa: Denial of the Dalai Lama's visa

China is a not a democracy with a Constitution that governs through the rule of law. We should not allow it to have an undue influence on matters that go to the heart of our political independence - Stevens Mokgalapa, Democratic Alliance MP, South Africa

After long pending weeks of waiting for the South African Government's to grant a visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Delhi finally breaks the silence and made a statement in calling off visit.

In the statement, His Holiness expressed regrets over “inconveniences caused to his hosts and the large number of South African public who were keenly waiting to receive him and hear his message.”

Deception and Prejudice: China's claim on Dalai Lama's reincarnation

1. "Bear in mind that, apart from the reincarnation recognized through such legitimate methods, no recognition or acceptance should be given to a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People’s Republic of China."-His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 24 September 2011

His Holiness the Dalai Lama recently made a lengthy statement on the issue of his reincarnation and had categorically clarified his stand on the future Dalai Lama. The objectivity of such statement is clear and timely as the matter was supposed to be discussed in the 11th Tibetan Religious Conclave held in Dharamsala. In the statement, His Holiness made a crystal clear declaration on the historical tradition of reincarnations in Tibetan Buddhism, that gives a clear understanding about the concept of Tulku recognition.

Martyrs were, are and will be born in Tibet

First of all, my apology for letting my pen rusted for months, as many things happened over the times that makes me run up and down since I reached Dharamsala, the political and spiritual abode of Tibetans in exile. Two months passed and yet, I am still not settled in Dharamsala, where I got transferred. I waited for the things to calm down to continue my writing, but unfortunately, something just keep popping up that took nearly all the monsoon months. Now, the monsoons nearly gone, prayers in home almost finished, new job pretty much on my feet, the time has finally approached to engage in writing. Time for procrastination shall not stretched further as it has loosen my blog into a deep siesta and decaying. Not a big deal!!

Another self-immolation, another martyr!

By Tenzin Nyinjey

There were red and crimson robed monks and nuns. There were lay Tibetans – both young and old. There were Americans, Australians and Germans. There were Japanese, including a young teenage girl whose entire family died in the recent flood that devastated her country.

There were members of Tibetan parliament, civil servants of the Central Tibetan Administration and activists from Tibetan Women’s Association. There were members of Tibetan Youth Congress in their trademark green and yellow striped sports jackets. And there were activists from the Students for Free Tibet.

KATRI PROF. SAMDHONG RINPOCHE'S CLARIFICATION ON THE AMENDMENT OF THE EXILE TIBETAN CHARTER

There are arguments and claims visible in the mass media that the Tibetan Government in Exile has been recalled or rescinded. This is not true. In 1959 the Government of Gaden Phodrang shifted base from the capital city of Lhasa to India, and for the last 52 years has functioned in a democratic manner. It is a democracy that has a proper charter and the three pillars of democracy: Judiciary, Legislature and Executive. This Government follows the system of checks-and-balances and is a transparent and full-fledged democracy.

Since 1642 till present, the legitimate and lawful Tibetan Government has not been recalled or rescinded. As a matter of fact, it has made great strides despite being faced with all challenges and odds.

NAME SAKE: CHANGE IS INEVITABLE

Few years ago, when I was working in Dharamsala office, we received an instruction from the higher authority to use Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) instead of Tibetan Government in Exile in all the official communications, though we were generally more accustomed in using the latter. Lately after listening to Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche's clarification on the Amendment of the Charter, I tried to investigate a little and found out that all the official publications had written Central Tibetan Administration (Secretariat) as the publisher, dated back to 1980s. It is quite a fascinating.

Like all my compatriots, we held high hope and respects to the our exile government, which stands as a lifeline of all the Tibetan people for more than 5 decades, despite zero recognition from other governments. I do not care about how other countries perceive us, as I believe every country longs to work for their own selfish agendas, which might not include supporting Tibet issues.

CHINA'S CORE TACTICS: TIBET IN LIMELIGHT

" A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth" - Joseph Goebbels

Sino-Tibetan problem is highly a complex and sensitive issue, which was bonded by the myths of great imperialist (British), and the strength of a post colonized emerging power (China). In the mid 20th Century, Tibet was sandwiched between the great powers, who had gambled Tibet for their own sake. The great games were played with Tibet, and China still plays and holds their position tight with the barrel of a gun. After British left India, China's interest on Tibet was materialized and started positioning their stronghold base in Tibet. During the invasion, Tibetan resistant movement fought many battles and sacrificed their life for their country and Dharma (Buddhism). Unfortunately, ill-equipped small local contingent of Tibetan warriors could not match the size of well equipped merciless intruder. It took nearly a decade for China to fully occupy Tibet.

Interpreting Chinese definition of liberation in Tibet

New Delhi (May 23): China has violated terms of an agreement it signed on May 23, 1951 with Tibet by denying the promised “national regional autonomy” to the Tibetan people in running their affairs apart from international relations and defence, concluded the speakers at a panel discussion titled 17-Point Agreement: Liberation or Occupation of Tibet held yesterday at the India International Center in New Delhi.

