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: Kay Beswick
“Sanguine” can be defined as optimism or positivity and it is true to say that in the current climate, the Tibetans have very little to be optimistic about when it comes to the US continuing their support of the Tibetan leadership. Since taking office, President Trump has steadily eroded American financial support for the Tibetan cause.
- In the first few months of Trump’s presidency, not only has the US drawn closer ties with China over a common enemy (North Korea), but the new US President has not shown any interest in meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. For the Tibetan leadership, this is worrying because such a meeting is a strong indicator whether the American President is interested in the Tibetan cause, thereby reflecting some type of financial support. However it is already months into the new President’s term and no statements of interest have been issued.
- Trump has outright said that the US will no longer give money to the Tibetans. America has always been the Tibetan leadership’s biggest supporter. It began in the 1960s when the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) trained Tibetan guerrilla fighters. As of 2002, the American government and private fundraisers has given the Tibetan leadership over 2.2 billion US dollars in financial assistance.
- Our question is, where has all of this aid disappeared to? Who was accountable for how it was spent and were accurate records kept? How come despite the huge investment of American taxpayer dollars, the average Tibetan continues to suffer from low levels of literacy, poor access to healthcare and lack of job opportunities? 60 years after first arriving in India, Tibetans are still more likely to become Luddiyana sweater sellers than to become scientists, doctors and engineers. So what happened to the investment that the US government made into the Tibetan community? Clearly it never reached the people because if it had reached the people, Tibetans would not continue to rely on sponsors’ generosity and financial aid to bail them out of disasters (as was the case with the Lal Qilla sweater market fire and the drought that killed thousands of famers’ crops).
As the Tibetan leadership’s strongest advocates, American support for the Tibetan leadership has become the global yardstick for support of the Tibetan community and their political goals. Hence when the American President appears to be determined to drastically reduce his country’s financial support for the Tibetan leadership, it worries the leadership who are concerned about how to keep their personal bank accounts topped up. It also concerns the people who worry about how many other countries will now be similarly emboldened to rescind their support for the Tibetans, and direct it towards the Chinese leadership instead.
So the article below is an interesting one because it reflects a growing sense of despondency amongst the Tibetan community over declining global support. This is probably the first time any Tibetan has expressed in such clear terms that they are worried. The CTA likes to paint the Tibetan community as some sort of Shangri-La society founded and existing under the rosy haze of Buddhism and spirituality. Instead, some Tibetans have bravely revealed that that is not the case and in fact, the people at a grassroots level are very worried about worldly things too. For example, Tseten Lungkara says he knows the Tibetan problem will not be solved under the Trump administration and why would it be, when it was not solved under previous more supportive Presidents? His comments alone also reflect a lack of faith in Sikyong Lobsang Sangye’s ability to buffer the Tibetan community against the Trump administration’s erosion of American support for Tibet.
The question now remains is exactly what Sikyong Lobsang Sangye is going to do about this situation. Recent news suggests that he continues to be more interested in traveling to the US and Europe on the pretext of drumming up support for the Tibetan cause. Yet, results clearly demonstrate that these trips are in vain because a growing list of countries are rejecting the Tibetan leadership. So this writer cannot help but wonder, what is wrong with staying in Dharamsala and focusing on the Tibetan people’s welfare, and pressing for dialogue with China? It has previously been pointed out that during Samdhong Rinpoche’s time, the Tibetan leadership had dialogue with China but under Sikyong, not a single meeting has been arranged in the last six years. What Lobsang Sangye has accomplished in the last six years that is tangible, necessary and appreciated by all Tibetan people is very difficult to count on one hand alone.
It is time the Sikyong ends all of his wasteful traveling and focuses instead on improving the welfare of the Tibetan people. Otherwise, articles like the one below will become more commonplace until one day, the Tibetan leadership will wake up to find that their community has deserted them and finally, they are the leaders of no one.
Bonnie Fider
July 12, 2018
WHY DOES RICHARD GERE AND DALAI LAMA SUPPORT SOGYAL THE DISGUSTING ABUSER?
