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By: Tyr Beswick
March 2018 will probably be a month that the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) cannot wait to forget. It was a terrible month for the CTA, who are the Tibetan leadership based in Dharamsala, North India, as they received bad news after bad news.
It began with the leak of Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale’s memo directing all Indian ministers and government officials to avoid any events related to the CTA’s much-hyped “Thank You India” campaign. This was swiftly followed by an instruction from the Indian government to relocate the “Thank You India” opening event from New Delhi’s Thyagaraja Stadium to their temple in Dharamsala, a much smaller venue that the Tibetans ordinarily use for all of their other events. They were also forced to move their annual public rally after they were banned from commemorating the March 10th Tibetan Uprising Day in Delhi. This was particularly disheartening as March 10th is one of the most significant events in the annual Tibetan calendar, as it marks the 1959 uprising in Lhasa by the Tibetans resisting the Chinese incursions.
Things did not improve with the cancellation of yet another important gathering. Lawmakers and parliamentarians from all over the democratic world were due to congregate in Delhi to discuss strategies to support the so-called Tibetan cause. Billed as a high-profile event, the meeting was going to be held in India for the first time in 24 years. However, the Indian leadership once again demonstrated that they are more interested in good relations with China, and Delhi moved swiftly to cancel the upcoming conference which had not been held since Canada hosted the last meeting in 2012.
All of this negative news that the Tibetans have received in the last month alone have come from just one source, and it just happens to be their biggest and most powerful sponsor — India. It is the CTA’s worst nightmare come true and it is apparent to everyone that Dharamsala’s hastily and badly-organized “Thank You India” campaign was nothing more than a half-hearted public relations stunt to try and stave off the inevitable conclusion of waning Indian support. There is nothing more telling than the image of Tibetans finally waving the Indian flag for the first time in 60 years. It is sad that after six decades of living on Indian soil, it was waning Indian support that finally forced the Tibetans to pick up the Indian flag in a grand show of gratitude. There is no doubt that the “Thank You India” campaign has fallen flat on its face, and the fact the CTA ever thought that a public relations stunt could woo India back into supporting them is a reflection of their immature politics.
Unfortunately, India’s politics far exceeds theirs and are more sophisticated than what the CTA assumes; it is going to take a whole lot more than some poorly-attended parade marches and lackluster flag-waving to bring them back into India’s good graces. During the downsized “Thank You India” event, the Dalai Lama himself said that Tibetans do not wish to inconvenience India but what the Tibetan leadership have failed to realize is that this understanding is not going to be enough, nor will it ever be enough, to win back India’s support, certainly not against the billion-dollar economic opportunities and geopolitical realities with China. All of this news, when put together, certainly does not augur a pleasant future for the Tibetans who are fast running out of options and friends.
The fact is that every time the Tibetan leadership meddles in Indian affairs, they inconvenience India. And so for the Tibetan leadership to respect and not inconvenience India, they must stop first protesting against China and creating diplomatic issues for the Indian leadership. Second, they have to stop all political activities in India and either become Indian citizens, go back to China or migrate somewhere else. And if they are really serious about not inconveniencing India, ultimately they must stop criticizing China and start making friends with them, and settle on something after 60 years. Stop telling Indian politicians what they should do for India in relations to Tibet because at the end of the day, the Indians do not need advice from a leadership without a country. India, with its vast resources, strong culture and seasoned politicians, will be fine without the Tibetans and without Tibetan advice, and that is the reality the CTA are now being forced to face. It is high time for everyone, Tibetans and Indians included, to move on and leave the CTA far, far behind.
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.
Lobsang Dhondup
September 16, 2018
It is bewildering that His Holiness the Dalai Lama mentioned that he had known of sexual abuse by Buddhist teachers since the 1990s, yet nothing was done to reprimand these Buddhist teachers. After all, such abuses inflict substantial damage to the reputation of Tibetan Buddhism as a whole as compared to smaller issues like Dorje Shugden.
The Central Tibetan Administration was fervent in executing the Dorje Shugden ban, launching a documentary film, books, expelling monks, splitting monasteries and denying access to hospitals, clinics, schools, retail shops and so forth down to even publishing a hit list of Shugden activists in order to encourage violence and lynch mob. Yet, the damage done to Tibetan Buddhism by these lamas seems to be ignored and hushed. Why is the Central Tibetan Administration not doing more to warn the public about these sex offenders like posting a warning list on their website?
