The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to [email protected].
By: Shashi Kei
It has been a busy week for Tibet watchers. As the Dalai Lama tours Europe, the spiritual leader has been triggering alarms, first claiming that he cannot be held responsible for sex offenses committed by Tibetan lamas and teachers he has personally endorsed, and next by stoking Islamophobia by making a statement that “Europe belongs to Europeans” and that the migrants and refugees in Europe (who are mainly from Muslim countries) should ultimately return to their own countries.
But the biggest bombshell was dropped a few days before the Dalai Lama even left for Europe. On 12th September 2018, a video was published on YouTube showing a group of Tibetans in an audience with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India where his Central Tibetan Administration (CTA; Tibetan leadership) is based. What the Dalai Lama said in the audience essentially signals the end of the Tibetan struggle for a free Tibet. In fact, it was a confirmation that the Dalai Lama is now prepared to depend on China for the survival of the Tibetan people and this itself raises the question how the Tibetans can hope to have any meaningful independence or even autonomy if they cannot stand on their own feet. So while the Tibetan continues in its posturing, the fact is, the Dalai Lama realises that it is time to come under China’s sovereignty.
The gist of what the Dalai Lama said to the Tibetan group is as follows:
Translation
- We, as Tibetans, should stay under China and we should protect our cultures, religion, dharma, education and so on. For example, in China, there are a few autonomous zones and therefore, the three provinces (Kham, Amdo and Ü-Tsang) have the same rights and opportunity to protect our religion and culture.
- You Tibetans love money right? Do you want money or not? Do we prefer a free Tibet but we become beggars (poor) or do we prefer to stay in an autonomous zone under China? That way, if we ask China for money, they will give. [Dalai Lama laughs]
- We have some Tibetans who went to the USA, Belgium for money, isn’t it? We will become a union.
- In a few years from now, there will be big changes. Firstly, I wish to make a pilgrimage to China. [people crying] Then, step by step, I wish to go to my birthplace, Lhasa.
- Can we [Tibetan refugees and the CTA] conquer China to get a free Tibet? [Dalai Lama laughs] If you guys have miracles to show, then it is different. Now India and USA are becoming friends with China.
Dalai Lama: “Xi Jinping will invite me in
1 or 2 years for a pilgrimage”
Or watch on server | download video (right click & save file)
In effect what the Dalai Lama said was equivalent to his acceptance of the One China policy that the CTA and its allies have rejected all this time. And it is not difficult to surmise what drove the Tibetan spiritual leader to that conclusion and resolve.
60 years of abysmal failure by the CTA
When the Tibetan people first followed the Dalai Lama into exile in 1959, they did not even bother to build proper houses on the lands the India government gave them. Based on the promises the Tibetan leadership made and the proclamations of Nechung, the State Oracle that the Dalai Lama relies on and trusts, they expected to return to their homeland in no time. For years, many of the older generation lived with their bags packed, ready to return at a moment’s notice. There was no reason to doubt. Perhaps karmically, there was a good chance back then for the Tibetans to regain their homeland either by coercion or by accord with China. But the CTA failed to take advantage of 60 years of financial assistance and sponsorships, American government grants, political support of Western governments, the global media, and support from the global academic fraternity and world public. All these were squandered away when the CTA officials, first under Professor Samdhong Rinpoche and then Dr Lobsang Sangay, chose to focus on infighting, internal politicking and jockeying for power and money.
Under the present Sikyong Lobsang Sangay who occupies the highest post within the Tibetan leadership, the CTA has splintered, as has the Tibetan community. The Tibetan people’s highest office has been struck by one disgrace after another, ranging from financial improprieties, to election fraud, to a wave of sex scandals, distortions of the CTA’s Constitution, religious bigotry which resulted in the trespass of inalienable human rights of the people, to picking fights with China and reopening old wounds between India and China. Under the Sikyong, the CTA has even slyly undermined the Dalai Lama’s efforts to draw China back to the negotiation table, for example, by undoing the Dalai Lama’s reconciliation efforts with China vide the Panchen Lama issue.
All these shenanigans have come at the cost of attention on the Tibetan cause and the credibility of the Tibetan leadership. At the same time, China was allowed to pull itself together after Mao’s devastating policies and go on to grow from strength to strength. As the trajectory of China’s meteoric rise intersects with the descending curve of the Dalai Lama’s global popularity, the Tibetan struggle has become intractably buried under other more pressing global issues, economic considerations and shifting interests and alliances.
A realistic estimation
The Dalai Lama knows this and realizes that for the Tibetan culture and identity to survive, it has a better chance under a China seeking to win over the Tibetan people in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), more so than a kakistocratic CTA whose interest in the Tibetan struggle seems to be laced with personal agendas. The CTA cannot do for the Tibetans and Tibetan Buddhism what China can, regardless of what motivates China’s beneficent actions. A tangible benefit to the Tibetans remains just that, a tangible benefit. In the last 60 years, the CTA has failed to nurture a single Tibetan figure to succeed in the global arena in any field, just like how it failed to cultivate a positive environment for Tibetans to succeed in. Today, unemployment is high amongst Tibetan youth and the monastic system seems compromised as the number of people joining the Tibetan Buddhist order drops to negligible numbers. Even the presence of the Dalai Lama in India has failed to draw aspirants to ordain into the Tibetan Buddhist monastic community. In contrast, there are three times as many Buddhists in China as there are members of the Communist Party. More and more Tibetans have chosen to emigrate to Europe, the US and Canada to seek opportunities and as a nation in exile, the people are divided, thanks to the CTA’s policy of alienating those they cannot control.
Seeing how the CTA is, the Dalai Lama knows that even if, by some miracle, the Tibetan leadership regains control of Tibet, it would not be the end of their problems but perhaps only the beginning. In fact, the Dalai Lama even jokes with the people in the audience, gently asking if they have the ability to produce miracles. The question remains whether the CTA has the wherewithal to manage six million Tibetans in TAR when they have clearly failed to attend to the needs of 150,000 Tibetans in the diaspora, of which it is estimated that only 80,000 remain in the Indian settlements under the CTA’s purview.
