We believe that with everybody's help we will be able to save many elements of an ancient civilization and culture, whose philosophy shares common grounds with ancient Greek philosophy. So, the idea for the 1st Pan-European Festival for Tibetan Culture was born, based on the presentation of the day-to-day life of Tibetans expressed through fine arts.
Now that Ogyen Trinley Dorje, better known as the 17th Karmapa, has been cleared of money-laundering charges by the Indian government, it is in order to take a look at the inept handling of a matter of great national importance and religious sensitivity.
But first a recap: A random police check on a car carrying Indian rupees worth a little over
$200,000 on Jan 26 led to a series of raids on the 25-year-old Karmapa’s shelter in exile. His modest living quarters in the Gyuto Tantric monastery in the sleepy village of Sidhbari in Himachal Pradesh yielded cash worth over $1 million in some 20 foreign currencies, including about 10 per cent of the total amount in Chinese yuan.
Lower level police officials and unidentified sources quickly fed gullible reporters with charges ranging from the Karmapa being a Chinese ‘mole’ sent to India to spread Chinese influence in Himalayan border states to money-laundering to shady land deals. Few bothered to check with the Karmapa’s aides before repeating the serious charges. Some media outlets aired blatant lies such as Chinese SIM cards having been found in his monastery and that he had visited Hong Kong and met Chinese officials there. (more…)
The recent police raids conducted at Karmapa’s residence in Dharamsala with media that led to recovery of international currencies including Chinese currency and subsequent accusation by the media, particularly some television channels of him being a Chinese spy and money laundering is most unfortunate and seemed pre planned. As the spokesperson for Karmapa Mr Karma Toden, former MP Rajya Sabha rightly said in his press conference” the very flight of Karmapa to India ten year back gained international media coverage and exposed China’s misrule in Tibet ,which could not have been work of Chinese spy”. Generally, malicious attacks on defaming the institution of spiritual masters like Shankracharya and Swami Ram Dev and others in India have been the modern day trend of so called secular media
His Holiness Karmapa, the Head of the Kagyupa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, has millions of followers around the world including those from the Chinese who come to visit him in hundreds every day. Ever since he came to India, every visitor who comes to meet him undergoes a strict security drill. Every one of the visitor is registered and frisked by the security officials and the itinerary of his tours outside Dharamsala is undertaken with prior approval of the external affairs ministry, Government of India. He has no freedom to move freely as he wishes and meet guests without the knowledge of the security agencies.
In accordance with Buddhist tradition, devotees offer money in their own currency – be it an Indian, an American, European or a Chinese at any given time of the day. Hence it would be ridiculous to charge any religious head of being a spy simply because his disciples offer him Chinese currency. The offerings were made in the presence of security agencies and will continue to happen unless the Government of India opens a foreign exchange counter at his office and makes it mandatory for every disciple to exchange and offer in Indian currency. Yes, it is a fact that the staff should have acted according to the law of the land and promptly deposited the money to the trust account without accumulating. This was a total administrative failure and trying to link this to unfound issues and defame an institution is misleading and disinformation.
Karmapa left behind his monastery, one of the richest in Tibet, his dear parents and close disciples to come to the land of his Guru and not to be a subject of humiliation like this. Even after 11 years in India, he is not allowed to visit Rumtek, his main seat in Sikkim or buy land and built a new monastery to be called his own in Himachal Pradesh and is still staying in a monastery that does not belong to his sect. Yet even at this young age, he inherited a responsibly to logistically support thousands of his monks and nuns in various monasteries in India and Nepal including his main monastery in Sikkim. These monasteries neither have trees where money is grown nor received any kind of Central or state Government funds to meet daily expenses of for food, clothing and studies. They are dependent on their Lamas. Personally Karmapa does not have even a pocket on his saffron robe.