Tashi Wangchuk
September 16, 2018
His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the Tibetan spiritual leader revered by millions of Buddhists around the world should ensure that the Tibetan spiritual leaders do more to denounce sexual misconduct and abuse of Buddhist teachers as there are far-reaching repercussions and negative impact on Tibetan Buddhism.
While His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been consistent in reminding practitioners about not practising Dorje Shugden in lieu of the social and religious problems associated with it, despite the unsubstantiated claims or justifications, the indolence of the Central Tibetan Administration in taking action to pacify the public disgust against the misconduct of these Buddhist teachers is severely lacking and appalling. The bias in dealing with these issues related to religious matter has again proven the political nature and conspiracy behind the ban on Dorje Shugden.
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.
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.
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.
Palmo
October 7, 2018
Finally, the Tibetan Government will have the taste of their own medicine for being obnoxious and arrogant for so many years. They are the worst government that I have ever seen. They can be so corrupted and foolish even when they don’t even have a physical country to rule. The 100,000 Tibetans in exile are very unfortunate to have such government to fight for their welfare.
It is already 60 years in exile and they had accomplished nothing. For 60 years, they received donation and aids from foreign countries and also India. They have so much of privilege as a refugee compared to refugees from other countries. Their Tibetan settlements are still backward and undeveloped. Tibetans are still poor and living in poverty. What happened to all the donations that CTA received? None of it reach the hands of the poor Tibetans that the world is donating to.
While fellow Tibetan living in poverty, the Tibetan leadership lived a high life with 5-star treatment while traveling across the globe to raise awareness for the Tibetan cause. What kind of government is that? They even glorified self-immolation which is an indirect message telling fellow Tibetans that they should take their own life for their country which is totally wrong. Suicide is not something that a government should glorify!
CTA needs to be closed down as soon as possible to stop them for further harming fellow Tibetans. I wish His Holiness will go back to Tibet under China as soon as possible.
Tracy
October 9, 2018
The Indian government has instructed their officials not to attend public events organised by the CTA, they moved the Thank You India event to a smaller venue and they banned the commemoration of the March 10th Tibetan Uprising Day in Delhi. Even with all these clear indications that India is distancing themselves away from the Tibetans, wanting to please China, the CTA does not seem to be too worried at all!
The CTA has not shown any effort in making up with India, they seem to forget they are still living in India and using Indian’s resources. They have not shown appreciation to India at all. If they truly are grateful to India, they should know India wants to have a closer relationship with China and they should help India to accomplish that. Imagine, if the Tibetans are helping India with building a closer relationship with China, I am sure India can say a few good words for the Tibetans and it will be so much easier for the Dalai Lama to go back to Tibet.
The CTA has to face the fact that free Tibet movement is not going to succeed. The Chinese government is not that bad at all, they have provided whatever is necessary for the Tibetans in Tibet so that they are out of poverty and have the same opportunities in life like other Chinese citizens. The CTA should appreciate what India and China have done for the Tibetans, both inside and outside of China.
SabrinaS
October 10, 2018
I find it incredible that CTA can be so dense as not to realise the Indian sentiments after spending almost 60 years in exile on Indian soil. It really glaringly shows how distant CTA is from their host country and never bother to integrate at all to share in India’s concerns. Selfishly only theirs CTA are the only focus ever in all their thoughts and actions. No wonder India finds it so easy to ditch the Tibetans in favour of China. There is absolutely no reasons for India to support the exiles and they had been more than generous. Imagine giving them so much land and giving them self-governance when on Indian soil. Wow! Its like the Vatican within India. I think by now, the India is sick of the Tibetans already, with their airs and arrogance, living in luxury where there are so many Indians struggling to subsist. The Indians exist to work hard for their living whilst the exile exist on pity to be sponsored. Such is the failure of CTA in training their people to be able to live without begging. Time for CTA and the exiles to work quietly in support of their host if they do not want to be kicked out once the Dalai Lama goes.
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.
Anonymous
November 13, 2018
Tibetans are bound to go back to Tibet one day. It is very difficult for them to be a refugee for 60 years and still no progress in getting their country back. Now that Mr Lobsang Sangay announced that Tibetan cause will continue for another 50 years, Tibetans will be a refugee for a whole century. Where on earth a refugee will remain as the refugee for over 100 of years.