Becoming beggars
Hence, the Dalai Lama’s speculation that the people will become “beggars”. This is a brutally honest insight on the part of the Tibetan spiritual leader. Tibet, prior to 1959, was backwards, isolated and poor. Life expectancy was a short 36 years and only 5% of the population had any sort of education. There were no proper roads, no financial institutions or monetary system, no schools or education system, no industrial infrastructure and indeed no framework or political heredity to support a modern and free society. The Dalai Lama himself acknowledged this in 2001 when he recognized that Tibet prior to 1959 was “very, very backward”.
In exile, the CTA has been entirely reliant on donations from governments and the general public. How can the Dalai Lama expect his Sikyong Lobsang Sangay and his team to suddenly improve from this state when they have failed for 60 years under much more supportive circumstances? The Dalai Lama has seen how an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 Tibetans have shed their reliance on the CTA over the years and chosen instead to venture out on their own to foreign countries such as Canada, the US, Switzerland, France, Germany, Nepal, Bhutan and even India without the Tibetan settlements.
Yes, it is indeed public knowledge that the CTA has only been doing well because of the generous grants from countries such as the US (who share a common anti-China interest with the CTA) and sponsorship from the well-meaning global public. It is estimated that the CTA receives at least $70 to 90 million a year collectively from benevolent individuals around the world and countries such as the US and India. The CTA has not bothered to develop any industry or sought to become financially independent in its history but instead has been quite happy to be a welfare ‘state’ relying on handouts. It is without doubt that this gravy train will come to an abrupt stop the moment the Dalai Lama returns to Tibet, signaling a forfeiture of his refugee status; there will no longer be a need for these external donors to continue funding their operations. The Dalai Lama knows that the Tibetans will have no choice but to receive handouts from the Chinese government, in the same way they have been from Western nations and sponsors. Ironically, the Tibetans have for decades accused their detractors of being on Chinese payroll or Chinese paid traitors. To tag a Tibetan with this label is to sentence him to a life in banishment but now it would appear that the Dalai Lama himself will be taking Chinese money.
Therefore, based on political as well as financial pragmatism, the Dalai Lama knows that the only realistic way forward is for him and Tibetans to become Chinese citizens. However, this conclusion is not without serious repercussions:
- The decision to come into China’s fold means that after 60 years of nursing off India’s generosity, the CTA is now going to switch sides in the Sino-Indian conflict. Although both India and China are making efforts to become friends, they still view each other with considerable suspicion. The CTA has been a willing collaborator when India played the ‘Tibet card’ in the past. Will the Tibetan leadership now become a willing accomplice when China in turn, plays the Tibet card on India? Will Dr Lobsang Sangay be hoisting the Chinese flag at the Indian-Chinese border as he did with the Tibetan one in Ladakh, which irked the Chinese greatly? Similar considerations apply to the CTA’s relationship with the USA from whom they have received aid in consideration of being a thorn at China’s side. With China’s rise to global dominance and prominence, the US has sought to resist this shift in the geopolitical balance of power and the CTA has been a willing pawn in this gamesmanship.
- How will the Dalai Lama tell the thousands of ‘rangzen warriors’, both Tibetan and Western, to effectively lay down arms? As it is, the Dalai Lama’s preference of seeking autonomy over independence is already highly unpopular. In essence, the Dalai Lama is asking all rangzen as well as umaylam efforts to cease immediately. For as long as these activists are still agitating China, each camp with its own demands, there is no incentive for China to entertain the Dalai Lama’s wishes. In addition, how will the Dalai Lama explain away the Tibetan leadership’s subtle encouragement of Tibetans to self-immolate as a method to garner world sympathy for its cause? What did over 150 Tibetans die for if not for their wish to see a free Tibet?
- In order to return to Tibet as one nation, will the Dalai Lama reverse the highly divisive policies of the CTA? For example, for the past 22 years, the CTA has accused a significant segment of its population in exile to be Chinese spies purely on the basis that they are worshippers of the Dharma protector Dorje Shugden. In 1996, the CTA banned this Buddhist practice and proceeded to marginalize its practitioners by legislation, even to the point of criminalizing this religious practice, effectively sanctioning assaults on Shugden adherents. All this was part of the CTA’s strategy to distract their people’s attention by keeping their focus on a false enemy rather than their ineptitude. In effect, the CTA invented an enemy out of a benign religious practice, the result of which was to tear apart the Tibetan community in India and the TAR, and indeed anywhere there is a presence of Tibetan Buddhism.
In implementing this decree in the name of the Dalai Lama, the CTA compelled all Tibetans to prove their loyalty to the Dalai Lama by forcing Dorje Shugden worshippers to abandon their faith. This created unrests within the TAR and in response, the Chinese government moved to make it a crime to use the Shugden issue to instigate differences and disharmony. By the CTA’s hand, the Dorje Shugden issue has become a major fault line in Chinese-Tibetan affairs and this must be solved before there is any hope of the Dalai Lama and Tibetans returning home. To allow the Dalai Lama to do so without first disarming the Dorje Shugden issue which the CTA weaponized, would be to invite the potential of this fault line to become a quake of seismic proportions. In this sense, the CTA has created a big hurdle for the Tibetans to return home.
On the other hand, for the CTA to suddenly reverse their stance on the Dorje Shugden practice would expose their deception to the world. Many Tibetans and Buddhists around the world believed the Tibetan leadership when it said that Shugden was a malignant spirit and its practitioners are on China’s payroll. On that basis, a large percentage of Buddhists denounced their teachers, families and friends. How the CTA backs out of this fabrication without losing even more credibility will be something to watch out for. And yet, it has no choice but to do so.
