A few days ago I watched a recently published video that captured the attack on Dokhang Khangtsen, Gaden Shartse Monastery in the year 2000. The video shows three thousand lay and ordained people descending on the Monastery armed with rocks and bricks. Their target was Dokhang Khangtsen where 600 monks were living. The story behind this riot was even more incredible! The attack was organised by the local Tibetan representative of the Dalai Lama. It was reported that a fine would be imposed upon those who didn't participate. Now, most Tibetans are poor and would not be able to afford the fine. Most Tibetans are also fiercely loyal to His Holiness and would not dare go against his wishes. So what we witnessed on that day, 10th September 2000, was a multitude of ordained monks from nearby monasteries and nuns from the local nunneries joining the attack, throwing rocks and bricks at their fellow sangha in Dokhang Khangtsen. Lay Tibetan women did something they would normally never do - showing disrespect for the monks by flapping their aprons. For me, this is really sad and disgraceful. So from the evidence shown in the video and the facts provided in the article, can we deny that there is no ban, no discrimination, no schism? Whoever started this in the first place must do the only decent thing left - remove the ban!