Only the Tibetans are able to pull it off because of the generosity of India. India has been and is still very kind to them and that is why they are able to take advantage of them. They do not contribute to anything that India does. They are exempted from tax but still get so much of aids and resources from the government.
Now India is fed up the Tibetans taking advantage of them. The Indians are already unhappy with them being in their country because they are creating problems for India to have a good relationship with China. Indians will certainly not let Tibetans jeopardise their future with China and they might even consider to kick them out of the country to protect the future of its 1.3 billion citizens.
CTA is a joke
November 23, 2018
CTA is getting ridiculous by the year. How shameless can they be to keep on requesting for help while they themselves put little to no effort in getting their own country back? I doubt that they even put in any real effort in getting Tibet back. There is no dialogue or whatsoever between CTA and China. His Holiness the Dalai Lama had to send his own people over secretly to have a secret dialogue with China. Seems like CTA is not doing anything and His Holiness the Dalai Lama is forced to do something on his own.
After 60 years of taking from India, CTA still has the audacity to ask India to make Tibet as part of India’s problem. They had given so much help to Tibetans. Free land, resources, exempted from tax and even travel documents. They are enjoying benefits which are impossible for refugees in other countries. Why does India need to give them more help than what they had already given to the Tibetans?
Mr Sangay really failed as the leader of CTA. He should have led the fight for Tibet’s independence instead of throwing the problem to India. India does not have the obligation to take them in in the first place. It seems like Tibetan is causing problems wherever they go. Tibet cause is already a lost cause because of their own government.
Jampa Samten
November 27, 2018
India and China now pushing ahead with resolution of their border disputes. It looks like India is finally ready to officially drop the Tibet card.
Excerpt:
“India and China will have “early harvest” talks on their vexed border dispute as many agreements have been reached by both sides since their top leaders met in Wuhan, Beijing said on Monday”.
Sino-Indian ‘early harvest’ spells scorched earth for Tibetan dreams.
Too bad for Tibetans in India. Too bad for Tibetan leadership. Their karma coming back soon for all the harms they have done.
Tracy
December 1, 2018
It is a fact now that the CTA is not able to deliver what they have promised to the Tibetans. For the past 60 years, the CTA has promised to free Tibet, they have a lot of fundings from various sources but yet there is no progress in the free Tibet movement.
Many older Tibetans are stuck. They believe what the CTA told them and they waited for 60 years living in very poor conditions, losing out a lot of opportunities in life. Now even if they want to leave India to go to other countries, it will not be possible as they have no proper documents. The CTA is stopping them from getting the Indian citizenship. China may not want them back. They have no more choice but to continue to stay in India as a refugee.
The CTA has sacrificed the future of so many Tibetans just to satisfy their own greed. They have cheated the Tibetans for the past 60 years to fatten their own wallet. I feel very sorry for the Tibetans in exile, I hope the younger generation will have an open mind to see what the CTA is doing to them and make a change for themselves.
Sonam Wangdue
December 2, 2018
Dear Lobsang Sangye and Tibetan Govt in exile in Dharamsala,
How come after 60 years you are still not at the G20 meetings? How come you cannot get your country back? How come the world economies and power are shifting towards the East which is China? How come you cannot get Tibetan autonomy, or freedom or any leeway with China? How come your negotiations with China is a failure and you produced nothing?
You run around begging for FREE MONEY from Europe, Australia, Japan, Canada, Taiwan and US for 60 years now but no one in your refugee community has made it big or successful? Where did all the money go? In your pockets? How come all your Tibetans from India/Nepal are going back to Tibet or leaving to the west. How come your schools in India are empty? How come Dharamsala is emptying out?
How come you are getting weaker and more world governments are ignoring you? How come more are paying attention to China? Less governments are willing to pay attention to you and the Tibet cause? Where is all your rangzen groups? How come they are not effective? Maybe they are disillusioned with your corruption, lies and underhanded tactics and human rights abuses using religion to divide your own people?
What happened to you? Why are you and your community your Tibetan ‘parliament’ such losers and failures? How come you cannot achieve anything?
Are you going to continue to beg for more FREE MONEY to fund your trips, houses, children’s education, vacations, five star hotels, nice brocade chubas, expensive accessories, and properties. You know the ordinary Tibetan in India has gotten nothing in financial help of the hundreds of millions in aid for that last 60 years you Tibetan exiled government pocketed. Is that why your Tibetan people in India and Nepal are all leaving to back to Tibet and the west? You failed?
Your policies and work are not effective.
