TIBETAN

Volume 14, Issue 4 july-august 2010

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n this auspicious occasion of the a genuine democracy. There is no way nature] as well as the sky [above]//May seventy-fifth birthday we can repay our debts of gratitude to [I] also remain eternally to serve as one Ocelebration of His Holiness the His Holiness the Dalai Lama. However, who solves the infinite sentient beings’ Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal with a strong sense of the realisation of myriad problems,” His Holiness immerses leader of the Tibetan people, the Kashag, all that he has done for us, we would like himself in their service. We have nothing on behalf of the Tibetans inside and to re-pledge ourselves today that we shall but admiration for all his endeavours, but outside Tibet, as well as all of his disciples put into real practice the many valuable these are certainly taking a great toll on and well-wishers across the globe, makes advice that he has given to us. His Holiness’ health. The physical obeisance to him and prays that he may wellbeing of His Holiness is very live for hundreds of years. That nothing untoward has happened to important for humanity in general, and for the person of His Holiness the Dalai Lama the short and long-term benefits of the Since his childhood until now, His thus far is mainly due to his altruistic Tibetan people in particular. Therefore, we Holiness the Dalai Lama, while developing feelings and karmic merits, the protection would like to implore him to kindly see to it a great sense of empathy and compassion given by the guardian deities of Tibet, that his daily programmes do not come in for all sentient beings, has provided the collective merit of the Tibetan people, the way of his good health. enormous service to humanity by and particularly due to the assistance and catering to the needs of people with co-operation extended by the central and A few leaders of the People’s Republic of different mental dispositions while, at the state governments of India and its great China, who are blind to choosing between same time, contributing right and wrong and to the maintenance and who lack foresight promotion of the entire due to their teachings of the preoccupation with Buddha Sakyamuni, short-term personal known in the Buddhist and political power world as the “Fourth gains, are liberally Guide”. Particularly in spending both this post-modern era, human and financial His Holiness has resources to issue provided inspirational baseless accusations guidance to the against and to believers (in all slander His Holiness. religions of the world) This is because of the and non-believers jealousy arising out alike. Transcending of their inability to the bounds of religion, match His Holiness’ His Holiness has also meritorious deeds all given unprecedented Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL over the world. Their His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing the gathering on July 6, 2010 at Dharamshala. and timely advice of actions, which what he calls “secular ethics”, people. While expressing our heart-felt resemble spitting in the air that will fall back emphasising on the need to develop thanks to all of them, and especially to on themselves, has become a source for universal responsibility through the those overseeing the security of His the people of the world to view the promotion of basic human values and Holiness, we would like to urge them to autocratic Chinese leaders as the ones who inter-religious harmony and co-existence further intensify their assistance and co- are unable to accept the truth and who for the common good of the world we live operation in this respect. rely only on lies and violence rather than in. Moreover, for resolving the issue of seeking truth from facts. This has also Tibet, His Holiness has come out with With great compassion, His Holiness become a condition for the Tibetans to the mutually-beneficial Middle-Way labours day in and day out for the benefit remain more united. However, as stated in policy and non-violent means to realise of all humanity. Inspired by this verse of the Indian and Tibetan treatises on worldly it. His Holiness has further transformed Shantideva, the great Bodhisattva: “Like affairs that the power of the opposition the nature of the exile Tibetan polity into the earth and the other great elements [of should not be underestimated or

