Tibetan monasteries forced to display communist leaders' photos

[Namdrol]

For years the Chinese has banned the photo of the 14th Dalai Lama in Tibet, in the monasteries, household, public places, all places, and now the Chinese has replaced the ubiquity of the Dalai Lama's photos with the photos of the four Chinese communist leaders, this further sealed the fate of the Dalai Lama ever returning to Tibet.

But the photo of the 10th Panchen Lama is still ubiquitous in Tibet, of course encouraged and approved by the Chinese government.

So, the Dalai Lama's photo (an "anti-shugden" lama) is OUT
the Panchen Lama's photo (a pro-shugden lama) is IN

Sign of things to come in Tibet....



Over a million portraits of Chinese communist leaders were distributed to Tibetan monasteries and households for mandatory display prior to Chinese new year on January 23, 2012.

DHARAMSHALA, January 29: Even as Chinese security personnel were shooting unarmed Tibetan protesters in eastern Tibet on January 23, Chinese authorities in central Tibet were distributing Chinese flags and photos of China’s leaders to local Tibetans.

Coinciding with the Chinese new year, official Xinhua news agency had reported that over a million Chinese national flags and portraits depicting the four generations of China’s top leadership were distributed to monasteries, schools, offices, and rural households.

The distribution of the flags and portraits carry strong political connotations, as households and temples deciding against its display run the risk of offending local communist party workers and leaders.

This was made evident when Padma Choling, Beijing appointed chairman of the regional government said that the hanging of the portrait was meant to express the “heartfelt gratitude of Tibetans for the PRC central government and the Communist Party of China”.

Phayul had reported last year that China was planning to send 20,000 Chinese officials to Tibetan villages in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region to “re-sculpture the minds of Tibetans”.

These Chinese officials will stay one year in the Tibetan villages to “espouse patriotism and love for China” while handing out Chinese national flags and photos of Chinese leaders in large quantities in all Tibetan villages.

This move of penetrating Tibetan villages along with the “Nine Must-Haves” policy introduced in December last, which requires nine items, including portraits of Communist leaders, the Communist flag and a copy of the state-run People’s Daily to be displayed in all temples are amongst the many policies being employed by the newly appointed Chinese party boss in Tibet, Chen Quanguo.

Following the fiery wave of self-immolation that has seen 16 Tibetans set themselves on fire since March 2011, at least a dozen Tibetans are feared to have been killed in Chinese police firings in three separate incidents in Serthar, Ngaba and Drongo region of Tibet, this week alone.

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Tibetan+monasteries+forced+to+display+communist+leaders'+photos&id=30772

[vajratruth]

I am not at all surprised that the Dalai Lama's photo is banned from being displayed. After all, to the Chinese Government, the Dalai Lama is the living symbol of resistance and as long as His Holiness's image is present, so are hopes of Tibet regaining its independence. Replacing the Dalai Lama's photo with pictures of the Communist leaders simply augment the Chinese Government's claim to be the head of the State of Tibet in a community who is accustomed to thinking of the Dalai Lama as the leader.

It is only logical that the Chinese try to win over the hearts of the Tibetans and to that end they have done much to restore the Tibetan Buddhist culture. It is not Tibet, Tibetans or their culture that the Chinese are opposing but the Dalai Lama.  In their effort, Tibetan Buddhism has been the prime beneficiary. The message that the Chinese Government is trying to send out is that they are the leaders of the Tibetans now, with the Panchen Lama the spiritual head of the people and that is the view the Tibetans should cultivate. Realistically, to me, it does no harm to the functions of the monastery or the Dharma being applied therein.

[Ensapa]

This is odd. My previous comment on this thread has been deleted.

But in any case, like I have said in my deleted comment, I dont see anything terribly wrong about putting up the pictures of the Chinese leaders in the monasteries. Perhaps this could even bless them as well and create the causes for Buddhism to flourish in mainland China. Again, it is understandable why they do not want the Dalai Lama's picture to be put up on the monasteries as they see the Dalai Lama as someone who is trying to split China off and they would want peace and harmony with the Tibetans. China is insecure of losing Tibet and this is a fact.

