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: Steve Lee
In the span of a few hours, multiple news pieces have come to our attention that spell doom for the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA, located in Dharamsala, North India). Each highlights how the CTA have failed their people, and more importantly, how others have begun to sit up and take action. In the first article “Two Tibetans badly injured in skirmish between Tibetan and Indian men at Satuan”, we can see clearly how unhappy the local Indians are with the Tibetan refugees. It is typical of the Tibetans and especially the Tibetan leadership to extend practically zero assistance to any part of their host Indian society for over 60 years. On the basis of their refugee status, the Tibetans have received aid from other world governments and generous sponsors, and over time have built up their settlements complete with large multi-storey houses, glittering temples, big buildings and thriving businesses. Yet, the ‘rich’ Tibetans give only nominal donations and hardly reach out to help the thousands of impoverished Indians who live just outside the Tibetan settlements.
Clearly the Tibetans have forgotten that they owe everything they have to the kindness of the Indian government who gave them land, refugee status and the opportunity to build a new home in a foreign land. The Tibetans keep taking from their host country but give nothing back. It is no wonder that the local Indians are resentful, and this resentment that has been brewing for six decades has finally spilled over into violence. For certain, this will happen more and more as time goes on because the resentment amongst the Indian population is growing. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) can keep trying to publicize their Thank You India 2018 campaign, but the fact remains that nice words do not translate into tangible help, food, donations or supplies that go back to India and the Indian community. The Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala is at fault for not highlighting that the Tibetans in India should do more for poorer Indians which would curb resentment. They have had six decades to do so. The Tibetan leadership must set the right example and educate the 100,000 Tibetan exiles in India to do more than just empty praises and nice words for the poverty-stricken citizens of their host country India. This violence is a direct result of resentment brewing throughout many Tibetan settlements in India which we last saw in the form of massive violent protests against Tibetans in Arunachal Pradesh state. There are many more cases which are not officially reported. The Tibetan leadership, also known as the CTA, are definitely indirectly and directly at fault.
Two Tibetans badly injured in skirmish between Tibetan and Indian men at Satuan
In conjunction with the second article “Plot to blow up two buildings near Nechung Monastery foiled, probe on”, there have been multiple anonymous submissions to this website claiming that based on various WeChat conversations, it is allegedly unhappy Tibetans themselves who placed these bombs in Dharamsala. In fact, the placement of these bombs is extremely revealing. The building where the bombs were found have no particular significance as they are purely residential and without any notable residents. Therefore, it is only logical that the indirect target is Nechung Monastery as it is the main landmark in that Dharamsala neighbourhood. It is possible that the would-be bombers could not gain access to Nechung Monastery and had no other choice but to put it as close by as possible and hope that Nechung Monastery would somehow be damaged when the explosion occurred. (We at dorjeshugden.com do not know anything further than what has been stated, and the perpetrators and their motives are all alleged. We are unable to confirm any details. For more information, it would be best to contact the relevant authorities in Dharamsala.)
Just think, this is the second bomb scare within the space of three months, the previous one being at Bodhgaya during the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Clearly the Tibetans are unhappy with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and with their main advisor Nechung, whose pronouncements have influenced Tibetan policy and the Dalai Lama’s decisions for many decades. The Nechung oracle’s advice has been touted to be wrong most of the time. And so, having no other democratic outlet to express their dissatisfaction with their leaders, the Tibetan populace have resorted to explosive violence to show just how unhappy they are with Nechung’s bad advice and their government’s blindness in continuing to heed it.
Plot to blow up two buildings near Nechung Monastery foiled, probe on
In the third article “Monk Proposes Self Immolation Over Politics in Tibetan Exile”, Thupten Choephel of Sera Jey Monastery in Bylakuppe, South India states clearly in a press briefing that his proposal of self-harm is a protest against the dirty politics that run rampant in the exiled Tibetan community, with his greater goal being the Tibetan cause. More specifically, he quotes three main factors that have compelled his decision to engage in such drastic actions.
- The abusive use of political roles at the apex of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA);
- Not acknowledging the abusive exploitation of their roles;
- Not resolving such existing exploitative practices by such individuals.
This extreme form of self-harm is Thupten Choephel’s last ditch attempt to bring attention to the bigotry and total lack of accomplishments of the Tibetan leadership, and their abject failure to make any headway for the good of the Tibetan cause and the Tibetan people. We at dorjeshugden.com extend our deepest sympathies to Thupten Choephel and our sincere hope that he does not engage in such self-harm. Instead, we would like to encourage him to continue to speak up against the exiled Tibetan leadership headquartered in Dharamsala, North India, using peaceful methods, which is what other democratic nations do and to assure him that revolutions have been won without loss of life.
