Tibetans enjoy religious freedom

[Q]

This news sounds more like a publicity stunt from China to 'show' the world that the Tibetans are actually being treated really well, I wonder if the Tibetans truly have this so called religious freedom.

However, based on the results of Tibetan Buddhism in China... how the practice of Dorje Shugden is continued, monasteries rebuilt and refurbished, more monks and nuns ordained... it must be true to a certain extent that the Tibetans in Tibet have more religious freedom than the Tibetans in exile due to the growth on Buddhadharma.

While some people may argue that such freedom is only half true, due to the fact that one can be arrested just for possessing the picture of the Dalai Lama... however, that goes to say how damaging mixing politics with religion can be. On the other hand, the Tibetans in exile are prohibited from practicing Dorje Shugden, the exact opposite of what's happening in Tibet.

If we look at in a very sick way... the Tibetans surely have some sad karma, to be rifted apart from each other and their communities broken due to some senseless prohibition from the authorities.


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Tibetans enjoy religious freedom

The year 2014 marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse in China and the "Year of the Wooden Horse" in the lunar calendar of Tibetan people. The Year of the Horse is also the "recurrent birth year" of Gang Rinpoche (or Mount Kailash), a holy mountain in west Tibet. Since circling Gang Rinpoche in the Year of the Horse is a scared tradition among Tibetan Buddhists, this year has seen an endless stream of people flocking to the region to perform pilgrimage.

The Tibetan people's freedom of worship has been respected and protected in the Tibet autonomous region and other areas inhabited by Tibetan people since the region's peaceful liberation, especially since the adoption of reform and opening-up.

Tibet has more than 1,700 temples and other places of worship, and over 46,000 monks and nuns. The other areas inhabited by Tibetan people in the country have about 1,800 temples and nearly 100,000 monks. In total, China has about 360,000 religious clergies, with more than one-third of them being Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns.

Tibetan Buddhism has many sects, each with its distinct characteristics developed over centuries. The Gandan Monastery of the Gelug sect, best known in the West as a Tibetan Buddhist school, the Dorje Drak and Mindrolling monasteries of the Nyingma sect, the Sakya Monastery of the Sakya sect and the Tsurphu and Drigung monasteries of the Kagyu sect are important learning and teaching centers of Buddhism. They are also important religious centers of different Buddhist sects.

Monks and nuns from different Buddhist sects now enjoy a full freedom to preach and conduct religious activities. Believers are also free to visit monasteries and holy mountains to worship and perform religious rituals. They can circle the holy mountains, recite Buddhist scripture and spread Buddhist teachings, and take part in all kinds of religious activities.

Tibetan Buddhism also has a variety of colorful festivals such as Mon Lam Chenmo (Great Prayer), Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Butter Lamp Festival and Shoton. The birth and death anniversaries of the founders of different Buddhist sects have become important days for Tibetan Buddhists, and performing rituals on these days is an important part of their religious life. In addition, some monasteries have developed some festivals of their own such as the Buddha Unfolding Festival celebrated by Tashilumbu Monastery.

(http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2014-02/14/content_17282224.htm?)

[Tenzin K]

Underlying Chinese Communist Party policy on religion is a commitment to the "natural withering away" of religion. The guidelines 'Concerning our Country's Basic Standpoint and Policy on Religious Questions' (1982) set out a "magnificent goal" for Party members: "an era when all the various religious expressions of the actual world finally disappear". The practice of religion in Tibet is subject to strict controls within carefully prescribed limits (Defying the Dragon, Lawasia & Tibet Information Network TIN, March 1991). It is these controls, promoted in two principal ways, which are destroying the richness of Tibetan Buddhism, an integral part of Tibetan society.

The Chinese authorities have attempted to destroy the relationship between monasteries and the community-a relationship which is central to Tibetan society. The ideas of religion and nationhood are so connected that an erosion of Buddhism leads to an erosion of the Tibetans' sense of identity. Although some rites of Tibetan Buddhism are tolerated, the philosophical foundation, formerly taught in monastic universities, is also under threat. There are severe restrictions on teaching and conducting initiations-both of which are vital for public access to religion.