Too bad.
Thaimonk
December 3, 2018
TIBETANS SHOULD NOT HAVE MONKS AS LEADERS, THAT IS A BIG MISTAKE
Note what Namdol Lhagyari said is progressive and unlike the usual Tibetan rhetoric:
“The problem I see right now is how reliant we are on one individual,” Namdol Lhagyari, 32, the youngest member of Tibet’s exile parliament, said. “I understand that every freedom movement requires one role model, one leader, who would push everyone in the right direction, bring everyone to one goal. But he has reached an age where we will have to prepare ourselves for a post-Dalai Lama.”
Source: https://themediaproject.org/news/2018/12/3/as-the-dalai-lama-ages-tibetan-exiles-turn-to-secular-unity-over-sacred
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These are important points to remember:
1. Tibetan lamas and monks SHOULD not enter politics. They should not hold positions of power, leadership and political roles. It will demean the Dharma. They are not trained, nor qualified nor have the credentials to be in government. They also do much damage to religion as people start to respect them less. The lines between respecting them as spiritual beings (sangha) and speaking against them when they are in government and make wrong decisions become blurred.
2. Monks and nuns should not get involved with the running of the country but should stick to education. Giving good education to the public about ethics, morality and in some cases Buddhism. No one wants to see a political monk or nun. Because it contradicts the very reason they renounced the worldly life in order to enter a life of contemplation, learning, meditation and gaining enlightenment.
3. Look at other countries where Buddhism is strong where sangha is sangha and never get involved with government or being public officials. In Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Sri Lanka etc where there are tens of thousands of sangha, you don’t see them in the government at all. Local or national governments both do not have sangha. Even in Christian countries you don’t see priests in government. That is Tibet’s big mistake to place monks/high lamas in so many government positions and as public officials. Very dangerous for the country as it has proven with Tibet and Tibetans.
4. Monks, nuns and high lamas should do dharma practice, produce books, videos, give teachings, guide the public, do funerals, blessings, be a nurturer, study dharma, build real temples, keep existing temples spiritual, animal shelters, environmentalists, be mediators, help with orphanages, shelters, the poor, half way houses, poor houses, and basically all sorts of charities that benefit the mind and body of sentient beings that is NOT GOVERNMENT BASED. If sangha gives good education, they can produce kind and good leaders to run the country.
Tibetans should never never never allow Sangha (monks, nuns and spiritual personages) to be involved with government, politics and rule of law because it ends up in disaster. That is how Tibet lost it’s country and will never get it back. There are too many monks in the Tibetan Parliament and as leaders remember Samdhong Rinpoche as the prime minister of exiles. That was very bad. The King of Tibet currently is a monk. How does that look? Very political.
Tibet made that huge mistake and Tibet will never recover from it.
Forum: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=6226.0
Thaimonk
December 5, 2018
Differences between Dalai Lama and CTA president put Tibetan politics in a tailspin
By Rajeev Sharma, November 27, 2018 SouthasianMonitor.com
Tibetan politics is in a tailspin as there are signs of serious differences between the 14th Dalai Lama, unquestionably the supreme and undisputed leader of the Tibetans, and Lobsang Sangay, president of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
The immediate provocation is the unceremonious cancellation of the 13th Religious Conference of the Schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon Tradition, which was scheduled between November 29 and December 1 year in Dharamshala. Insiders have revealed that the conference was cancelled by Lobsang without consulting the Dalai Lama.
Even more intriguing is the timing of the move. Knowledgeable sources in the Tibetan establishment in India disclosed that Lobsang made the move while the Dalai Lama was travelling back from Japan, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop it.
Tibetan politics is turning out to be a cloak-and-dagger mystery. According to sources, Lobsang waited until the Dalai Lama was on his way to the airport before ordering the Department of Religion and Culture to cancel the event. Interestingly, the cancellation of the conference is available by way of an announcement in English on the CTA website.
The CTA’s Department of Religion and Culture announced that owing to the sudden demise of the supreme head of the Nyingma tradition, Kathok Getse Rinpoche, who passed away this week in Nepal and in respecting the sentiments of the followers of Nyingma tradition, the 13th Religious Conference of the Schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon Tradition was being indefinitely postponed.
The department cited that many lamas and representatives of the Nyingma tradition were unable to participate because of Rinpoche’s passing away.