The Tibetan leadership has pushed this monk to use his own life to threaten them to stop the corruption, bigotry, lies, segregation, scandals, embezzlement and all the disharmony they have created pitting one Tibetan against another using regionalism, religion and superstitions. This monk is indeed brave for even daring to speak up within the ‘democratic’ Tibetan communities about the many scandals and corruption within the leadership and the Tibetan leadership surely will find ways to silence him. Just think, all this is happening while His Holiness the Dalai Lama is still alive. When His Holiness is no longer around, chaos will break loose in the Tibetan communities. And all this is the result of the Central Tibetan Administration’s bad leadership. Bad leadership made them lose their country in 1959, bad leadership made them ‘refugees’ unable to win their country back for 60 years, and bad leadership has led them down this path of desperation, despair and violence. There is no one else to point the finger at; the Tibetan leadership is squarely to blame for all of this and there is no doubt that they are the cause of the problem and the fuel that keeps it burning. The only way to bring some hope back for the Tibetan people is to get rid of the current corrupt, exploitative leadership and instead appoint new leaders who truly care for the future of this once-proud nation – leaders who will sincerely put all personal agendas aside for the betterment of the country, its people and its future, and who will stop using religion to divide and segregate their people such as the Dorje Shugden issue. It will take more brave Tibetans in exile like Thupten Choephel to speak up and not be afraid any more to make a change. More will speak up as the Tibetans have lost hope.
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Yoezer
August 8, 2018
While the government of Nepal has framed a policy to tighten the noose around non-governmental organisations, they have welcomed 30 Chinese NGOs to enter the country. These NGOs will penetrate the country’s social sector at the grassroots level. This is the first time such a large number of Chinese NGOs have entered Nepal at one time. Nepal is increasingly open to Chinese influence, a sign that ties between both countries are strengthening, while India’s influence is being reduced. The time has passed for India’s monopoly to remain uninterrupted in Nepal as opportunities to engage with China are being welcomed.
Jampa Lhundup
August 8, 2018
The Nikkei Asian Review is a highly reputable news platform. They are not tabloid in any sense of the word. What they publish is reputable and thoroughly reliable. They mention clearly in an article published August 7, 2018 that the Dalai Lama has a terminal illness. The Prime Minister of India knowing this is now conciliatory towards China. He understands that the Dalai Lama cannot be used as a pawn in irritating China any further. Negotiations are progressing that after the passing of Dalai Lama, his government in-exile will close. The end.
Lhakpa Dhendup
August 10, 2018
What will the all the people around the world and in Tibet do now? Dalai Lama says he is happy that Tibet is a part of China and should remain a part of China. So many Tibetans self-immolated for Tibet to be independent and now Dalai Lama did a 360 degree turn and says he wants to go back to Tibet and China and Tibet should be a part of China. So unbelievable. So many are angry and disappointed.
Dalai Lama should set things right
August 12, 2018
Dear Dalai Lama,
Since you started the cruel ban against the 350 year Dorje Shugden practice, how has it benefit your Tibetan society and Buddhism in the world? Things have become worse and most educated Tibetans can see this. They don’t speak out not because they don’t see your ban as wrong, but you instill fear in them and not respect. It is like fear of a dictator. I am sorry to say so. Everyone is divided. There is no harmony. Before your ban there was more harmony and unity.
By enacting the ban, you split the monasteries, split so many families, split regions in Tibet apart, split your disciples from you, split your own gurus from you, split Tibetan Buddhism apart. You have created so much disharmony.
It is not democratic what you have done to ban a religion within your community. You always talk of tolerance and acceptance and democracy and yet you do not accept and tolerate something different from your beliefs. When people practice Dorje Shugden you ostracize them, ban them from seeing you, ban them from using Tibetan facilities. You know you have done that. There are videos that capture your speech and prove this point. You even had people expelled from monasteries just because they practice Dorje Shugden. Some of the monks you expelled have been in the monastery for over 40 years. Many older monks shed tears because of this.
Many young educated Tibetans lost confidence in you as they saw the damage the Dorje Shugden ban created and they lose hope. Many have become free thinkers. They reject what you have done. So many people in the west left Buddhism because of the confusion you created with this ban against Dorje Shugden which is immoral.
You could of had millions of people who practice Dorje Shugden to support, love and follow you, but you scared them away. They are hurt and very disappointed. They loved you and respected you deeply before the ban. It has been 60 years and you have failed to get Tibet back. Your biggest failure is not getting Tibet back after 57 years in exile. Now you are begging China to allow you to return to Tibet to the disappointment of thousands of people who fought for a free Tibet believing in you. So many self-immolated for a free Tibet and now you want Tibet to be a part of China with no referendum from Tibetans. Just like a dictator, you decide on your own. It was your government and you that lost Tibet in the first place. Your policies and style of doing things do not benefit Tibet and Buddhism. You have been the sole ruler of Tibet your whole life and you still have not gotten our country of Tibet back for us. Our families and us are separated. Yet you create more pain by creating a ban to further divide people. Please have compassion.
No other Buddhist leader has banned or condemned any religion except for you. It looks very bad. You are a Nobel laureate and this is not fitting of a laureate. You should unite people and not separate them by religious differences.