Caught in its own lies
The Dalai Lama’s words to the group of Tibetans made public on 12th September 2018 raises a moral dilemma for the Tibetan leadership. It has demonized the practice of Dorje Shugden to such a degree and yet it must now do what it has falsely accused Shugden practitioners of doing. The Tibetan leadership must favor the Chinese government and toe the CCP line, something it falsely accused Dorje Shugden practitioners of doing. The CTA must now accept Chinese funds to survive whereas for the past 20 years, it has accused anyone who had anything to do with China to be traitors to the Tibetan cause. It must now uphold China’s law to regard as a crime any attempt to use the Shugden issue to divide the community, a charge it falsely leveled at Shugden Buddhists previously.
It must acknowledge and endorse Tibetan lamas and monasteries that practice Dorje Shugden, along with other traditional Gelug deities, when previously it took the stance that the Dorje Shugden practice is anti-Buddhism. It must now encourage loyal Tibetans to become friends with Shugden practitioners as a means to foster harmony, something that the Chinese government would expect of the Dalai Lama. Previously, the Tibetan leadership would accuse anyone who does not support its religious apartheid against Shugden Buddhists, to be anti-Dalai Lama.
Shouldn’t Tibetans help the Dalai Lama to visit and return to Tibet? If so, Tibetans abroad must cease their criticisms of China to fulfill the Dalai Lama’s dream. If Tibetans are loyal to the Dalai Lama, they will do so. After all, Tibetans shouldn’t be selective of which policies of the Dalai Lama they wish to support and don’t support. After all, Tibetans call themselves democratic but as long as the Dalai Lama is at the ‘helm’ in the background, it will never be democratic. It has been 350 years of whatever the Dalai Lama dictates, he gets. Tibet has been under feudal rule from the line of Dalai Lamas from the 5th to the current 14th. Tibetans are trained to obey without question all of the Dalai Lama’s decisions even in exile in 2018. After all, he is a God-king. Democracy is a name the Tibetan exiled regime gave themselves in exile to look progressive. Being ‘progressive’ fits the western ideal of democracy therefore making them ‘deserving’ of free donations from the west which they have grown fat off of. Donations that allow the Tibetans to continue to be a welfare state in exile for nearly 60 years. Many subsidized minorities in the west have huge social issues, continues to struggle with education and self sufficiency, alcoholism, drug issues, domestic violence and petty crimes. The subsidies were meant to help them get ahead but instead turned some of them reliant, complacent and dependent. Somewhat of a similar situation for many Tibetan youths in India as well as their ‘government’ in exile. Free aid for 60 years did not help the Tibetans nor get their country back.
How the CTA can accomplish all that is stated above without looking either completely inept or decidedly deceptive is something it has to work out. For now, it is trapped in the web of lies it spun for over two decades. As to whether the Dalai Lama has the will and stamina to break though this CTA-created entanglement is yet to be seen but as long as the CTA is still perpetuating this lie (it recently launched a book in Taiwan demonizing Dorje Shugden) then it is unlikely that the Dalai Lama’s wish to see his homeland will ever be realized.
Carole McQuirre
September 18, 2018
Looks like all the years Tibetan freedom activists worked and pooled in resources for a free Tibet are wasted.
Looks like all the people who Tibetan government endorsed to self immolate themselves in Tibet for a free Tibet wasted their lives for nothing.
All the millions donated to campaign for free Tibet is wasted for the last 60 years.
All the social media people Tibetan government in exile regime hired to bombast China is down the drain. They wasted their time.
All this is down the drain because NOW Dalai Lama wants to return to China. He wants to visit Tibet. He wants to be friends with China. He is telling his people to work with China. He wants Tibet to be a part of China. The Dalai Lama can just change his mind instantly on this volatile issue. He truly is the God-king and in charge totally although he said be gave his political power over to his government in exile.☹️
Claire
September 18, 2018
It is already 60 years HHDL left Tibet to India, it is time for Him to return to his lovely homeland. HHDL is already old and also I think He is tired of the greed of CTA who keep asking for money from all over the world.
Now I wonder how other people talk about HHDL. If HHDL really goes back to China, are those people will accuse HHDL like the same they accuse Dorje Shugden practitioners are Chinese spies?
If HHDL really goes back to China, I wonder how about the thousands of ‘rangzen warriors’ who have been fighting for the free Tibet over 60 years? I would say all the rangzen’s works and time spent, all are wasted.
Chris
September 18, 2018
First of all, this really put those activists who fight for #FreeTibet cause into a very difficult position. For 60 years, different groups of activists has been consistently fighting for Free Tibet cause. But what HH Dalai Lama said, is that He would not want to proceed with such vision anymore. If I am one of the activists groups, I am really confused now. Should I just disband?
Secondly, CTA has been stirring up hatred against China/Chinese all these years, and even calling Dorje Shugden practitioners as “Chinese spies” or “Chinese dogs” to stir up the emotions. On an evil side, I would like to ask, since HH Dalai Lama said Tibetans can ask money from China, does it mean these Tibetans should be called Chinese spies? Of course it should not. I never agree with stirring up hatred between groups, as the damage is long term.
For me, I see this a a good turn of event, where this is a start of reconciliation. I sincerely pray that CTA will take a cue and start adding oil to the fire. CTA has the history of going against Dalai Lama or do things that benefit their ministers’ own pockets, and I pray this is genuinely the new beginning. 👍👍👍
dave
September 18, 2018
Definitely for sure some Tibetans will return to China. Tibetans are so brave and loyal. They are willing to suffer because of their love for the Dalai Lama.
Tibetan leadership have been claiming all these years there is no human rights in China. Now when these Tibetan refugees return to China they are essentially giving up their human rights to Chinese dictator according to their logic. They will be ‘suffering’ in China.
Loosang
September 18, 2018
What the Dalai Lama want for the Tibetan people is very clear. There is no doubt. Those rangzen people and people who is continuing to stir trouble with China are ‘anti-Dalai Lama’ and obstacles to the Dalai Lama’s wishes.