4 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 DOCUMENTATION neglected, the Kashag would like to make and infiltrations. Moreover, each Tibetan Tibet to preserve their unique character some important appeals to the Tibetans must sincerely and courageously take of good moral conduct without losing in and outside Tibet at this critical period. part in the election processes by not their spirit. Good moral conduct is not only shirking their democratic responsibilities a symbol of the Tibetans but also a source As a result of the clear display of the and rights. It is very important to use for the Chinese and the people around united Tibetan spirit in 2008, the sympathy one’s own intelligence, rather than the world to have affection for and to and support to the Tibetan cause by the following what others say, in making the support our cause. Likewise, the young people of the world, and due especially right choice of candidates in the ensuing Tibetans must make efforts towards their to His Holiness’ achievements and great elections. The Kashag would like to general studies, and particularly towards deeds, the other side is using all its appeal to all the Tibetan people to give a becoming professionals well-versed in political, financial and human powers to serious thought over these. both traditional and modern education. create discord among Tibetans and between Tibetans and the local For over fifty years, the Tibetans in and The mutually beneficial Middle-Way communities where Tibetans live in exile. outside Tibet have been able to withstand policy, which has been adopted by the overwhelming majority of the Tibetans It is particularly using many deceitful the unbearable circumstances and under the guidance of His Holiness the means to erect obstacles on the way of emergencies with great courage and Dalai Lama, is the sole way to resolve Holiness’ activities and deeds globally. strength, and for over four generations the the issue of Tibet. The Kashag is The Kashag would like to make an Tibetans have been able to maintain their currently pursuing this policy, based on emphatic appeal to the Tibetans in and religion, culture and tradition. This is solely the fact that it enjoys the overwhelming outside Tibet that they should remain alert due to the grace of His Holiness the Dalai majority support of the Tibetans and the Lama. Furthermore, the fact that Tibetans to these Chinese manipulations and Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has endorsed always be careful in maintaining unity have, in un-diminishing spirit, been able it unanimously. We believe that all of the among ourselves and keeping good to continue our non-violent movement is Tibetan people will, after having relied relations with the local communities. a matter of great pride for us. Looking at on their respective intelligence to the changes that are taking in the world ascertain the merit of this policy, support Since the upcoming elections for the and within the country, the issue of Tibet it whole-heartedly. fifteenth Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and is heading towards finding a solution. the third directly-elected Kalon Tripa are Finally, the Kashag prays that His crucially important, the people at large are Nevertheless, His Holiness often states Holiness may live long and all his wishes currently engaged in serious discussions that one must hope for the best and be spontaneously fulfilled. May the truth and debates as to whom they should vote. prepare for the worst. Hence if the issue of the issue of Tibet prevail soon! At such a time, the people should be of Tibet takes time to resolve, then it is careful about the other side’s evil designs important for the Tibetans in and outside The Kashag

oday marks the 75th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. TTibetans inside and outside Tibet, along with Tibetan supporters all around the world, will be celebrating this occasion and honouring a man of peace and wisdom.

His Holiness often describes himself as a ‘simple monk, no more, no less.’ But His Holiness represents much more to many people around the world. For thousands, he is a source of spiritual refuge and a connection to inner peace and harmony. He has travelled the world, building bridges between the different Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 5 DOCUMENTATION faiths. He has used his position to His Holiness has expressed a willingness Bush to award the Congressional promote wisdom, compassion, and non- to visit China and engage directly with Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai violence as a solution - not only in Tibet high level officials. It is my sincere hope Lama for his ‘many enduring and - but to other world conflicts. that Beijing will send a confident message outstanding contributions to peace, by inviting His Holiness to China for non-violence, human rights, and substantive discussions. religious understanding.’ The Dalai Lama has made the human rights situation in Tibet an issue of His Holiness has asked for international On the 75th birthday of His Holiness international concern, and it is long past support for his non-violent efforts to the Dalai Lama, I offer my continued time to resolve it. A negotiated engage the Chinese government. I am appreciation of his life’s work agreement would ensure internal proud to say the U.S. Congress has been promoting compassion, peace, and stability in Tibet and bolster China’s a bedrock of support for the Tibetan human rights for all of the people of reputation in the world. cause. In 2007, I stood with President the world.