You said Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi did not do right to the Rohingya people in Myanmar due to religious differences, but you are doing the same thing to the Shugden Buddhists within your own society. There is a parallel in this. You separate the Shugden Buddhists from the others in Tibetan society.
You have lost so many people who would have loved and supported you. You have lost so much support around the world. The Shugden Buddhists who love you number in the millions. When you are fast losing support from governments and private people, it will not do you well to lose more.
After you are passed away in the future, the rift you created between the Dorje Shugden and non-Dorje Shugden people will remain for a while and that will be your legacy. Disharmony. You will be remembered for this. Not as a hero but a disharmony creator.
Dorje Shugden will spread and further grow, but you will be no more as you are a human. No one wishes you bad and in fact we hope you have a long and healthy life, but we have lost so much hope and have so much despair because of you. All the hundreds of Dorje Shugden lamas, tulkus and geshes are maturing and there are hundreds of Dorje Shugden monasteries in Tibet who will not give up Dorje Shugden. You have made a mistake. These hundreds of teachers and teachers to be will spread Dorje Shugden further in the future.
The gurus that gave us Dorje Shugden as a spiritual practice and you have called these holy gurus wrong and they are mistaken in giving us Dorje Shugden. How can you insult our gurus whom we respect so much? If they can be wrong, then you can be wrong. Then all gurus can be wrong. So no one needs to listen to any guru? You have created this trend. It is not healthy. Your own gurus practiced Dorje Shugden their whole lives. Your own gurus were exemplary and highly learned.
Dalai Lama you have created so much pain with this ban against so many people due to religion. You are ageing fast. Are you going to do anything about it or stay stubborn, hard and un-moving. You show a smile and preach peace and harmony wherever you go. But will you do the same to your own people? Please rectify the wrong you have done. Please before it is too late. You can create harmony again or you can pass away in the future with this legacy of peace. May you live long and think carefully and admit what was a mistake in having this unethical ban against Dorje Shugden religion.
ayana
August 14, 2018
Why doesn’t the United States and its allies end Refugee Status for the useless Tibetans? They have been refugees for 60 years now and don’t tell me they still cannot get their lives back in order?
Tibetans really know how to put on a good show and use people, take their money and do nothing in return.
Ojas
August 14, 2018
Supreme Court of India JUSTICE Mr. MARKANDEY KATJU (RETD) writes that Tibet is much better under the Chinese than it was under the lamas who only wanted to make the populace slaves. It was feudal and it will never return to the backwardness again.
Vardaniya
August 20, 2018
The cracks in Tibetan society are starting to show, and it is now coming to the attention of local Indians who have all but identified the Tibetan leadership as the source of the divisions. According to this author, disunity amongst the Tibetans is now creating problems for Indian law enforcement agencies, and this disunity may culminate in young Tibetans holding silent grudges against their host country. It is incredible that after six decades of generosity from India, Indians are now facing the very real possibility Tibetans can be ungrateful towards India. The Tibetan leadership totally failed to impart positive values upon their exiled community, like gratitude for those kindest to them and the need to repay these kindnesses with real, tangible results. It’s also very unlikely that the Tibetan leadership will now start to do this, after six decades of failing to do so. Indians need to realise this, and see that there is no benefit for their nation to align themselves with the Tibetan leadership, and there never will be.
Maya
August 24, 2018
Although the Dalai Lama has offered an apology, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) still expressed their disappointment over his controversial comment on Nehru, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). Dalai Lama called Nehru self-centred.
The Congress said Dalai Lama being a foreigner should shun and refrain from interfering in the internal as well as external affairs of India.
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.
Palmo
October 10, 2018
The CTA has been in India for 60 years now and they accomplished nothing. They did not do anything that actually helped the Tibetans in those Tibetan settlements. 60 years of help, financial assistance, and resources from all over the country, the Tibetans are still poor and living in poverty while the politician having a good life with good cars and big houses.
Alot of the Tibetans are forced to leave India to seek a better life in foreign countries. If their government can provide their needs a decent life, I don’t think the Tibetans will want to risk their life away from their home and their government. This is a big indication of how bad CTA is doing.
Now, this monk had enough of the government and threaten to immolate himself and request them to please think of the benefits of the people and stop having pity fights over each other.
Bachan
October 29, 2019
CTA long time taking advantage of their kind host India and their fellow Tibetans. Now their own Tibetans are showing their dissatisfying with CTA. How long more CTA wants to keep taking and not giving not only to India but also to their own people. CTA has been getting so much kind sponsorship but there is nothing much to the Tibetans and it has been 60 years. Tibetan can’t just keep quiet and many had moved to other countries to look for better opportunities.
Now CTA is not being attacked by the Chinese but by their own Tibetan which cannot stand the CTA anymore. When time coming to more desperate I believe matters will be even worse. CTA can keep sitting there and enjoy themselves but the good time may not last long.