We Tibetans only have ourselves to blame. We became weak and fought one another over regional issues, sectarian issues, religious, political issues and some of us followed the Sikyong and others followed Penpa Tsering and so we are divided. Whoever started this sort of problems we already know.
Now also many white people continue to make trouble and accuse China many things. End up we lose because they do all these trouble under Tibetan flag and China blame us and refuse to meet Dalai Lama.
I don’t care about gyalpo issue or kamapa issue. I want to see Dalai Lama happy to go back and Tibetan people have a good future. The rest only confusion for what we must concentrate.
Rabgyal
September 18, 2018
A long time ago, I used to have faith in our Tibetan exiled government but these days, there is very little to have faith in and very little to get hope from. Each time His Holiness makes a statement like this, my heart sinks a little more. Where are we supposed to go, Your Holiness? When you are telling Europe to close its doors to us and Trump no longer allows us to enter as easily as we used to. Does our only hope lie in China? Is this the reality we must face now?
Joo Won
September 18, 2018
It seems like Rangzen people can retired from now on. No more free Tibet, not more struggle.
We have fight for so many years and in the end is returning to China, under CCP rule, becoming good citizens of this giant economy. It’s sad. Could it be the best option we can have now…?? Is this the only choice left?
😥😥😥
Jingyang
September 18, 2018
As China becomes stubborn, it takes the place of the United States as the world’s largest economic power. India, the second largest country in Asia, is no exception. It needs to establish friendly relations with China. They hope China can lend a helping hand and provide financial support.
Therefore, in order to make friend with China, the Indian government began to keep a distance from the Dalai Lama, no longer as before to provide all aspects of assistance. The Tibet independence movement has been out of reach for many years. For a variety of reasons, it is understandable that the old HH Dalai Lama abandoned Tibetan independence and chose to go back to China.
Now, how about the thousands of ‘rangzen warriors’ who have been fighting for the free Tibet over 60 years? Dalai Lama said that it is okey for Tibetans to accept money from China. So, why accuse Dorje Shugden practitionar of being “Chinese paid spies” ?
Namdrol
September 18, 2018
Again Dalai Lama very openly and clearly called for Tibetans’ return to China, so how should Tibetans react now? Many Tibetans violently and vulgarly attacked Shugden people calling them Chinese dogs because Shugden people take money from China (which is false), and now Dalai Lama asks Tibetans to go back to China to enjoy China’s prosperity, that is the same as taking money from China, therefore that the is same as Dalai Lama asking Tibetans to become Chinese dogs isn’t it? 🐕🐕 So what do the Tibetans say now? Their own leader is now asking them to return to China to take China’s money, becoming Chinese dogs?
SabrinaS
September 18, 2018
My question – beggar in India or beggar in China, what’s the difference? Just different master thats all. And different set of rules. 60 years of the top echelon pursuing self-gratification, the billions of USD sponsored are never accounted for and certainly has no success stories to show. The image of bags unpacked, ready to go home would have moved many hearts but CTA don’t feel it. If they did, CTA would have stopped their ongoing campaign against China and allow for negotiations to manifest under cordiality with China. On top of that, CTA draws people attention away from their failure by demeaning an authentic practice of 400 year oil and the 5th Dalai Lama. Spent so much time, effort and money on all the wrong misguided direction.
One can see clearly how karma comes back to bite one’s ass – all these years of falsely calling DS practitioners “Chinese Dogs”, “Chinese spies”, taking Chinese money…..it seems CTA and the Dalai Lama’s followers are actually coining these terms in preparation for His Holiness’ return to China and themselves if they should follow suit. How ironic! How stupid. Now we see nastiness and indulgence in illogical hatred simply does not pay.
Kudos to the Dorje Shugden practitioners who in spite of CTA and followers’ abuses, discriminations, persecutions (even killings) and such vulgarity/life threats hurled at DS lamas/practitioners online, the practitioners kept their loyalty to their Gurus all the way. Definitely to be admired and respected. Their kept their precious pure lineage with faith. Moving forward, I hope that the Dalai Lama gets his wishes to return to China. Will CTA and followers play along?
Drolma
September 19, 2018
The Dalai Lama has totally changed the perspective of the public on him. The statements he made is getting more explosive nowadays. What the Dalai Lama said in this video is a big slap for the Free Tibet activists. He is making himself looks irresponsible and flippant.
What the Dalai Lama said in the video, implies that he has already given up hope on the Tibet cause, it will not succeed. So it will be better to go back to China because China will give money to them to preserve their religion and culture. So Dalai Lama agrees that the practice of Buddhism is not oppressed in China, but on the contrary, China is helping to preserve Buddhism and the Tibetan culture? What is more interesting is that he said it is ok to take money from the Chinese government. So now taking money from the Chinese is not a crime anymore? Then stop saying the Dorje Shugden followers are taking money from the Chinese and it is a crime.
What the Dalai Lama said will probably cost the CTA and him to lose sponsors. The sponsors donate to them because of the Tibet cause, if the Dalai Lama is not pursuing the cause anymore, there’s no need for the donations. Why did the Dalai Lama do this? Is it because he is desperate to go back to China and to make CTA go along with the Middle Way approach is to cut off their source of finance?
Sol Lang
September 19, 2018
🤑🤑🤑
I have to bite my tongue and say that Trump was right all along.
Trump wanted to cut all aid to the Tibetan community in India and put the money to better use for Americans.
Then a congressional committee led by Nancy Pelosi who is a long time Dalai Lama “friend” fought to restore the aid:
Congressional committee moves to restore US aid for Tibet
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/congressional-committee-moves-to-restore-us-aid-for-tibet/articleshow/59681868.cms
But you know what, with this news, my hunch that the CTA has all been about smoke and mirrors and dollars is turning out very true. It should be a note to people to turn off the mains and run the water elsewhere where there are more people in need such as back home in the United States.