On November 22, the CTA organised a prayer service to mourn the demise of Rinpoche, the 7th supreme head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche passed away following an accident on November 19 in Pharping, Nepal. He was 64.
Sources say the Dalai Lama is furious with Lobsang Sangay for trying to take credit for his negotiations with China about returning to Tibet.
Sangay claimed that the Dalai Lama has failed for 60 years in negotiations with China, but he has the power and ability to succeed. This is also an indication of how weak the Dalai Lama’s current position is. Sangay knows that the Dalai Lama has been negotiating with China about returning and he’s trying to position himself to take credit for it. Had this happened a few years ago the Dalai Lama would have had him removed, but since his cancer has become terminal, Sangay has been consolidating his position among the exiled community. He controls the press department of the Tibetan government-in-exile and has done so since he ousted Dicki Chhoyang.
For the record, the head of the department, which cancelled the conference, was appointed by Sangay.
By the time the Dalai Lama returned to India the event was cancelled and announcements were issued to the media while he was still in the flight, which would have prevented a confirmation with the Tibetan leader and nothing could have been done to stop it. The reason given for the cancellation was the death of a senior monk.
Sources said that the real reason for the CTA president to keep the Dalai Lama in the dark was because the latter would decide again whether to back the Karmapa as his successor. The Karmapa issue has been a major reason of discord between the Dalai Lama and the CTA president. Sources spoke about a telephonic conversation between the Dalai Lama and Sangay in this regard on November 22 when the former was in Japan.
During this conversation, furious arguments broke out between the two. The Dalai Lama is said to have “shouted” at Sangay, saying that the Karmapa wouldn’t be chosen and that he wouldn’t be dictated terms by anyone. In this conversation, the Dalai Lama used some expletives in Tibetan language which he did not expect Sangay to understand as the CTA president doesn’t know the language. However, a Lobsang aide is said to have translated what the Dalai Lama said.
This marks the most significant power play ever between the different factions within the Tibetan exile leadership. In other words, it’s now an all-out battle between the Dalai Lama and Lobsang Sangay over the future of the exile community, which may worsen in the days to come.
(The writer is a columnist and strategic analyst who tweets @Kishkindha)
Source: http://southasianmonitor.com/2018/11/27/differences-between-dalai-lama-and-cta-president-put-tibetan-politics-in-a-tailspin/
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This interesting article has much food for thought:
1. Dalai Lama is angry and shouting expletives as Lobsang Sangay. Everyone knows the Dalai Lama is in full control. He claims he’s retired from politics but this is just to say what the west wants to hear so he can continue getting funding. It looks good to the west that he voluntarily gave up power and this makes him look progressive. But the Dalai Lama controls everything from behind and if you don’t agree with his decisions, he will be furious. Every Tibetan knows this well.
2. Interesting the article mentions Dalai Lama’s cancer is terminal. Everyone knew this but the Dalai Lama tries to cover this point up. Why? Who knows? What is the problem if people knows he has cancer. Tibetan govt tries to play it down.
3. Dalai Lama is angry as his successor will only be on his terms and no one else may dictate to him the terms as Lobsang Sangay tried to do so since it is not a democracy in practice. As all Tibetans know, the Dalai Lama is the Lama-King and he has full power and no one may contradict him. The face he shows the west (soft, friendly, diplomatic, easy-going, democratic) is all just for the west. The face Dalai Lama shows his Tibetan people (fierce, King, angersome, in charge and must be obeyed) is how it really is. Tibetans know the Dalai Lama controls everything and fully manages all politics. People are not happy with this but dare not speak up as there is no democracy.
Writer Rajeev Sharma is telling the situation like it really is. Finally the truth is coming out. Tibetan government in exile is a regime in every sense of the world that depends on all the hundreds of millions of free dollars it has been taking from the west, Japan, Australia and so on. It exists on free money. It is not a good government and has failed all negotiations with China due to the Tibetan leaders’ arrogance. Why arrogance? They think the world will force China to do what Tibetans leaders want and that they are so important on everyone’s agenda. Tibetans are on no one’s top agenda and China is an economic and military super power. China will not and will never kowtow to the Tibetan demands. It is the Tibetans who must beg China to be friends and get some concessions if at all possible. No country has ever dared stand up to USA, but China has and China is growing in power yearly. Everyone is scrambling to be China’s friend and saying goodbye to the Tibetan cause. Tibetan cause is the thing of the past and no economic benefits to support Tibetan cause.