oday I join Free Tibet in nor can they carry or display a My friend’s lifelong commitment to celebrating the 75th birthday of photograph of their Dalai Lama without compassion, tolerance and non- my great friend Tenzin Gyatso, fear of punishment, including detention violence have earned him respect T th throughout the world, and in 1989 he His Holiness the 14 Dalai Lama of Tibet, and even torture. Great efforts are taken the spiritual and political leader of in Tibet to minimise his influence: was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Tibetans both inside Tibet and in exile. monks and nuns are forced to denounce his non-violent struggle for the the Dalai Lama or face a variety of liberation of Tibet. He has inspired not My great sadness today is that in Tibet measures from fines to expulsion from only me, but also people of all faiths people face very grave consequences their monastery or nunnery. from all corners of the globe, to live if they join me in celebrating the with compassion and grace even when birthday of this extraordinary man who All these restrictions are terrible faced with the most difficult they hold so dear. Tibetans in Tibet violations of the universal right to circumstances. cannot openly pray for his long life or freedom of religion and religious belief burn incense to mark his birthday, as as outlined in the Universal While people across the world freely is traditional for Tibetan Buddhists; Declaration of Human Rights. and publicly celebrate this most auspicious day, the 75th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, I join Free Tibet in asking the Chinese government to please, please stop preventing the veneration in Tibet of a man who is such an example to us all of compassion, tolerance and forgiveness. To the international community, I ask you today to please hold in your hearts and thoughts the many people in Tibet who are forced to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama in secret. The people of Tibet may not be able to read my words today, but my wish is that they know that we stand in solidarity with them, petitioning on their behalf that they may be able openly and freely to celebrate this 75th birthday of their Archbishop Desmond Tutu with His Holiness the Dalai Lama revered and beloved Dalai Lama.