Nancy Pelosi is not clever
September 19, 2018
Nancy Pelosi is making a big mistake helping Tibetans. There is so much poverty and homelessness in the US now and she can channel the money to help her own Americans and where there is an obligation to help her own country. Helping the Tibetans and Dalai Lama will get her and USA nowhere. In the end, the Dalai Lama and Tibetans will go whining back to China and beg for China to allow them back in. And all the aid, money and fighting for Tibet’s independence was a waste of people’s time, resources, money and energy.
Karma Yeshi
September 19, 2018
When compared to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala that does not take any responsibility for their people like any proper government normally would, China is radically different and liberal for allowing sex abuse victims to express themselves on social media, despite its heavy censorship of the Internet.
For people like Luo Xixi, whose online postings on sex abuse has garnered millions of views on Chinese social media, said that the government is gradually opening up to the #MeToo movement, a hashtag catch-phrase movement that encourages and empowers sex abuse victims to stand up against sex abuse. In China, those who are convicted of sexual abuse are severely dealt with by the law and laid off from work. The Central Tibetan Administration should take heed of how such cases are dealt with in China and not allow sex abuse perpetrators, especially Tibetan lamas to continue committing their crimes unchecked and without consequence.
Tashi Senge
September 19, 2018
I feel extremely sad for the people who sacrifice their lives to self-immolate for the sake of Free Tibet. Why is Dalai Lama saying things like this now? Does it means all our efforts in the past to fight for Rangzen or Umaylam were all wasted?
So what is the Tibetan government is doing and what they did in the past? This is nothing different than total failure. I don’t see the point to be happy at all, even though I know what Dalai Lama said may be true, but this disappoints us too much…
We want money, but we can go to Europe, we can go to the United States. I wish very much to go back motherland in Tibet, but not as this way. Dalai Lama shouldn’t say like this at all.
The Tibetan Government is a total failure too and they keep on disappointing the Dalai Lama, where leads to this point, the Dalai Lama has to give up his dignity for the benefits of his people?
WHY WHY WHY!!!
Eli Buchen
September 19, 2018
60 years of Rangzen and 20 years of Umaylam, countless Tibetan operatives, Chushi Gangdruk laid their lives for, 150 Tibetan immolated and the Dalai Lama has just given up the good fight.
There is no need for Rangzen or Umaylam anymore the Dalai Lama is heading back to his Potala Palace for good. tibetan should make their long march back to Tibet.
Zenki
September 19, 2018
In this video, HHDL said very clearly that it is impossible happen to a free Tibet unless miracles will happen. This means no matter they choose either go USA or China, it will not change the situation i.e. no free Tibet.
HHDL is getting older now and based on the current situation, it is good for them to choose stay under China. This is because the cultures and religious between Tibet and China are closer. As far as I know, one of the largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world is Yong He Temple which is started since Qing Dynasty and many other Tibetan monasteries in Mount Wutai (Pusa Ding built in North Wei Dynasty) are still be seen today and become tourist attraction. If HHDL choose to go back China, and anything happen to the Tibetan people at least they still have their freedom and interest in practice their own religious beliefs.
Jushri
September 19, 2018
Given how much Indians detest Tibetan refugees for various reasons, this is probably the best option for them. There is NO way that China will give Tibet back to Tibetans. Besides, given how the government-in-exile has been running their so-called government, I don’t think they can run an actual country. If China actually hands Tibet back to the current bunch running CTA, Tibet will not survive. Better let the Chinese continue running Tibet.
For all the atrocities that China has been accused of, they are way better at running Tibet than a bunch of wannabe government under President Sangay. It’s a no-brainer. The world’s next superpower vs Lobsang Sangay and his bunch of merrymen.
Tashi Wangdi
September 20, 2018
When compared to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala that does not take any responsibility for their people like any proper government normally would, China is radically different and liberal for allowing sex abuse victims to express themselves on social media, despite its heavy censorship of the Internet.
For people like Luo Xixi, whose online postings on sex abuse has garnered millions of views on Chinese social media, said that the government is gradually opening up to the #MeToo movement, a hashtag catch-phrase movement that encourages and empowers sex abuse victims to stand up against sex abuse. In China, those who are convicted of sexual abuse are severely dealt with by the law and laid off from work. The Central Tibetan Administration should take heed of how such cases are dealt with in China and not allow sex abuse perpetrators, especially Tibetan lamas to continue committing their crimes unchecked and without consequence.
Samten
September 20, 2018
Hey! Are you telling us that we have been fighting with the air all these years? If we have to go back to Tibet in the end, what’s the point of fighting for Free Tibet and have more than 150 Tibetans burn themselves alive? What are you talking about! What is this about wanting money and get money from China?
I don’t believe in the Dalai Lama, he has failed us big time and now he is trying to sweet talk us to go back to the backward Tibet with no life and raising yak as a living? This is the biggest and most ridiculous deception I would never expect from the Dalai Lama.
I am totally disappointed and lost hope in the Dalai Lama leading us. The CTA is useless. We are doomed!
Thupten Lungrig
September 20, 2018
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s speeches create headlines nowadays not because they bring wisdom and enlightening thoughts, but rather unpleasant feelings and disapprovals. From the sexist quip in 2015, his gaffe on Nehru, and his recent comment about Europe that caused him to be labelled as White Supremacist, there is now one more to add onto the list. In order to be congenial and consistent with the image of a Nobel Peace Laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been issuing statements, especially about Islam, such as redefining Jihad as an interior struggle.
More and more people are expressing their doubt, with some even directly pointing out the mistakes in the Dalai Lama’s speech. This pattern of speech of strong statements that ends up in denial or apology seems consistent with his advice concerning the practice of Dorje Shugden. With the reasons behind the ban shifted so much over time, perhaps there really was never any validity behind the ban at all.
Pema
September 20, 2018
The choice as the Dalai Lama said is either become a beggar or receive money from China. This happens because all this time the CTA did not work out some solution to make a Free Tibet happen and become independent.
There are no strategies for the Tibetans to gain money themselves, without donations, in order to improve the living conditions of the Tibetans? So, there is not much choice now.