Chinese policy on religion in Tibet over the last 30 years can be divided into five periods:

1950-59: Religion was officially endorsed in the 1954 Constitution, but religious activity was strictly controlled through state-run associations.
1959-66: China consolidated its hold on Tibet - monasteries were targeted as the backbone of Tibetan society. By 1966, before the Cultural Revolution began, 80% of central Tibet's 2,700 monasteries had been destroyed. Of the original 115,600 monks and 1,600 "living buddhas", only 6,900 monks and nuns remained (TAR Vice-Chairman Buchung Tsering, 1987). In 1960, the International Commission of Jurists found that: "acts of genocide had been committed in Tibet in an attempt to destroy the Tibetans as a religious group."
1966-77: During the Cultural Revolution, all religious activity was banned; religious institutions were razed; texts and sacred objects destroyed; monks and nuns imprisoned and tortured; many were killed. By 1978, only eight monasteries were left standing, and 970 monks and nuns remained in the TAR.
1977-86: In 1977, some religious activities were allowed. The Panchen Lama was released from detention in 1978 and in 1979 the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa was opened. Liberalisation policies were initiated by Hu Yaobang in 1980. Money was allocated for rebuilding monasteries, and in 1986 the Monlam prayer festival was celebrated for the first time in 20 years. The period between 1983 and 1987 was one of rapid growth for monasteries and nunneries. Many were able to increase their size with little government interference. Garu Nunnery, for example, increased from 20 nuns in 1985 to about 130 by 1987.
The Institute for Studying Buddhism at Nechung was opened by the authorities in the early-1980s, but it is reported that there is a shortage of teachers, teaching is sub-standard and selection involves political screening.

1987-present: Demonstrations in 1987 resulted in a security crackdown on major monasteries. About half a dozen monks were expelled from major monasteries in the Lhasa region in October 1988 and more than 200 monks and nuns were expelled between December 1989 and April 1990. Unrest has been attributed by Party hardliners to laxity towards religious activities (Tibet Daily, 07/08/89), and what is being witnessed now is a conservative backlash from the Chinese authorities.
The TAR Communist Party announced in November 1994 that it would "fix the number of monks and nuns in the monasteries" and seek to control the administration "especially of the three troublesome ones"(Drepung, Ganden and Sera) (Tibet Daily 25/11/95).

Reports have been received of monks being sent to China for re-education. The authorities have also stepped up their political re-education campaigns at monastic institutions, especially since the unrest in Lhasa in May 1993.

In autumn 1993 the Communist Party in Lhasa followed a "political re-education" campaign in nunneries to eradicate radicalism. Nuns have led 55 of the 126 known pro-independence protests in Lhasa in the last six years. The re-education strategy was carried out by "work-teams", who during regular visits held indoctrination sessions and imposed new regulations, including a ban on admission to the nunnery for any woman who had been detained for political activities. Nuns suspected of pro-independence activities have been expelled or imprisoned. The Chinese authorities are encouraging Tibet's 34,000 monks to move into business. Zhou Dunyon, the Chinese official in charge of Tibet's religious and nationality affairs, claims that "monks enjoy a good business image because of their respectable standing". Encouraging monks to trade is Beijing's way of defusing independence calls by non-military means-Tibetan monks have always been vociferous in calling for independence.

[kris]

In communism ideology, there is no room for religion. That's why in the early days of adopting communism, China has spent a lot of efforts to eradicate religion.. Then in the later times, where the Fa Lun Gong issue has again alerted the China about the "power" of religion. Since then, Buddhism has been very much suppressed.

I would say China is trying to appease the world by not suppressing too much by showing a "good face". At the same time, they also know that religion is very effective in curbing social problems and prevent crime before it happened.

For whatever the reason, China has been allowing some degree of religion freedom. Also, since HH Dalai Lama bans Dorje Shugden, it seems like China government purposely endorse Dorje Shugden to be a way to get back at HH Dalai Lama, but for whatever reason, it plays out nicely...