6 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FEATURE

NDTV: He is easily one of the world’s findings a healthy mind is very important look at human beings from the President most respected and more importantly, for a healthy body. So I think in my own or King or Prime Minister upto beggar ... the most loved political and spiritual case, comparatively I think my mental in my eyes all are the same. So whenever leaders. He was only 2 years old when state is quite peaceful. Whenever I am I meet people I look at them as just other he was recognized as the future Dalai hurt or face some problem, I look at it human beings ... basically our brothers Lama, in fact, the 14th Dalai Lama and from a wider way, a holistic way and that and sisters. So that also creates more only 6-years-old when he began his also helps to reduce anxiety. peace in my mind. But that level of mind monastery education. And today, as he does not remain always. Occasionally, turns 75, we are extremely privileged to NDTV: Many people describe you as a sometimes I burst. be with him in Dharamshala at his twinkly-eyed, you know there is a twinkle monastery, a home away from home not in your eyes, you are always laughing, NDTV: You get angry? just for His Holiness but also for the you make us laugh, you make everybody The Dalai Lama: Oh yes yes. Tibetan people in exile for decades now. We look NDTV: You get angry? back and ahead at his life The Dalai Lama: Oh yes, if and times, we also have you ask some silly question with us today in our repeatedly, then I may lose special audience not just my temper. his followers but also people who visit NDTV: Now I am scared. Dharamshala, which has The Dalai Lama: Actually got an international name once it happened in because of His Holiness, America. One New York and of course tourists and Times columnist, one lady, foreigners and followers she asked me, first some come from all across the other questions, then she globe and like I said it’s asked me, what I want my clearly a privilege to be name or legacy to be in with you your Holiness. future. And I told her, I am a Buddhist practitioner and You know, most of us mere mortals, when who meets you happier, calmer, do you I do not think of my name like that. Then we approach our birthday, sometimes we always internally feel as positive as you we had some other discussion, then are happy, sometimes there is a sense of appear or do you feel the need to appear again she asked me the same question, fear that life is slipping by, that we are more positive than you feel for the sake and I answered in the same way, then getting old, but you seem to be of the millions who follow you again after some time she asked me the perennially young. How do you manage everywhere? same question... then I lost my temper. to stay so young hearted? The Dalai Lama: No, mostly, as I already The Dalai Lama: I think sufficient sleep mentioned, my mental state is quite calm NDTV: This is a lesson for me to ask and... and then also I consider every soul as only once. human being. Basically we are all the The Dalai Lama: Good, good. NDTV: I never get enough of that, I think same, nothing different, physically we that’s the problem. are the same. Of course there is a little NDTV: But when you get angry, do you The Dalai Lama: As a Buddhist monk difference in colour, or size of the nose, express it? You know in modern urban there is no dinner but a very heavy otherwise you see we are completely life, a lot of us get angry very quickly, breakfast and lunch so sufficient food. I same. If you ask scientists what are the we lead highly stressful lives, we have think physically these things are differences in the brain or in the neuron... short tempers. When you get angry how important. Then another factor, nothing. We are therefore emotionally do you control it? Because you are a nowadays according to latest scientific same, mentally also same. So I always Buddhist, a spiritual leader? JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 7 FEATURE The Dalai Lama: You see when I get From the Buddhist eye they are masters, Dalai Lama of the nation, I was still with angry or irritated due to very small but from general eye they are Nalanda my parents, my younger brother, elder mistakes of some people, then I just professors, very brilliant. They have in brother, sister etc and then I think when express and then finish, nothing. But writing advising not to believe in the I was about 5 years, I reached Lhasa and sometime when it is a more serious form Buddhist word rather believe in their own was then separated from my mother. of anger, I try to separate myself from investigation and logic. So I think that’s anger, then watch my anger, that the basic way of thinking, it’s the NDTV: For a child that must have been emotion... then immediately the strength Nalanda tradition. very difficult? of anger diminishes, according to my The Dalai Lama: During my sort of own experience. And then, I also share NDTV: That is practical and scientific. station or living in Potala, at some with my friends, just as these, in order The Dalai Lama: Yes. So I am training distance was a building where they to bring more calmness to my mind. You through that way, and then personally, could stay but my mother preferred to cannot have some sort of special since my childhood I always had this stay somewhere else. I think in summer practice for each case, but you must curiosity...wanting to know what’s this time, every other day they used to come, build your basic mental attitude in a and what’s that. And particularly when I occasionally I also went to their home. healthy way, like in the case of a healthy was very young, the British Mission in After a few years, my tutor put some body if the immune system is strong then Lhasa... when a new person came, he restrictions that I should not go to meet some virus or germs can’t disturb you always brought me some toys. So when my mother. I felt a little anger but I obeyed much, so similarly, your mental attitude I received information of some new his instructions. But sometimes as a has to be calm, then if some disturbance officials in the British Mission in Lhasa, child when my lessons were not very come, even if some negative emotions I always got very excited, ‘Oh! what kind successful then my mood would be bad. come, they remain for very short period, of new toy would come?’ Then as soon as the lessons finished I all the emotions remain on the surface, would run to my mother’s place and and do not disturb much in depth. NDTV: What was your favourite toy? spend some time there, and in the The Dalai Lama: Trains, you know beginning I would be determined that I NDTV: Now tell me something, you railway, like that (gestures) and cars. would never return for the lesson but spoke about the brain, the human brain, Anyway when I received such things, then when the time for the afternoon but you are the kind of person who for few moments I would play and then I lesson would come, I slowly returned. married a scientific temperament of would try to know the system that inquisitiveness with spirituality, which caused the movement and then I would NDTV: So that actually sounds like any is very rare. And I read somewhere that always open it up. Actually, many toys other child who was traumatised by on your table, you have the model of were damaged in the process. And then exams, but you use this interesting..... the human brain that you keep after coming to India finally, I got the The Dalai Lama: So therefore, in one assembling and trying to understand... opportunity of meeting people from way I was isolated from my mother, from it’s very rare for a spiritual leader to different religious traditions that was my parents, but also they used to always believe so much in science, where did immensely helpful, then meeting people come. Then what happened was that that come to you from? from different professions and then there were sweepers and also other The Dalai Lama: I believe, firstly, that if eventually scientists. As I was officials. Of course in ceremonies or you are a genuine religious practitioner, interested, I became more acquainted official functions they would show great especially a Buddhist, you have to be with them, had more discussions with respect but usually when I played with realistic. So in order to develop a realistic them and found them very, very useful, them they did not treat me as a Dalai approach, a realistic awareness, you very helpful. Lama. They would often defeat me, must know the reality. So in that respect, sometimes I would cry, I did not want to the scientific way of thinking, their NDTV: But you know, one of the most be defeated. So they treated me in a method of investigating the reality is compelling facts about you your normal way, including those sweepers very important, very useful. I think Holiness is that you still retain a child- who later become my best friends. They basically some of my friends may already like, if I may use that phrase, a child-like are uneducated but very honest, very know, that Buddhism in general, innocence, a child like humour, yet you trustworthy people. particularly the Nalanda tradition, their were only two years old when you were way of thinking is very scientific. So recognised as the next Dalai Lama. Do NDTV: You use this word ‘realist’ talking Buddha himself has made it very clear in you sometimes, speaking as a human about scientific temperament, this one of his quotations that all his being and not a holy man today, do you phrase talking about realistic approach followers should not accept his look back and feel that your childhood has defined your politics, you have two teachings out of faith but out of was lost? avatars, you are a spiritual leader and thorough investigation and experiment. The Dalai Lama: No. I think in a way you are also the political leader of Tibet, Sometimes I refer to these great spiritual yes, to some extent. For two or three your realistic approach where you have leaders of Nalanda as as great masters. years after they recognised me as the spoken about autonomy for Tibet rather

