How did it go today in NY?

[Mohani]

Did many attend the demo's?  Was that pdf used?

[wisdombuddha]

The event starts at 3pm. The broadcast can be watched online:
http://news10now.com/content/all_news/114595/dalai-lama-to-speak-at-colgate/Default.aspx

The PDF is being used and you will never guess the amazing effect it has already had.
I can't tell until the protest starts. You will probably see it in the news anyway =)
I will give you a hint. The PDF contained two entirely Tibetan letters

[emptymountains]

I was wondering why those weren't translated when everything else is in English.

[emptymountains]

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=8209504

[wisdombuddha]

A large group of Tibetan monks and a smaller group of China supporters have gathered.

These are not just NKT supporters this time around. Most notably because of the PDF everyone disliked.

[jeff Ryan]

hey wisdom,

I am thrilled all went well. Congratulations!

[a friend]

Associated Press informs that "a large group of Tibetan monks and a smaller group of China supporters have gathered outside the field house at Colgate University", where the Tibetan leader was to speak to a numerous audience.
It's really meager and rather frivolous the information about the Dorje Shugden practitioners, not reflecting at all the reality of the situation: "The monks from the Western Shugden Society say they're upset that the Dalai Lama has banned them from practicing some of their sect's prayers."
Let's wait and see if some senior journalist is able to read through our documents and understand that we are talking here RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.

What we need is to persevere, go again and again with the letters until someone with the spirit of true journalism gets hold of the story and wants to do his or her job as a person of the press.

...

[emptymountains]

The Dalai Lama was not the only one speaking Tuesday as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the fieldhouse, some to advocate for the Olympic games in Beijing, others from an off-shoot Buddhist sect called the Western Shugden Society to protest the Dalai Lama's ban of their Buddhist practice, the Dorje Shugden.

Dorje Shugden is the worship of the deity Shugden, a being the Dalai Lama and other Buddhists outside the sect believe to be an evil spirit. There has been some controversy over the practice for years since the Dalai Lama has used his influence to advise against the practice and, according to protesters, punish those who are active practitioners.

Spokeswoman Kelsang Pema, from England, said the protest is to bring awareness of the Shugden practitioners' plight and to gain freedom to practice their version of Buddhism. At least 10 different countries, including the United States, Canada, Ireland, England, Denmark and South Africa, were represented during the protest.

"It's been very successful because people are actually coming and asking," Pema said. "And now they have their own knowledge and can make their own decisions."

http://www.oneidadispatch.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19508698&BRD=1709&PAG=461&dept_id=68844&rfi=6

[godi]

http://www.dalailama.com/news.242.htm

[godi]

video: http://www.wktv.com/news/local/18029829.html

[godi]

another video: http://www.wtvh.com/news/local/18022204.html

[godi]

another video: http://wstm.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=124558

[godi]

another one: http://video.google.de/videosearch?q=dalai%20colgate&lr=&sa=N&tab=pv

[Heartspoon]

Nice article published by "The Times Of India"



Tibet seeking autonomy, not separation: Dalai Lama

WASHINGTON: The Dalai Lama has denied the Chinese claim that he supports separation of Tibet, saying he only wanted autonomy to preserve its unique culture and traditions which under Beijing's rule remains only "on paper".

"The whole world knows we are not seeking separation," the Dalai Lama said, stressing that what is being sought is only genuine and complete autonomy for Tibet as provided for in the Chinese constitution but has remained "on paper" only.

"We really need an arrangement of full protection of Tibetan language and culture," the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader told a gathering at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.

He also said that everything in his homeland is now being controlled by the Han Chinese, the majority nationality in the Communist nation.

Meanwhile, protesters outside the Sanford Field House shouted slogans and held placards against the Dalai Lama's stand on the issues of autonomy for Tibet and his ban on the worship of Dorje Shugden, a protective deity in the Tibetan Buddhist faith.

"Chinese students from nearby institutes, including Cornell University, Hamilton College and Syracuse University, asked the Dalai Lama to stop what they called "his attempts to divide China by separating Tibet," The Observer-Dispatch wrote.

The Chinese students said they assembled at Colgate to dispel myths about China, which they said has been a victim of media distortion on the Tibetan issue.

In another protest, hundreds of Buddhist monks, nuns and followers of Dorje Shugden called for the 72-year-old monk to stop discrimination against the Shugden believers and allow the freedom of worship.

[godi]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/colgateuniversity/2437269202/in/set-72157604693680854/