Ever since Tibetans came to exile 60 years back, with all the money and power, China could not win the heart of a single Tibetan who will spy for them with a design to hurt India’s security and that includes His Holiness Karmapa. On the almost all the of six million Tibetans in Tibet turn their heart towards India where their ultimate refuge (soul ) His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Karmapa and others live. Off course the Chinese have every reason to suspect Tibetans but why India? Many Tibetans who studied in India and returned back to Tibet are today languishing in Chinese jails for their crime of studying in India. In India, many Tibetans have laid their life from the hills of Kargil to the plains of Bangladesh for the security of their adopted motherland, outside of the media glare for security reasons. Tibetan youths continue to serve in the Indian army with dedication.
WhenOver 50,000 people gathered on September 26, 2010 in the peaceful Himalayan state of Sikkim and organize rally to urge the Government of India to lift travel restrictions so the Karmapa can come home, why were the media not excited then as today to highlight the sentiments of his disciples?.The Karmapa lineage’s relations with the Sikkimese people date back to the time of the 12th Karmapa, Changchub Dorji (1703–1732). It is time that media understand the depth of the rich Buddhist Sangha tradition in general and particularly the true sentiments of the disciples instead of hurting them by throwing grossly speculative and baseless accusations. Karmapa is neither a spy of any country nor a magician to perform tricks as challenged by one of the claimant of the Rumtek throne from time to time. He is an institution that embodies 900 years old legacy of Kagyu tradition of compassion and peace. Such accusations will be music to the ears of Communist Chinese authority and I wish our media be little mindful of playing such music.
The writer is an editorial consultant to Radio Free Asia, Washington DC and the Asia Regional Coordinator of the Conservancy of Tibetan Art and Culture, an international NGO.
Zurich, October 26th 2010: more than 350 people took part at today’s demonstration of solidarity held for Tibet. They protested in front of the Chinese consulate and urged the authorities to unconditionally meet the freedom of language.
More than 350 Tibetans and supporters marched from the Tessinerplatz to the Chinese consulate. They marched silently trying to shout in sign language as well as hold their banners and Tibetan flags in order to protest against the Chinese government decision to replace Tibetan as medium of instruction by Chinese language in Tibetan schools. Many of the attendees wore a mask to hide their mouth. Thus, they symbolically called attention to the prohibition of the Tibetan
language in Tibet.
The demonstration was held under the slogan ‘Equality of People. Freedom of Language.’ The goal of this was to support the Tibetans in Tibet as well as to show solidarity with their co-citizen. A banner with the aforementioned slogan has been created and signed by the demonstrators. At the end of the event, two representatives of the TYAE handed out the banner to the Chinese consulate.
The demonstration was organized by a the following three Tibetan associations: Tibetan Youth association in Europe (TYAE), Swiss Tibetan friendship association (STFA) and the Tibetan Woman’s organization in Switzerland (TWOS)
Tibet organizations Swiss Tibetan friendship association
www.tibetfocus.com
Tibetan Woman’s organization in Switzerland
www.tfos.ch
Tibetan youth association in Europe
www.tibetanyouth.org
Further information available on:
www.tibetswiss.com
Budapest, Hungary, 20 September, 2010 - “At 16 years-old I lost my freedom and at the age of 24, I lost my country”, said His Holiness the Dalai Lama during an address to the Members of the Hungarian Parliament and invited guests this morning. “Last 51 years, I remained a refugee.”
His Holiness spoke about the October 1956 Hungarian revolution against the Soviet rule. He said at that time he was in Tibet but emotionally felt very close to those freedom fighters.
“Power of justice is more powerful than power of gun. It (the power of gun) is only a temporary power. It cannot crush the power of truth,” said His Holiness. He further said that the Tibetan issue cannot be solved through suppression. His Holiness reiterated that the Tibetans are not seeking separation from China but a mutually beneficial solution to the Tibetan issue – genuine autonomy.