The discussion consisting of such distinguished speakers as Dr. Swaran Singh, Professor for Diplomacy & Disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University; Dr. Naresh Mathur, a Supreme Court lawyer; and Mr. Bhaskar Roy, an eminent China analyst was chaired by Ambassador Dalip Mehta, former ambassador to Bhutan and the Central Asian Republics of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

INDIFFERENT WORLD FOR TIBET CRISIS: SEEKING SUPPORT

“Political tsunami has been going on in Tibet. Now these days there is a real danger of Tibetan Buddhist culture being destroyed. Some kind of cultural genocide is going on in Tibet."-THE DALAI LAMA

In 2008, Tibet uprising was mercilessly cracked down by the Chinese leaders and had blamed the exiled Tibetan leader for inciting the mass protest in all over Tibet. A year later, East Turkestan burnt into a wild fire of protest, however it was unexpectedly short lived.

On 16 March 2011, Phuntsog, a young Tibetan monk of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, northeastern Tibet immolated himself in protest against the repressive Chinese policies inside Tibet . Soon after his death, thousands of armed personnel cordoned off the monastery, which is considered an important buddhist learning institution, that houses over 2,500 monks. When the lay people showed their solidarity with the monks, security personnels barricaded the roads and check posts were erected on roadsides connecting to Ngaba, so to observe and limit the mobility, the supply routes are cut off, communication links were disturbed, and rigorous patriotic reeducation campaign has been carried out in the monastery. Medias and foreigners are banned to visit Ngaba. Exiled Human Rights agency recorded that 300 monks were detained in extralegal black jail. When the hundreds of local elders tried to stop the Chinese armed forces in entering the monastery, three were beaten to death.1

A TRIBUTE TO DORJEE KHANDU: A TRUE FRIEND OF TIBET

It is yet again a sad moment for us as we condole the tragic and untimely demise of H.E. Dorjee Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, who was killed in a chopper crash with four others at Lobothang near Tawang. For the last couple of days, we prayed for his life after his chopper went missing in the rough terrains of Tawang. Thousands of armed personals, local volunteers and government officials went on search for days in a wet and rugged mountains. Indian Air Force Mi17 choppers and Sukhoi jets were also deployed. The Satellite images were also used to narrow down the search mission. But, the rough weather and rain halted the operation in between. Unfortunately, on 04 May, his charred body was discovered along with others at the height of 4,900 metres amidst the debris of chopper. On that very morning, I was working on my computer like any other normal day with some hope that Khandu will be back fine and fit with others. All of a sudden, My friend buzzed me in my facebook and texted me 'Sad News'. I was shocked!! It is indeed a very sad news to not only the people of Arunachal Pradesh, but also the Tibetan People. We loss one of our true friend, who was with us during the difficult times. Those friends are hard to find and we will miss him dearly.

UNDERSTANDING TIBET: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

My understanding of Tibet in the past and present is clear. I thank my holy guru, parents, teachers and superiors for giving me such light to fathom the gravity of our issues. I also thank them for giving me an identity since my birth that pave a way for an avenue to contribute for the cause, which I belong to. Though, Tibet unseen, I have a clear vision and goal to let our people breathe the air of freedom and justice.

But it is immensely a difficult task for me to forecast about our future, which I broadly mean Tibet's future, though I am integrally a part of it. I assume, some of our high-learned lamas and spiritual gurus in golden glittered monasteries may well predict where our future lies, as it is so complex and unresolved. Yet, we live by an unwavering hope that one day, surely one day, the sun will rise high above mountainous ranges of Tibet. In spite of an unmatchable battle of truth versus false, small versus giant, non violence versus brutal forces, the little ray of light is visible deep in the tunnel of our hope. And hope will certainly be our weapon to crush the mighty emperor of blood sucking Chinese regime.

WITHOUT HIS HOLINESS: TIBET'S FUTURE POLITY

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, during the 52nd Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10, 2011, declares that he will devolve political leadership and put the matter for the Tibetan Parliament in exile to decide the fate of the future Tibetan polity. Subsequently, on March 14, 2011, when the parliament started its 11th session, His Holiness gave his message stressing on ceding his political leadership.

The parliament since then discussed on the issue and even Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the incumbent prime minister of exile Tibetan, stressed on the status quo of His Holiness current position, beholding the political and spiritual head of the Tibetans. When I listened to all the views of Tibetan parliamentarians in the session, it is obvious that all of them shun the decisions made by His Holiness and pleaded him to retain the political leadership. As Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister earlier mentioned that it is important to separate the church and state but to separate dharma with polity is not possible. Even amongst the Tibetan decision makers, views of temporal and spiritual leadership goes parallel and can not be detached, considering the composition of Tibetan polity in exile as well as of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's role in Tibet's past history.

STATEMENT OF HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA ON MARCH 10, 2011

His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave statement on the 52nd Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day on 10 March 2011 at Main Cathedral, Dharamshala, India.

The english translation is given below.

Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan people’s peaceful uprising of 1959 against Communist China’s repression in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, and the third anniversary of the non-violent demonstrations that took place across Tibet in 2008. On this occasion, I would like to pay tribute to and pray for those brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for the just cause of Tibet. I express my solidarity with those who continue to suffer repression and pray for the well-being of all sentient beings.

JFK'S INAUGURAL SPEECH

Friends,

I am posting the visual of Kennedy's inaugural speech, which is still remembered and praised worldwide as one of the favorite speech addressed till time. It is such a delight to listen to his speech over and over again. My best quote since my school days is of Kennedy, that is "Ask not what your country can do for you, Ask what you can do for your country."

Enjoy listening to Kennedy's speech.

Regards,

Tenzin Lekshay