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By: Solaray Kusco
On 23rd November 2017, the Economic Times reported on the Dalai Lama’s latest remarks captured at a sharing organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce. During the event, the Dalai Lama strongly reiterated that he wants to be a part of China. He was very clear and very firm about this, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
His remarks have shone a contradictory light on many Tibetans around the world who have recently been issuing calls against the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach (umaylam) for autonomy under China. These Tibetans include various members of Parliament who recently journeyed to Paris for a conference focused on rangzen (full independence), where they brainstormed ideas to counter the Dalai Lama’s umaylam, and also took the time to enjoy the various sights and attractions that ultra expensive Paris has to offer. These Tibetan members of Parliament of course have that type of money to travel.
The fact is that the Dalai Lama has made it very clear what he wants, and what he thinks is best for the Tibetan people. Therefore:
- All Tibetans who are grateful and loyal to the Dalai Lama should also agree with his views. In light of this, they should immediately adopt the China flag in all Tibetan communities throughout India and Nepal. The Dalai Lama has called for Tibetans to come under autonomous Chinese rule, and one sign of this is to fly the Chinese flag.
- If Tibetans continue to use the Tibetan flag, it reflects their desire for Tibetan independence and their refusal to come under the Chinese flag. How will such actions show the Chinese leadership that the Dalai Lama is sincere in what he says? Tibetans need to demonstrate that they are sincere towards the unification of Tibet and China, and sincere in their support of His Holiness the Dalai Lama which they have always claimed to be. Therefore while adopting the China flag may seem contradictory to some, it is actually important to make reconciliatory gestures towards China to show the sincerity of the Dalai Lama’s wishes. Flying the China flag would be in support of the Dalai Lama’s wish for Tibet to come under Chinese leadership.
- When the Dalai Lama has so clearly stated his views and what he thinks is good for Tibetans, any other views (such as independence) are against the Dalai Lama. If you are against the Dalai Lama’s views, you are against him, plain and simple. Hence those who continue to fly the Tibetan flag and call for full independence, are actually sabotaging the Dalai Lama’s statements and wishes for autonomy. They are anti-Dalai Lama traitors and paid schism makers within the Tibetan communities.
- All Tibetans should now extend a hand to China and create inroads with a view towards befriending them. The Tibetan leadership should stop antagonizing the Chinese, and stop encouraging Tibetans to protest against the Chinese if they really want the Dalai Lama’s wishes to come true. When you protest against and antagonize a powerful entity, what will entice or encourage them to grant these concessions to you? Why would anyone who has been subjected to name-calling and insults, be motivated to grant your wishes?
- So if Tibetans and their leadership want the Dalai Lama to visit Tibet, they have to stop protesting against China. To continue protesting against China therefore, or to speak ill of them, will sabotage the Dalai Lama’s chances of returning to Tibet. To call for Tibetan independence is to go against the Dalai Lama when he has already said that Tibetans should seek autonomy.
How much more clear can the Dalai Lama be? The Dalai Lama has very clearly said that he wants autonomy for Tibetans and he feels this is the best route to pursue. Any other views that diverge from this, is a clear contradiction against what the Dalai Lama wants. The Tibetan leadership often say that the Dalai Lama is all-knowing, and when they enforce illogical, undemocratic policies like the Dorje Shugden ban, they say that it is because “the Dalai Lama said so” or that it is what the Dalai Lama wants.
Well, now the Dalai Lama wants autonomy, and does not want rangzen (full independence). Will the Tibetan leadership start issuing statements instructing their people to push for autonomy, or will they continue to remain silent and allow the rangzen protests to go on? In allowing the rangzen protests to go on, they will be allowing Tibetans to contradict the Dalai Lama’s calls for umaylam (autonomy). Are the Tibetans going to head against the Dalai Lama and his wishes or obey and cooperate to achieve his wishes?
Now it is finally time for the Tibetan leadership to put their money where their mouth is. Everyone will be watching and waiting to see what they do next. If you obey the Dalai Lama’s wishes for Tibet to be a part of China then you are patriotic. You have to start using the Chinese flag. If you want Tibet to be independent of China, then you are against the wishes of the Dalai Lama. Are you willing to go against the wishes of the Dalai Lama? Are you not patriotic? Are you against the Dalai Lama? Samdhong Rinpoche said that the people fighting for the independence of Tibet are the most dangerous group of people within Tibetan society in exile. Are you on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s side or not?