As long as you are friends with the Dalai Lama, your actions are excusable, no matter how horrendous they may be. Even something as heinous as sexual abuse of over 60 women can be overlooked when the perpetrator is friends with the Dalai Lama namely Sogyal Rinpoche. Why rush to join the chorus of Hollywood voices condemning Harvey Weinstein’s criminality, but remain silent against Sogyal’s exploitation and abuse of women? Richard Gere was vocal in condemning against all the abuses and attacks against women by Harvey Weinstein. But silent on Sogyal Rinpoche. BBC has a full length documentary on Sogyal’s abuses as you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWhIivvmMnk. Yet Richard Gere can take photos with the disgusting and abusive Sogyal. Is it because one group of women are worth protecting and the other are not? If it is not for that reason, then it can only be because Sogyal is the Dalai Lama’s friend. The Dalai Lama’s condemnation against Sogyal is very light and it’s disappointing. I guess since Dalai Lama supported Sogyal so much, he can’t be seen as wrong in doing so. Politics is sad.
Christie Donald
July 14, 2018
Hollywood is one of the most influential groups of people who have promoted the mysticism of Buddhist Tantra to the world. Together with the media, they have packaged Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan lamas into a fantasy Utopia, filled with God-like beings who are able to lead people along the quick path to enlightenment.
This propaganda has been widely exploited by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to garner support, especially financial aid, for the so-called Tibetan Cause and the Tibetan struggle against Chinese rule. Little does the West, including Richard Gere and the so-called Buddhist Professor Robert Thurman, know that efforts from China to improve the infrastructure and standard of living for the Tibetans in China have created opportunities for Tibetans to grow and be successful. This is something that is rarely seen in exile under the governance of the CTA.
This false image that has been promoted for the past 60 years or so is now slowly fading away as more and more victims come forward, exposing the sexual abuse they have suffered under the hands of Tibetan lamas like Sogyal Rinpoche. The root of the problem is clear, people are greedy and lazy while wanting quick success and attention. Since they get these from the Tibetan lamas like Sogyal, they are willing to accept the exploitation. This is further driven by fear that they would no longer be seen as the privileged ones in the inner circle if they do not clutch at their lamas and be seen showing tremendous devotion to their gurus. With only a superficial knowledge of Buddhism, this cult-like group of Hollywood stars and American politicians like Richard Gere continue to generate respect and love for their skewed version of the “Dharma”, while real Buddhist masters are relegated to the side lines.
Lhakpa Dhendup
August 11, 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 15, 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 15, 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.
Yoezer
August 19, 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.
Vardaniya
August 22, 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.
Anonymous
September 6, 2019
The key to resolving Tibetans’ suffering is the CTA and Tibetans themselves. After 60 years of struggle, everyone can see that Tibet cause is a lost cause, there is no point to continue to fight for Tibet’s independence. Even the Dalai Lama has given up this dream.
What the Dalai Lama wants now is Middle Way approach, he only wants autonomous status for Tibet. The Dalai Lama has realised China is too strong to fight with. Besides, China has also proved to be a good leader as it has improved the living standard of the Tibetans tremendously.
India has helped the Tibetans for 60 years, it is a long time. It is not fair to want India to continue to support the Tibetans and not giving anything back to India. Without the kindness of India, the Tibetans would not have a place to preserve their culture and religion. India has been kind to them, they should not ask for more from India.
Tim
September 27, 2019
US will continue to support the CTA no matter what. They are using the Tibet issue to undermine China. Honestly, there are so many humanity issue in other countries, why is the US not saying anything about it? Internally, racism is a big problem in the US. Islamophobia is another serious issue. The US might be a land where dreams come true for some people but it is also a land where tolerance level to differences is not as high as we think it is.
We can see on the internet that there are many racist cases where the white people in the US are discriminating people of colour. If the American can’t even solve the inequality problem in their own country, how can they condemn and criticise other country? It is not hard to see everything the US is doing, there is a motive behind it.
The US likes to portray itself as the big brother and hero of the world, but they are not. The US government will only act like a hero when there is a benefit. Are they really righteous? Not really.