The Hungarian Parliament rolled out the red carpet for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The President of the Hungarian Parliament’s Tibet Group and the Deputy leader of the LMP, the new political party in Hungary, received His Holiness at the Central Entrance of the Parliament. Also the Chairperson of the Parliament’s Human Rights Committee called on His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Ms. Szabo Timea the Deputy leader of the LMP said, “We are here to express our full support for the Tibetan causes. We’ll support regional general autonomy to preserve Tibetan culture and identity dating back to thousands of years.” She is also the Deputy Chair Parliamentary Committee of Human Rights.
The LMP also express great concern about Tibetan environment and the impact by the climate change. His Holiness encouraged the Hungarian MPs to visit Tibet to see the situation for themselves.
In the afternoon His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed students and members of the faculty of Central European University. The University has students from 100 countries and faculty from 40 Countries.
Tomorrow morning, His Holiness leaves for Passau, Germany.
Today marks the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan people’s peaceful uprising in 1959 against Communist China’s repression in Tibet, as well as the second anniversary of the peaceful protests that erupted across Tibet in March 2008. On this occasion, I pay homage to those heroic Tibetan men and women, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet, and pray for an early end to the sufferings of those still oppressed in Tibet. Despite the great hardships Tibetans have faced for many decades, they have been able to keep up their courage and determination, preserve their compassionate culture and maintain their unique identity. It is inspiring that today a new generation of Tibetans continues to keep Tibet’s just cause alive. I salute the courage of those Tibetans still enduring fear and oppression. Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, it is the responsibility of all Tibetans to maintain equality, harmony and unity among the various nationalities, while continuing to protect our unique identity and culture. Many Tibetans in Tibetan areas are working in various responsible posts in the party, government and military, helping Tibetans in whatever way they can. We recognise the positive contribution that many of them have made up to now, and obviously when Tibet achieves meaningful autonomy in the future, they will have to continue to fulfil such responsibilities. (more…)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama Attends Religious Ceremonies on Tibetan New Year
February 14, 2010
Dharamshala -- His Holiness the Dalai Lama presided over religious
ceremonies at the main Buddhist temple in Dharamshala this morning,
marking Losar or the "Year 2137 of the Iron-Tiger" of Tibetan calender.
Later, His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivered a brief address to
thousands of Tibetans gathered for the ceremony.
His Holiness offered greetings to Tibetans living inside and outside
Tibet and people of the Himalayan region who share same culture and
religion as Tibetans. His Holiness extended his good wishes and
gratitude to the international community for taking interest in and
supporting the just cause of Tibetans.
"Despite facing great problems in Tibet for many years, the Tibetan
people living inside have shown indomitable courage and sincerity in
standing up to the situation," said His Holiness the Dalai Lama. (more…)
Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen and I, accompanied by two members of our Task Force, Tenzin P. Atisha and Bhuchung K. Tsering, and Jigmey Passang from the Task Force Secretariat, visited China from January 26 to 31, 2010, for the ninth round of discussions with representatives of the Chinese leadership. This round was held after a gap of 15 months. We returned to Dharamsala on February 1, 2010 and have formally reported today to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, as well as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
In Beijing, we had a session with Mr. Du Qinglin, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference as well as Minister of the Central United Front Work Department, on January 30. We had a day-long discussion with Executive Vice Minister Zhu Weiqun and Vice Minister Sithar on January 31, 2010. Mr. Nyima Tsering, a Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Congress, also participated in these meetings.
We first arrived in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, on January 26, 2010. Before beginning our programmes there, we formally presented to the Central United Front Work Department, a Note relating to the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for All Tibetans that we had given during the previous eighth round of dialogue in November 2008. The Note contained seven points that addressed the fundamental issues raised by the Chinese leadership during the eighth round and some constructive suggestions for a way forward in the dialogue process. The seven points include respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of the PRC, respecting the Constitution of the PRC, respecting the “Three Adherences,” respecting the hierarchy and authority of the Chinese Central Government, Concerns raised by the Central Government on specific competencies referred to the Memorandum, recognising the core issue, and offering His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s cooperation for a mutually beneficial solution. (more…)
