Dalai Lama turns 82

[DharmaDefender]

Tis the Dalai Lamas birthday today (July 6) and he will be celebrating in Ladakh: http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/dalai-lama-to-celebrate-82nd-birthday-in-ladakh-year-after-chinese-intrusion/story-ZxHkI72h6r9zluk6ey7uUL.html

Long life to him and all that but dont know about you, I figure its a pretty contentious place to be celebrating his birthday. Either the CTAs got summit planned for their speeches, or they are generally feeling very incendiary at the moment. Either way, I find it pretty inconsiderate of them to hold the celebrations so close to a contested border when India and China are having issues. Youve got India who have been so kind to them for the last 60 years, then youve got the Tibetan leadership who are pretty much s*** stirrers holding the birthday celebrations there.

That, or it was in Indias plan to use them as a political card to irk the Chinese in which case it reflects pretty poorly on the Tibetan leadership that they can be used that way. Whatever it is, the whole thing comes across as deliberate when they could be celebrating in Dharamsala and not Ladakh.

But lets hope they dont mention Shugden/Dolgyal in their speeches over the next week or so. Now would be a perfect time for them to say something and start it up again eh?

Dalai Lama to celebrate 82nd birthday in Ladakh, year after Chinese intrusion

This year’s celebrations come in the backdrop of Indo-China standoff near the border in Sikkim. China has accused India of “betraying” a British-era territorial understanding of their border in Sikkim.

Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetans in exile, is all set to celebrate his 82nd birthday in Ladakh on July 6, less than a year after the Chinese and Indian soldiers engaged in a major stand-off in the area when Chinese troops stopped work on the construction of an irrigation canal being built under the rural development or MNREGA scheme.

This year’s celebrations come in the backdrop of Indo-China standoff near the border in Sikkim. China has accused India of “betraying” a British-era territorial understanding of their border in Sikkim.

Dalai Lama who fled Tibet’s capital Lhasa in 1959 after the Chinese intrusion, will turn 82 on July 6. Fondly referred to as “ His Holiness” by the Tibetan community, Tenzin Gyatso is currently on retreat at Leh.

“His Holiness will be offered a long life offering by the Tibetan Community in Ladakh followed by the official celebrations of His Holiness’ 82nd birthday organised by the Tibetan Community in Ladakh and the Ladakh Buddhist Association,” said Dalai Lama’ itinerary posted on his official website. The event will be held at the Shewatsel Teaching Ground. Tibetan prime minister, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, will also attend the long life prayers.

Dalai Lama fled Lhasa in 1959 after a failed uprising against the Chinese. The Indian government granted asylum to Dalai Lama along with scores of his followers. He denounced the 17-point agreement with China and set up a Tibetan government in exile. Though he gave up his political responsibility in 2011, he is still the face of Tibet’s freedom movement . While Dalai Lama is in favour of greater autonomy for Tibet, other Tibetan organisations such as the Tibetan Youth Congress want complete independence. Dalai Lama’s envoys held eight rounds of talks with China until these were stonewalled in 2008 after turmoil in the Tibetan Autonomous region for which the Chinese blamed Dalai Lama.

[DharmaSpace]

If the Tibetans held the moral high ground and were considerate people, I think they would not be in the rut that they are now in. Hence the Tibetans will celebrate regardless whether it creates ire with the Chinese or not.

Effect always follow the causes. So if the Tibetan have a habit of making life difficult for others then, their lives will be in trouble too.

Maybe 82 is the age the Dalai Lama heads back to China for good.

[dsnowlion]

That, or it was in Indias plan to use them as a political card to irk the Chinese in which case it reflects pretty poorly on the Tibetan leadership that they can be used that way. Whatever it is, the whole thing comes across as deliberate when they could be celebrating in Dharamsala and not Ladakh.

YUP agree DELIBERATE! Of course... so why bother talking about MIDDLE WAY/UMAYLAM... this brings them NO WAY close to going back to Tibet-China or to achieve their autonomy plight. Sounds to me the whole world is being played a fool and India, well they are just making full use of Dalai Lama to negotiate their terms with China. But soon China is not going to bother, how long can you play the Dalai Lama card on them? Sorry to say but Dalai Lama is not going to live forever.

So India should really stop using Dalai Lama and start making progress with China for the future of their people. It is time for Asia to rise, so all these Asian countries should join forces and work in harmony. Stop allowing these Tibetans and Dalai Lama get in the way of progress for India. They have done nothing but create friction and problems for India since the day they came in. Sorry to say but which refugee in this world has so much power, fame, say and money... have you seen their buildings?

