Monks Fight Polls for Sikkim's Sangha Seat

[icy]

It is interesting to note that Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the Karmapa, has been restricted to travel to Sikkim for safety reasons. 

Election fever has gripped even the Buddhist monks in Sikkim as spiritual discourses in monasteries take a political turn with three Lamas entering the poll fray.

More than 2900 monks from over 100 monasteries all over the hilly state will choose one among three Lamas who are contesting for 'Sangha' seat in the Sikkim Assembly, unique to the state.

Interestingly, like other candidates these monks are also affiliated to different political parties and run campaigns soliciting votes in mountainside monasteries.

Draped in maroon robes, the candidates don't shout political slogans, put up posters or raise flags but opt for quiet meetings with monk voters.

Only monks can vote and contest in the reserved 'Sangha' seat.

"My first priority after winning the election would be to make Sikkim an international centre for Buddhist learning," Palden Lachungpa, who is fighting on a ticket by the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), told PTI.

The state goes to poll on April 12.

The monastic order also wants the 17th Karmapa, spiritual leader of Kagyu order of Tibet Buddhism, to stay in Rumtek monastery, the largest and most important seat of Buddhism in Sikkim.

Citing security concerns, the union Home Ministry has restricted Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the Karmapa, to travel to Sikkim.

SDF has promised to pursue the issue with the Centre and bring the monks their guru.

As most monasteries are nestled in peaceful hill forests with rivers flowing nearby, hydropower projects are also an issue with the monks.

Dechen Lama, a senior monk, complains that a power project in West Sikkim is disturbing spiritual activities in Tashiding monastery.

"Below the hill they are drilling to make a tunnel for hydropower project. As the monastry is on the top of that hill, our peace and tranquility gets disturbed. We want our representative to raise this issue," he told

To oversee affairs related to religious institutions like monasteries, Sikkim has a special department - Ecclesiastical Affairs Department.

Monks complain that the SDF failed to appoint any minister to the unique department.

The monk winning from the Sangha seat is traditionally made the minister of the ecclesiastical department.

"SDF has ignored this department for long time. We need to protect our Dharma and that is why I have joined politics," says Sonam Lama fighting on a ticket by Sikkim Krantikari Morcha.

The Congress has put up Tshering Lama from Simik Duduling Gompa in East Sikkim as their candidate.

The 'Sangha' seat is the only of its kind in India which was created under Article 371 (F) of the Indian Constitution to give monks representation in governance as was done during the rule of the Chogyal kings.

The Himalayan kingdom had merged into India in 1975.

SDF leaders say they never interfere in monastic affairs as they don't want to mix politics with religion.

Sonam Bhutia, a young monk in Gangtok, says he votes each year but stays away from politics.

"We are only continuing the tradition of being present in a small way in politics," he says.

[brian]

I was a little bit interested with what Sonam Bhutia said, it is just by continuing a small existence in politics. No doubt there will be politics anywhere we go. Depending on each company or even a monastery, but of course, monks should not be involved in politics as it does have devastating effects onto people around the group. In most cases, it often divides.

[vajrastorm]

It's interesting to see how in Sikkim, the issue of politics mixing with religion comes to the forefront when 2900 monks, from over 100 monasteries,  go to the polls on polling day, on 12 April, to cast their votes for the Sangha member of the Sikkim Assembly. The Sangha, who wins the Sangha seat, by tradition, is then appointed Minister of the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department.

On the one hand, one of the 3 candidates, Sonam Lama, says that he is going into politics to protect the Dharma. On the other hand, Sonam Bhutia, a young monk, who votes every year , says that "We are only continuing a tradition of being present in a small way in politics". Other than doing his part as a voter, he generally stays away from politics.

The three candidates for the one sangha seat are supporting and giving voice to causes like protesting against the hydro power project which is disturbing the spiritual activities of the monks in a big monastery situated above it. Another contender talks about making Sikkim an international Buddhist learning centre.
A third is vocal about the issue of installing the 17th Karmapa in Rumtek Monastery.

It is difficult to see how politics can steer a path of pure spirituality and Dharma.

 

[cookie]

A Buddhist monk is supposed to be a renunciant practising the path to Enlightenment taught by the
Buddha. This is a path for the elimination of the self or ego.
The Buddha instructed his monk disciples to live in seclusion and to arouse energy in practising the Noble
Eightfold Path. Sociability and involvement with lay people and worldly matters were definitely
discouraged by the Buddha.
A monk should not be actively involved in partisan politics, which is within the sphere of lay people. At the most a monk may exercise his citizen’s right to vote wisely in the General Elections.
If monks actively engage in partisan politics, it will endanger the Sangha . We have seen reports that monks actively involved in politics in Sri Lanka some years ago were rounded up at night for questioning and some were never seen again. Then in Myanmar several years ago, newspapers showed photos of corpses of monks in the river due to similar reasons. Curfews were also imposed on the monasteries.
On the other  hand, during the political unrest in Bangkok many years ago, a striking front page photo of monks going on alms round in the morning unobstructed by soldiers guarding the streets during curfew hours. So when monks are not involved actively in politics, they pose no threat to any political party and hence face no obstacles or danger in their daily life, and respected by all parties.
Is it really possible for a monk to be in politics and yet keep his practice PURE ?

[icy]

Hundreds of monks from Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayan state of Sikkim on Saturday voted to choose a Lama as their representative in the state assembly.

The ‘Sangha’ seat is the only one of its kind in India which was created under Article 371 (F) of the Constitution to give monks representation in governance as was done during the rule of the Chogyals.

The Himalayan kingdom had merged with India in 1975.

Dressed in their traditional flowing maroon robes, monks came out in large numbers in polling booths to stand in queue like other voters, election commission sources said.

“This is very unique to Sikkim as in other places you will not find a monk coming out to vote for another monk. They are very active, but very peaceful,” Sikkim’s Joint Chief Electoral Officer Urvashi Poudyal said.

Only monks could vote and contest in the reserved ’Sangha’ seat.

There were 2,904 monk voters registered for the ’Sangha’ seat. Out of them only 45 were women.

Three Lamas were contesting for the seat - Palden Lachungpa for the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), Sonam Lama for Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and Tshering Lama for the Congress.

[RedLantern]

The Burmese demonstrators proved  that as Ghandi said "those who think religion has nothing to do with politics understand neither religion nor politics.
Buddhist principles are "politically efficacious" They are grounded in  the material and tangible world we inhabiliyt