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.