As the Dalai Lama admitted the conditions before 1959 were very backward and therefore the CTA should be happy for all the efforts which have been done by the Chinese to improve Tibet and the life of everyone in Tibet.
Free Tibet is over and it seems that the Dalai Lama wishes to visit Tibet very soon. So, I hope that the Dalai Lama can soon visit China and I hope that the Dorje Shugden ban will be removed as quickly as possible as the Chinese do encourage religious freedom very much.
Alexandra
September 21, 2018
The FAILURE of free Tibet lies on the Tibetans and not him. This is exactly what Dalai Lama is implying.
Seems like HHDL is pushing blame … again … it’s not his fault. I agree it’s not entirely his fault. However, HHDL should have accepted that the Tibetan cause was a lost cause since day one because Tibetans never bring results and their so-called government is ineffective.
HHDL/CTA need to stop pointing fingers at Shugden for their failure. Shugden or no Shugden, they will need a miracle to regain their country.
Nick
September 21, 2018
It is about time for Tibetans to wake up and know that independence for Tibet is impossible and China will be a part of their future life whether they like it or not if they wish to have Tibet back.
They are incompetent to do what China can do and certainly needed China’s help in improving Tibet. They can’t do it alone and Tibetan culture will not strive under their own governance. They will only bring destruction to precious Tibetan culture, and religion.
Now that His Holiness had said it, everyone should just follow the old man’s wish and go along with it. He is the leader of Tibetans and he obviously knows what is best for Tibetans. CTA should just shut up and follow what His Holiness said and all the Rangzen groups out there as well. Stop fighting because it is not helping anyone and it’s only making the situation worst because all they have is the Free Tibet false hope that will lead them to nothing in the end.
Karma
September 21, 2018
Well, the Tibetans will follow the Dalai Lama but it will not be easy as they under the Chinese government. But as the Dalai Lama said, they will receive money and China has invested a lot in Tibet and this everybody can see.
So, now the CTA can show their leader qualities and get things done in Tibet for all Tibetans.
And I guess the money laundry is over as they can not play their games in China anymore….
Sara
September 23, 2018
How hypocritical! I just cannot believe my ears. Now we see the true face of the Dalai Lama. Does this mean all those who self-immolated, did it all in vain and for nothing? Did they die for nothing? Wow!
And I guess now we can call Dalai Lama a CCP paid agent too since that is what he is encouraging Tibetans to also accept! No more blaming and pointing the finger, accusing Shugden people!
Leo
September 24, 2018
兜兜转转了60年, 达赖喇嘛最终也是会选择回到现在由中国政府管辖的西藏。
60年来藏人行政中央以难民之名从美国、印度或很多国际组织得到大量捐款。 不过那么多年来藏独运动却一点成效都没有。 反之, 只有永不完结的丑闻一直让藏人行政中央浮现在国际台面上。 性丑闻、舞弊、滥权等等都不绝于耳。
藏人行政中央为了转移别人的视线不惜花费大笔大众捐款发行抹黑多杰雄登的书籍和视频。 还有不断的怂恿藏人自焚, 以得到国际人权组织的关注, 进而得到更多捐款让藏人行政中央领袖挥霍。
现在达赖喇嘛也公开说藏人应该回到西藏, 因为中国政府会给西藏钱, 也可以安定在西藏定居。 这无疑是赏了藏独分子一巴掌。
接下来流亡在外的藏人会怎样呢? 丑闻不断的藏人行政中央的前景又如何? 就让我们期待下去吧。
What a joke
September 24, 2018
Such a Big SLAP across the faces of those who supported Tibetan Cause.
60 years of monetary and physical support by donating, fundraising, protesting, appealing, petitioning and some even went to the extreme of self-immolating to support the Tibetan Government. Now that they said that they want to go join China is such a huge insult to their supporters. Its like, why are they even support them for so long and in the end they decided that it is better to forget about the cause and just go along with that had happened.
Such a waste of time, energy, resources and most importantly, human lives. I pity for the families of the self-immolators knowing their child or family died for nothing.
Anonymous
September 26, 2018
Gold Germany
September 28, 2018
Transcript: Dalai Lama is a Racist Nazi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_J_we4rp34
Dalai Lama is a piece of shit and a disgusting scumbag. It is, it is insane this cunt comes to Europe and tells us that we should not accept more refugees. Is he fucking retarded? It is amazing, like you don’t expect from people like, like those to be Nazis and to support all the right. It’s just insane a spiritual leader is a fucking Nazi dude. Europe needs more refugees, way more than we already have. Do you understand? And this degenerate says that we should send refugees back to where they came from and that we should help the countries of the refugees. His suggestions are, it’s obvious, like obviously we should help the countries of the, of the refugees, of their origin, but we should not send anyone back. We need more refugees in Europe and we should not deport anyone. We should give money to the refugees so they can stay in Europe and live here. What this Dalai Lama is suggesting is very inhumane, that’s all what I wanted to say. Hopefully in future we will get more migrants in Europe. Hopefully we can help more people. Let’s hope, let’s hope for the better.
Ngawang Norbu
October 1, 2018
The issue of Indian resentment towards the Tibetan refugees living on Indian soil is nothing new. The Tibetans have built comfortable lives for themselves in India and enjoy many privileges including exemption from paying tax. All of this is done without Tibetans showing genuine concern for the less fortunate in their host country.
The story below, which took place over 24 years ago, is a reflection of how fragile the Tibetan situation is in India. When a Tibetan murdered an Indian following a dispute, chaos ensued, and the Dalai Lama had to consider moving out of Dharamsala. Tensions between the Indian and Tibetan community have not normalised and remain high in the area even until today.
Pema Tashi
October 2, 2018
A Plot to Murder the Dalai Lama
Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, South India, says there is a plot to murder the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
Link to the original video: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/fight-for-separate-lingayat-religion-karnataka-deputy-cm-alleges-murderous-plot-against-dalai-lama-more-1353993-2018-10-02
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1538514480.mp4
Namdrol
October 2, 2018
A plot to murder the Dalai Lama by a Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terrorist named Kausar was recently uncovered. Kausar planned to cause the Dalai Lama’s demise and blow up Buddhist temples in the Indian State of Karnataka as revenge for the attacks on Rohingya Muslims by some Buddhists in Myanmar.