[brian]

I think everyone enjoys religious freedom. No one in the world have the rights to condemn other's religion and refrain its practitioners from practicising the religion of their choice just because the leader of the religious head condemns the 'deity' to be a spirit without proper prove and substance.

[Big Uncle]

I actually think there is less freedom to practice in China but the freedom to practice is not limited to Buddhism alone but almost any other faith. That's a traditional view of the Chinese and they regulate all religious groups to ensure they don't grow become a threat to national security. On top of that, Tibetan Buddhist groups are always in the radar because of the constant protests and the recent spate of self-immolations threatening to unite the Tibetans against the govt. In the end, they do not necessarily have more religious freedom in China but at the very least they allow religious freedom to Dorje Shugden monks and lamas.

[eyesoftara]

There is more religious freedom in China compare to political freedom. So as long as the religious practice does not threaten the political structure of China, I think China tolerates it and sometimes even promotes it. In the case of the Dorje Shugden practice at least, they are actually promoting it. So, it is not wrong to say that Tibetan enjoys more religious freedom is Tibet/China then outside of it, which is most ironic for the Dalai Lama is suppose to be a loving and compassion spiritual head.

Is he supporting China in some way? Because all the his actions seems to favor China. I am puzzled.

[dsiluvu]

There is more religious freedom in China compare to political freedom. So as long as the religious practice does not threaten the political structure of China, I think China tolerates it and sometimes even promotes it. In the case of the Dorje Shugden practice at least, they are actually promoting it. So, it is not wrong to say that Tibetan enjoys more religious freedom is Tibet/China then outside of it, which is most ironic for the Dalai Lama is suppose to be a loving and compassion spiritual head.

Is he supporting China in some way? Because all the his actions seems to favor China. I am puzzled.

Haha my thoughts exactly!

With the ban on Dorje Shugden and the type of reaction we're getting and hearing from the Dalai Lama, it is becoming more and more obvious that the Dalai Lama is still the person in charge in all matters be it political or spiritual. So in other words the whole thing about not being involved in politics, the CTA, a new PM was really all a façade and just a show. Because if really there was democracy, there will not be such a thing as a ban on any worship/religion/belief or faith because that is just totally against the human rights constitution. And if the Dalai Lama thinks otherwise and still is firm with the ban that causes his own people to suffer, then what are we to think? Is His action very similar to a communist govt?

Just look how HHDL talks to a simple nun who is requesting religious freedom. There was no dialogue, it was simply a NO! Even if it is spirit worship, by law everyone has the right to their own beliefs!




A man in the audience interrupted His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as he was speaking at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, February 22, 2014, as part of The American Himalayan Foundation and the Blum Center for Developing Economies at UC Berkeley talk titled “The Nature of Mind.” The man sat back down after pressure from the audience.



http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/slideshow/Dalai-Lama-visits-San-Francisco-Richmond-80551/photo-5927671.php

[Matibhadra]

A man in the audience interrupted His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as he was speaking at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, February 22, 2014, as part of The American Himalayan Foundation and the Blum Center for Developing Economies at UC Berkeley talk titled “The Nature of Mind.” The man sat back down after pressure from the audience.

The evil dalai's supporter Richard Blum (who also controls the American Himalayan Foundation) is a Jewish banker, married to the Jewess Senator Dianne Feinstein, a staunch supporter of Israeli state terrorism, of NSA violations of human rights, and of manifold other brutal crimes against humanity. They are involved in several scandals in dealing with public money, but, since they defend bankster and Israeli interests, the media is always showering praises on them.

In 2009 it was reported that Blum's wife Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation to provide $25 billion in taxpayer money to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, a government agency that had recently awarded her husband's real estate firm, CB Richard Ellis, what the Washington Times called "a lucrative contract to sell foreclosed properties at compensation rates higher than the industry norms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_C._Blum#Controversy

Therefore, one can see that the support to the evil dalai and his witch hunts against Dorje Shugden practitioners has deep roots in international anti-Buddhist and anti-humanity gangsterism.