THE ECONOMIC TIMES: Tibet wants to stay with China, seeks development
ENGLISH
Tsering Drolhma
July 8, 2018
UNRULY TIBETANS FIGHTING AT DALAI LAMA BIRTHDAY PARTY AGAIN
July 2018-NYC- Tibetans fighting at some birthday celebratory event for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They set up a throne in the back, place Dalai Lama’s picture, and they fight, push, shout, scream at each other right in front of the throne of Dalai Lama and it’s filmed. That is the level of the Tibetans overall. Tibetans are not gentle, Buddhist, peace-loving, tolerant people as they portray to the world. They are rough, rude, hateful, vengeful, violent, regionalistic, narrow minded and will create trouble wherever they go. Very feudal. They always resort to vulgar words and violence. There are some moderate Tibetans, but on the whole they are very violent people who do not practice Buddhism. The average Tibetan know nothing of Buddhism and do not practice. Buddhism is just a meal ticket for them to get to another country. Their support of Dalai Lama is blind and only to be politically correct and they never practice what he teaches. Disgraceful to see a group of violent Tibetans fighting at a Dalai Lama birthday event. Shameful.☹
Tibetans are not welcomed wherever they go. Bhutanese kicked them out. Nepal hates Tibetans. India has no more use for the ‘refugee’ Tibetans and their temples made of gold. After 60 years they cannot get their own country back. What a bunch of losers and useless government people they have.
http://video.dorjeshugden.com/comment-videos/comment-1531033672.mp4
Tsering Drolhma
July 15, 2018
The letter:
It is about the incident that happened at His Holiness’s birthday celebration in NYC recently July 6, 2018. Some members of Tibetan woman association approached to Parliamentarian Tenpa Yarphel during the ceremony and complained that his comments regarding Nechung was disrespect to the protector and His Holiness. They also said him that he made many Tibetan people sad with his comments. And told him not to do that again in the future. Then Dhondup Tseten stood up and shamelessly touched those women. That incident almost made the ceremony stopped. To keep maintaining the relationship between Tibetan Woman Association and Tibetan Parliament Representative, TWA are asking for an apology letter from Dhondup Tseten for touching their members.
(It is so sad that in the fake democracy of the Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala you cannot say anything against a leader or criticize. Too bad)
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.
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 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.
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.
Drolma
August 28, 2018
The Dalai Lama wants to be part of China because he wants to enjoy the fruit now? When the Dalai Lama left Tibet, Tibet was poor and there was still a slavery system. Rich people remained rich or richer and poor people didn’t have the opportunity to become rich. The Chinese invasion liberated the people from this rigid and unfair system.
In order to run the country efficiently, China has to introduce a national language, i.e. Chinese. But the Chinese government also allow the minority to learn their own languages. Houses, schools, infrastructure, hospitals were built and established in Tibet. If Tibet was still run by the same government or the CTA, this transformation will not be happening.
It is very easy for the Dalai Lama to say he wants to go back or he wants Tibet to be part of China, does China want to accept him and the Tibetan in exile is another story. Maybe China needs the Dalai Lama to control the Tibetans but as it is, the Tibetans in China are still manageable. So what value can the Dalai Lama bring to China?
Anonymous
August 27, 2019
China is a more reliable government, that is for sure. When they have a plan, they will implement it regardless. Just like how they want to reduce the poverty rate in China, they have implemented many programs to ensure it will succeed. The poverty rate in Tibet has reduced tremendously for the past few years.
CTA on the hand would like to keep their status quo, to continue to remain as refugee. The reason is very simple, they want to use their refugee status to get free money from people. They are exploiting their own people.
Free Tibet movement did not succeed not because China refuse to have a dialogue with the CTA, it is because CTA is not interested to make any progress in solving Tibet issue. It is a waste of effort to support the CTA because they are only taking advantage of people’s kindness.
Tracy
September 22, 2019
Dalai Lama might want to be part of China. But China does not need the CTA or the Dalai Lama, just like how they don’t need CTA’s Panchen Lama. I am sure China will recognise their own Dalai Lama with the endorsement from the 11th Panchen Lama. The Dalai Lama recognised by the Chinese will be legitimate because it will be selected and recognised using the rules laid out by the Qing court.
The fact is the CTA does not have anything to give to China. If China agrees to talk to them and give them the possibility to go back to Tibet, it will be a jackpot for the CTA. Tibetans in exile have not progressed much in the past 60 years, even if they are given another 60 years, there will not be much changes.
As people around the world have move on and have a better prospect, Tibetans in exile will continue to stay behind as CTA does not care about progress. CTA is more interested in getting short term monetary benefit for themselves than to make their people stronger and more powerful. Until today, they still have to rely on India and their sponsors. 60 years have passed, something different must be done if the Tibetans in exile don’t want to be left behind by the world.