Although Kausar’s plans are appalling and cannot be justified, it is a reminder that the Dalai Lama as a well-known Buddhist personality has a moral obligation to discourage religious persecution in any form. This even includes the discrimination experienced by Dorje Shugden practitioners.
Ngawang Jigme
October 2, 2018
The fact that rangzen activists aim for the goal of Tibetan independence is at odds with the Dalai Lama’s goal for Tibet’s autonomy. This is nothing new but it is an undeniable fact that the Dalai Lama is the most recognisable Tibetan face and representative for the Tibetan Cause. However, for years now there has been a deficit of trust between China and the Dalai Lama, which leaves the future of Tibetan refugees in limbo.
Recently, the Dalai Lama tried to take conciliatory steps towards China by acknowledging that development in the Tibet Autonomous Region is beneficial and expressed his desire to return to China. He even said he wants to go on pilgrimage to Mount Wutai, China’s most famous Buddhist site. The fact that the Rangzen people are still protesting against China however shows their true colour. They are against the Dalai Lama and want to make sure that his efforts to help Tibetans are unsuccessful.
Tracy
October 3, 2018
For the past 60 years, the Tibetans have been telling people how their country was invaded by the Chinese and how the Chinese have been suppressing them on their right to their religious practice, their right to use their own language and their right to preserve their own culture. And now Dalai Lama has given up on the free Tibet movement and he wants to back to China?
After the Tibetans escaped from Tibet, they have been receiving fund from the west to survive for the past 60 years. Why are the western countries showing so much sympathy for them? The Rohingyas, the Syrians, the Africans don’t receive so much sympathy from them, so the support for the Tibetans from the west must be motivated by political agenda. The western countries want to use the Tibet issue to undermine China.
However, as more and more countries are showing support to China and distance themselves away from Tibetans, the western countries know that the Tibet issue will no longer work if they want to undermine China. No one will continue to invest in a strategy that will no longer work, sooner or later, the western countries will not give financial support to the Tibetans anymore.
The Dalai Lama must have anticipated it already, that is why he keeps saying he wants to go back to China. If he doesn’t and when the western world stop giving them fund, they will have a bigger problem. The Dalai Lama is doing this to protect the Tibetans and he has to do it fast as he is quite old already.
Tashi Wangdi
October 4, 2018
Sex Predator in a Monk’s Robes?
In USA, Shambhala’s head Sakyong Mipham with his huge ceremonial hat, blue and gold brocades on a high throne. So much pomp and ceremony and underneath it all was a monster… a sexual predator in religious robes exploiting women and people. Such a disgusting shame. Sakyong should be barred from any activities in the future and go for counselling. He needs it badly. His father was Chogyam Trungpa who did the same thing to women and included drugs and orgies in the 70′s. Dalai Lama supports Sakyong Mipham as sizeable donations were given to the Dalai Lama’s office. Shame. We all thought Dalai Lama was clairvoyant and can see the hearts of sentient beings? Sakyong Mipham wears monk robes, shaves his head but has a wife and kids. Why keep wearing monk robes? He is wearing monk robes to look authentic as he is not authentic. Easier to swindle and fool people. Ontop of wearing robes, shaved head masquerading as a monk, has a wife and kids, he further attacks other women sexually. What kind of spiritual leader is this? Disgusting.
Wang-li
October 10, 2018
Our country grow very big now. Many country is do business with us and want make money. Our goverment help tibet now big and new not like last time old fashion many visitors come and make economie very good. Our goverment help many tibet person get job get house. What dalai lama do for tibet people? Their cta people always say us chinese bad and no good why they talk like this. If india tibetan people want
come back China they must kind when they talk and not always talk political and religion bad things.Our goverment do not like people create problems and not harmony.We many chinese practice 多杰雄登 and he is very good for us. My family all practice and he help us so much things.Why dalai lama say 多杰雄登 no good. Dalai Lama and cta tell many lies make people angry. make my goverment angry and make many things not good.If india tibet people want to come back tibet they must be good and not talk bad about china.
emblem
October 10, 2018
No matter how high a squirrel jump, it will fell down to the ground. Obviously, it’s end of CTA glory days. CTA tell many lies, never help the Tibetans and also create violation on religious practice like Dorje Shugden ban. Who will want support this leadership? Now, China is giving hope to Tibet. The Tibetans should go back, be part of China, live happily, peace, protected and have free life.
Samayakeeper
October 10, 2018
Let’s see if Lobsang Sangay and his cronies in CTA heed the Dalai Lama’s wishes. If they do then they stand to lose millions of dollars from donors and have to depend on China financially. If the CTA takes money from China, it would mean the Tibetan people benefit. But it would also mean the CTA would have no financial control. I wonder would CTA want that. I do not think the CTA would be worried how they would seen taking money from China in the Tibetan people’s eyes, they would just say it is the wish of the Dalai Lama. But CTA’s worry is that the money is not within their control.
Dondrup Shugden
October 10, 2018
Reading this article make me reflect how incompetent CTA had been and now with the Dalai Lama saying that if Tibetans do not come under the “wings” of China, they will be beggars. This is a statement of the future of Tibetans under CTA.
CTA existence been since the Dalai Lama left Tibet in 1959 and almost 60 years have passed and the Tibetans are no better off.
China had “Open Doors” to the world in the 1980s and see how far it has come.
So is CTA going to do something good for the Dalai Lama and Tibetans or continue to create disharmony amongst its people so that the CTA elites benefit for themselves.