These days every country votes in leaders that can better their country’s economy due to world recession. So every country has to do business and trade and aid with China to improve their economy. If you side with the Dalai Lama and Tibetan govt in exile in India, what do you get? Nothing! So leaders of every nation realize this now and will continue to make friends with China and say goodbye to the Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama on a personal level may be rich, famous and sells a lot of books, but that won’t get Tibet back. That won’t win the support of leaders of the free world and other nations.
Jampa Youdon
January 10, 2019
Dear Tibetan government-in-exile (Dharamsala),
Sharmapa Rinpoche is the highest authority in the Karma Kagyu after Karmapa. By age-old tradition, Sharmapa is the one that confirms the real incarnation of Karmapa. He recognized Thaye Dorje as the genuine Karmapa. But Dalai Lama endorsed Orgyen Trinley as the real Karmapa. Dalai Lama is a great lama but there has never been a tradition of him recognizing a Karmapa.
Both ‘Karmapas’ have big followings in and out of Tibet. So which one should we follow? We have to follow the genuine Karmapa. If we follow the fake one, we will get fake teachings, fake lineage and no results. We can even take rebirth in the lower realms.
Only the Tibetan leaders can tell us which is the real Karmapa. You have told us which one is the real Panchen Lama. We follow the Panchen of your choosing. Since then we have condemned China and condemned the fake Panchen Lama. Now it is the same situation with Karmapa. We have denounced the fake Karmapa and ask him to step down. He is destroying the Karma Kagyu Lineage.
This issue has torn the Karma Kagyu sect in half. There are many who are so confused and some gave up Tibetan Buddhism altogether because of this. We must solve the confusion. This does not look good for the Tibetan government in exile because the confusion was started by Tibetan government. I support Dalai Lama and Tibetan government. But so many of us need to know the real Karmapa already. Don’t remain silent. Which one is the real Karmapa.
Tibetan government in exile, you have created two Gelugs (Pro-Dorje Shugden and against), you have created two Panchen Rinpoches, two Karmapas, two Dromo Geshe Rinpoches, two Kundeling Rinpoches and so on. When are you going to solve all the confusion. You are destroying Tibetan Buddhism.
Palmo
February 17, 2019
China has been gaining favor across the globe especially in India. The Indian government had shown great interested in getting closer to China now and Tibetans are getting into a much difficult position with India. There was a leaked memo a while ago where the Indian government is asking their officials to avoid attending any Tibetan related events.
It became much more obvious when India ordered the change of venue for the “Thank you India” event from their main capital Delhi to Dharamsala which is much smaller. It is very obvious that India had chosen their stance between China and Tibet.
It is very logical for India to be in this position because ever since the Tibetans came into India, there are problems after problems that they created which is totally unnecessary for India. India has to bear the consequences for 60 years and now they finally had enough and decided to put a stop to it. Tibetan leadership needs to wake up and see the truth of the world that they denied for 60 years.
Drolma
April 2, 2019
CTA has not done anything beneficial to the Tibetans in exile community or Tibetans in Tibet for the past 60 years. They only create pain and suffering to the normal Tibetans while they are the only people who benefitted financially. The Tibetan leadership only care for themselves, this is the culture, it has been like this since in the old Tibet days.
For the Tibetans in the exile community, they have the first-hand experience with the CTA and it is not pleasant. 20 years ago, CTA imposed the Dorje Shugden ban. The ban did not bring Tibetans closer or more united, it actually creates so much tension in the Tibetan community. The ban also did not to improve the progress of the Tibet cause. In short, the ban only harms the Tibetan community than doing any good.
If CTA is a good government, they will evaluate the result of the ban and it is very clear to see the ban brings no benefit but harm. They will immediately lift the ban, resolve the conflict and unite the Tibetans. As long as they don’t do that, more Tibetans will leave the exile community as they have completely lost their confidence in CTA.
John
October 4, 2019
An obvious sign of India is taking action from the Chinese. India has changed its direction to be a distance from Dalai Lama and closer to the Chinese. India needs China now and this is going to be long term as China would able to bring growth in its economy too. India will not take any risk to jeopardize the relationship with the Chinese for Dalai Lama as India has done a lot for the Tibetan already. India is no longer using Tibetan card and the entire scenario has changed. No doubt India will still say that they are still supporting Dalai Lama but in actual, the objective has changed and Tibetan is just in away between China and India which just a matter of time that India takes further action from the pressure by the Chinese.