[Galen]

China has brought a lot of progress to Tibet since the takeover. The infrastructure of the region has been upgraded tremendously, tourist arrivals has increased and of course the restoration of Buddhism in the region and the country as a whole. So, this displaying of flags and portraits of Chinese Leaders is a way to show patriotism to the country. It has been for many years the Dalai Lama's picture was not displayed anywhere in Tibet. If yes also privately.

China is not against Buddhism but against the Dalai Lama because they believe that he will split their country and they could not afford to have any disharmony in their country.

[dondrup]

Since Tibet is already part of China.  It is expected that Tibet adopts the constitution and law of China.  It is not surprising that the Chinese government requires the placement of the four communist leaders’ photos in the monasteries, households, public places and all other places.  Notwithstanding the removal of all photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetans shouldn’t feel bad because the Chinese government still allow the monasteries to exist in Tibet.  If the Tibetans truly revered His Holiness the Dalai Lama, they can visualise paying homage to His Holiness when they pray to Chenrezig or any Buddha images. 

[Manjushri]

Pro Dalai lama supporters have to secretly keep photos of His Holiness...just like Dorje Shugden practitioners who have to secretly keep statues/photos of Dorje Shugden. I guess the karma comes back around?

Funny isn't it. Dalai Lama bans the practise of Dorje Shugden, and Tibetans in Tibet are not allowed to have photos of HH at their place. Instead they have to replace it with photos of the Chinese communist party and the Panchen Lama.

Good point which Namdrol pointed out. An Anti-Shugden Lama's photo is replaced by a Pro-Shugden Lama. The rise of Dorje Shugden in China. May many more great Tibetan Lamas residing in China spread the practise of Dorje Shugden in China far and wide. Is this a sign of things to come in the near future for China?

[Ensapa]

Pro Dalai lama supporters have to secretly keep photos of His Holiness...just like Dorje Shugden practitioners who have to secretly keep statues/photos of Dorje Shugden. I guess the karma comes back around?

Funny isn't it. Dalai Lama bans the practise of Dorje Shugden, and Tibetans in Tibet are not allowed to have photos of HH at their place. Instead they have to replace it with photos of the Chinese communist party and the Panchen Lama.

Good point which Namdrol pointed out. An Anti-Shugden Lama's photo is replaced by a Pro-Shugden Lama. The rise of Dorje Shugden in China. May many more great Tibetan Lamas residing in China spread the practise of Dorje Shugden in China far and wide. Is this a sign of things to come in the near future for China?

It does sound like progress in some way and it is a dichotomy of sorts that HHDL's role in Tibet is now being slowly replaced by the Panchen Lama who does not make a ban against Dorje Shugden, and not only that, China is now promoting Dorje Shugden either directly or indirectly through the expansion of Dorje Shugden monasteries and by endorsing masters such as Lama Jampa who are Dorje Shugden practitioners and sending them to give teachings overseas. Dorje Shugden Lamas are increasing in Tibet and it would soon spill into China and from there it will explode throughout the world. Seems that the fame and amount of Dorje Shugden Lamas will eclipse then anti Dorje Shugden ones.

[kris]

When politics mix with religions, it usually does not yield good results... Religions should be above politics, and should not be the reason for people to get into the fight for power (because religious is about letting go of self and be in service of others). I cannot imagine if the monks and nuns are required to post up the portraits of politicians up the wall and place side by side of their Gurus...

Please separate the politics from religions..

[lotus1]

This would be common for people to mix religion with politics so as to gain power and control of a country or a situation.
However, maybe we would not need to make it so political on monastery forced to display communist leaders’ photos. I’m sure there are other countries that do the same to show respects to the leaders of the country.
HHDL’s photo is not allowed in China is expected because for China, he is viewed as the person that may split China due to his intention to free Tibetan.
Maybe we should view on the positive side that China is also funding to build some of the monasteries in Tibet and allowing other lamas such as Panchen Lama and Lama Jampa to spread Buddhism in China and Tibet.