Tenzin K
October 10, 2018
After 60 years the Tibetan leadership is still unable to self-sustain. The only survival is to park themselves under the Chinese as what the Dalai Lama said. The Tibetan leadership had wasted their long 60 years to build a strong relationship with other countries and foremost they failed to unite their own people. Instead of providing a harmony environment and taking care of the Tibetan welfare, Tibetan leadership create more suffering within their own people such as Dorje Shugden ban, financial improprieties, election fraud, sex scandal and etc. I feel that Tibetan leadership purposely create such situation to distract people from realising their failure to bring their people back home and at the same time to contain their people from developing their mind so it’s easier to control them. But unfortunately this type of political strategy will only stop Tibetan from moving forward and just the matter of time faded off.
This time round the Tibetan leadership had lost a lot of financial support and they really have nowhere to go but going back to their homeland under the giant Chinese which is their only hope to survive. With this the Tibetan leadership need to create a positive and encouraging environment by stopping all action against the Chinese, religious discrimination such as Dorje Shugden and unite all Tibetan in order for the Chinese to accept them. No leaders would accept separatist in their country. Much to do by the Tibetan leadership to turn the situation around and shall keep an eye on how serious the Tibetan leadership wants to go back to their homeland.
nonew
October 10, 2018
Time to go back to Tibet since the Tibetan leadership have failed their people in every respect. So don’t wasting time to wait for CTA to change, already given them 60 years but Tibetan in exile still suffering. Return to Tibet meaning the CTA will lost millions of millions donation. So, the question is “will CTA agreed on what Dalai Lama said”?
Tash ryan
October 10, 2018
CTA should really prepare for their own demise now that even Dalai Lama acknowledges that Tibetans should return to Tibet and be taken care by China rather than still continue to be living like a beggar in India. It has been coming and this is the latest huge bombshell Dalai Lama dropped and I wonder CTA will even be efficient enough to react to this controversial statement.
Vajra10
October 10, 2018
No matter what we do, if it’s only to provide benefit to one selfish self. It’s not going to last long, especially leaders of the countries & organization. When the priority is to benefit others, we will also get benefit & many will support our works.
Tenzin Sangye
October 10, 2018
With this Dalai Lama statement with people in audien, is time for CTA parlimen telling the truth for all the tibetan in exile, they had fail badly to seek for tibet freedom and prepare work closely with China, in order for Dalai Lama and tibetan can freely return back to Tibet main land. All this almost come to the end of tibetan in exile. Accept the truth and stop frigthing with China.
Jing Jing
October 11, 2018
I think this time His Holiness had made a right choice as approaching his people returning to Tibet, China. He finally realised that there’s no hope for Tibet to gain independent by looking at the “effort” that Tibetan have been fighting for the course. What bullet HHDL has right now to fight with China this wake up dragon? No one will support HHDK and CTA that have been taking advantage of the funds for their own interest. Who else will want to go against China? For what? Human right? What happened in 1959 already became history. What Tibetan should concern is more on their children and next generations. Do they want to continue live their lives as a refugees? Or they go back to Tibet if China accept them so that they can start a new lives back to their home land. Which is better? Do Tibetans have another choice now? I do hope to see HHDL back to China again soon. I’m sure Tibetan in China missed him a lot.
Anonymous
October 11, 2018
Of course above all Dorje Shugden issue got to be resolved by His Holiness himself before he has a chance to go back to China.
Tim
October 11, 2018
The Dalai Lama has changed his opinion on China now? His mind is really flippant huh? Or this is a demonstration of what impermanence is? The Dalai Lama used to hate China so much and wanted to free Tibet, now he is saying China is good?
Things can really change without anyone realises it. All the Tibetans are talking about free Tibet, the Dalai Lama’s sponsors such as Robert Thurman, Richard Gere, some western powers are running campaigns to free Tibet and now the Dalai Lama tells the Tibetans they should all go back to China? What a joke. The Dalai Lama used to say China destroys their culture and religion and now he said China has the money to preserve them? So is China good or bad?
Actually, what the Dalai Lama said is true, China is really putting in a lot of money to restore Buddhist monasteries and build infrastructure to develop Tibet. The living condition of the Tibetans in China is so much better now compared to before. Maybe the Dalai Lama finally realises the CTA will not be able to provide all these to the Tibetans, it is better to be ruled by the Chinese government because the Chinese government will take good care of the Tibetans.
thakur subba
October 22, 2018
Tibet with autonomy will have a very good future only under PRC . CTA is no match for China.The way Tibet is making cultural and physical progress is only possible by being as an inalienable part of PRC.HHDL has realized this fact . Although delayed but a right decision. Tibet must be very proud herself to be a part of China. I hope, sooner or later , Taiwanese leaders will have the same opinion.
SabrinaS
October 30, 2018
Its definite that those in exile who return to China will benefit from the huge amounts of money that China is pumping into Tibet and all those opportunities that had been created for them to be self sufficient. Here a tourism and cultural expo was organised with over 120 different countries taking part to promote Tibet (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/world/china-watch/travel/china-tibet-tourism-and-culture-expo/). And China had been training women in optimising their farming with trips overseas to learn from their counterparts. Chinese Tibetans had been singing praises of China’s generosity contrary to CTA’s claims of oppression. The Dalai Lama had already known of favourable conditions and had for many many years stated to return but CTA went against his wishes with continued propaganda against China. If they had secured a deal and returned, CTA may be enjoying China’s generosity rather than the shame of begging. But I guess the Sikyong had been begging for so long that now its second nature to him.
ashrao
November 1, 2018
China and India are becoming closer and in a recent meeting have agreed on some points. One of these points is that the Dalai Lama will not be allowed to carry out any more political activities against China on Indian soil. Being a spiritual leader, why is he so political anyway? The Indian leaders are slowly silencing the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans in India. The Dalai Lama and his Tibetan government in-exile regime had better make friends with China already. They should either go back to Tibet/China or become Indian citizens and remain silent.
Potter
November 8, 2018
A powerful article, a must-read! Makes people wonder, why are they so biased against China when all the other countries are doing exactly what China is doing but behind the facade of ‘democracy’? 👎