Remember that the 13th evil dalai, the local Tibetan office boy under the service of the Jewish-owned British East Indian Company, was also an anti-Dorje Shugden witch hunter. And that Pabongkha Rinpoche, who refused to play this obnoxious role, is systematically defamed by Jewish pseudo-scholar propagandizers, from Matthew Kapstein to George Dreyfuss.

Such witch hunting is part of a much wider anti-Buddhist concerted effort aimed at destroying any pure Buddhist traditions, not only Gelugpa, and not only Tibetan, which, because of their powerfully grounded anti-monotheistic views, are seen as the most dangerous bastion of ideological resistance against Jewish and Abrahamic world domination paranoid obsession.

[Dulzie Bear]

Let's not look at absolutes and status quo but trends. The trend in China is towards greater liberation and enhanced freedom to practice one's religion. Look at how much Chinese policies towards religion have changed i.e. from Mao's philosophical belief that all religions are poisonous, to present day practice, where the Chinese government is even promoting the reconstruction of a spiritual community. And it is not just Buddhism that is growing, and so it cannot be said that China's support of Buddhism is an anti-Dalai Lama strategy.

In fact, if the Dalai Lama had not so toxically mixed Buddhism into the already messy brew of Sino-Tibetan politics, Tibetan Buddhism would have enjoyed a great renaissance by now. China's objection is not towards Buddhism but towards the Dalai Lama using his spiritual influence in a political way. Banning the pic of the Dalai Lama is not China banning Buddhism. Look how they are with other non-political lamas. At least the Chinese do not resort to door-to-door searches, on a witch hunt to persecute those who have images of the Dalai Lama. Recall this is what the CTA and Dalai Lama zealots did to Shugden worshippers.

Now look at the Tibetan people in exile, under the Dalai Lama's rule. There is no freedom of religion, the only democratic newspaper was abolished and over all there is a thick atmosphere of fear and mistrust.

[Rihanna]

I agree with Big Uncle that : In the end, they do not necessarily have more religious freedom in China but at the very least they allow religious freedom to Dorje Shugden monks and lamas.
The population of China is 1.36bil. Since anyone can practice Dorje Shugden in China, even if 1% of their population practices, it would mean 13.6mil people would have been blessed, protected and wishes bestowed upon by Dorje Shugden. I rejoice for them all.

[fruven]

One can also argue that the China has systematically eradicate any religion in its politics has caused a very damaging effect on society. Religion play a large part on human spiritual development. On the other we can see that society with freedom of religious don't fare as well as we hope for. The west vs the east. One common point I notice is government, the people who are in power, as exercised its power by using violence with violence to achieve peace. Also we have heard although the message is peace but underlying it all is governments are being bought over by materialism.

[Matibhadra]

One can also argue that the China has systematically eradicate any religion in its politics has caused a very damaging effect on society.

Which one? Maybe you are mixing 1) mere separation between religion and state with 2) elimination of religion by the state, according to the the obnoxious ideology of the Jewish rabbi Karl Marx, adopted in China by the time of the Cultural Revolution.

Religion play a large part on human spiritual development.

Sure. Does this imply that state and religion should be mixed?

On the other we can see that society with freedom of religious don't fare as well as we hope for.

Maybe you just have wrong hopes. There is no hope above freedom.

The west vs the east.

Whatever is good about Western countries results from the separation of politics and religion, and whatever is bad about them results from the mix of politics and religion.

And right now as in the past we can see among in Tibetans the evils of mixing religion with politics, with a theocratic dictator such as the evil dalai using his religious influence to manipulate Tibetan people and promote religious intolerance and persecutions. Therefore the mix of state and religion is just as bad in the East as well.

One common point I notice is government, the people who are in power, as exercised its power by using violence with violence to achieve peace. Also we have heard although the message is peace but underlying it all is governments are being bought over by materialism.

There is no bigger materialism than religion mixed with politics. A sure case of ”spiritual materialism.”