[michaela]

There is nothing wrong with celebrating the birthday of the Dalai Lama. In fact, we should rejoice that such a renowned religious leader who played a major role in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the world lived such a long life.

However, the birthday of the Dalai Lama should not be used for political purpose by the Central Tibetan Administration and the Indian government to further irritate China. Instead, they should strive to build rapport with China they can at least go back to the negotiation table to discuss about the future of Tibetans in exile. The CTA cannot realistically hope to stay in power forever. The sympathy and power for them will run out pretty soon.

[Big Uncle]

This is sooooo lame. India is deliberately shoving the Dalai Lama to irk China. Its their way of getting back at China for the border issues. Both sides have pretty strong armies and both sides have nuclear capability, which is really scary. However, both sides do not really want to go to war because even if they do win, it will be a heavy toll economically for both sides and both do not want to foot the bill.

They rather take turns to irk each other. India is using the Dalai Lama to irk China while China is supporting and lauding their support of Pakistan to irk India. It is almost childish and if only they would set aside differences and establish stronger ties with each other, and literally, the world is their oyster. America and Europe would rather see this standoff because they are jealous of the economic might of both nations as their own economies are most languishing from years of decline. They may even think that a weaker China and India would be easier to control. Hopefully, China and India would wake up and smell the coffee. It would be better to do battle economically than with arms and the real battle is not amongst themselves.

[PrajNa]

If the Tibetans held the moral high ground and were considerate people, I think they would not be in the rut that they are now in. Hence the Tibetans will celebrate regardless whether it creates ire with the Chinese or not.

Effect always follow the causes. So if the Tibetan have a habit of making life difficult for others then, their lives will be in trouble too.

Maybe 82 is the age the Dalai Lama heads back to China for good.

China and India were not really on good terms lately, and the Tibetans just add to the tension. Currently there is no sign that the standoff in the Sikkim sector will end. China on Saturday said there is “no room” for negotiations to resolve the military face-off and the only solution is the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Donglang or Doklam region. The current stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops is considered the longest in almost three decades. It began on June 18.

China is quoted saying: “India should not regard the existing situation as the same as or even similar to the previous two standoffs in 2013 and 2014 near Ladakh, a disputed area between China, Pakistan and India in southeastern Kashmir. Diplomatic efforts led the troop’s frictions there to a well-arranged end. But this time it is a totally different case,” it added.

It is rare for China to call Ladakh a “disputed” region and make a reference to Kashmir. Did anyone hear about Lobsang Sangay hoisting the Tibetan flag at the Pangong lake in Ladakh? Another incident that pisses China. You would think that after decades of pissing China and it didn't work, the Tibetans would try something new  ?

[christine V]

For normal people, 82 birthday should be celebrated with peace and love.

H.H Dalai Lama is quite old, for half  or His life he have been fighting for Tibetans, does He not deserved any peaceful celebration of His birthday, and Not with an agenda that could stir up 2 wars between 2 countries. Come one, give H.H Dalai Lama a break. Please respect H.H as spiritual guide, not political chess to win some money game.

[michaela]

On the other hand, the fact that the Dalai Lama is 82 years old and very healthy and that he has declared that Dorje Shugden is not shortening his life, should mean that the ban against Dorje Shugden practice that has been imposed by the CTA is invalid?

If the main reason has been refuted, should the CTA stop their Shugden discrimination unless they have other agenda such as covering their failures with the Shugden issues?

[Richardlaktam]

Long life Dalai Lama! Long life Dalai Lama! But do they really think it that way? They (whoever used Dalai Lama's birthday for political purpose) should feel ashamed, if they really use Dalai Lama's birthday for political purpose. Poor old monk, live nearly a century, couldn't even have a peaceful birthday. Put birthday aside, I got another message from reading this post. Dalai Lama is 82 years old, by saying practicing Dorje Shugden will shorten his life, how short is short he meant? To most of the people, 82 year old is already long life! Maybe to Dalai Lama 82 year old is still young. So, I don't think practicing Dorje Shugden will shorten his life. If I had chance to see Dalai Lama, I think I will ask him this question. Anyway, whatever he said to ban Dorje Shugden is totally groundless, no fact at all. Maybe celebrating 82 years old birthday is to tell everyone, "Hey! I am 82 this year! See? Dorje Shugden practice didn't shorten my life!" If that's the case, what are u waiting for CTA?? Lift the ban!!