8 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FEATURE than independence is the Middle Way, NDTV: You still have faith in the US? I and worshipped and befriended the Dalai is the moderate approach, yet it seems remember when I met you last time, you Lama, one of the few Holy man with like it hasn’t moved Beijing, it hasn’t had come back from your first trip from whom you can crack a few jokes. We are moved China, do you regret at 75 your Washington and President Obama had going to hear from all of them today and moderate political approach? not met you. Subsequently he did but we are carrying from Delhi the special The Dalai Lama: No, no. Of course many people think he acted under message for you your holiness from one among Tibetans and among our Chinese pressure. So do you still have of India’s best known photographers, supporters, our friends, there are some faith in Washington? Raghu Rai, who has spent a long time signs of increasing criticism about our The Dalai Lama: Of course. The photographing you and following you approach but if you look at the whole President himself when I met, but before around and he loves you a lot and this is picture, although there was some of course our in-person meeting, I knew the message Raghu Rai has sent for you... positive result from the Chinese him through correspondence and government, the whole thing inside through telephone. He is a very good Raghu Rai’s message: Your Holiness, Tibet completely failed. From the person. Then afterall America is a many happy returns of the day on your Chinese government side there is no democratic country, finally both the 75th birthday and you may look as positive result, but the Chinese people, Houses are very important and also is handsome and as strong like the not the entire 1.3 billion people, but some the public thinking. Usually in a Himalayas, like you have always looked. intellectuals, some professors and democratic country, it’s the public Your Holiness, you know that we all love writers, and some artists, I think before thinking that reflects in the Parliament, you and I personally love you very the Tiananmen massacre happened, very in the Houses, that in turn reflects on deeply because each time you have few... after that more and more Chinese the administration. In America, at the given me a high. My mind, body and are showing their concern and showing public level, both the houses are very soul gets enriched and rejuvenated with solidarity with us. Now a number of sympathetic, very supportive. Then in the energy that you exuberate. You are a Chinese intellectuals are showing us this country also, the Indian government highly spiritual and evolved person and their support, and I can give an example can easily support our stand. so my question to you is, please connect for that ... see in the last two years there with the supreme energy for our sake have been over 1000 articles written in NDTV: But the Indian government did and find out when are we going to go Chinese language by Chinese writers, not let you make a political speech when back to Tibet so that I can travel back more than 100 of them living in China. you went to Tawang in Arunachal with you in your home land and All these articles fully support our way Pradesh. They said that you were to visit photograph you all over again. My best of approach, and are very critical of their as a spiritual leader. Do you sometimes wishes again and lots of love. government policy. think that India is also giving in to The Dalai Lama: Thank you. pressure from the Chinese because India NDTV: I agree but do you... is trying to form a parallel strategic NDTV: And I guess Raghu asked the The Dalai Lama: Within the Chinese relationship with China. Doesn’t that question that so many wants to know. government there are many officials who disturb you? Do you believe in your heart of hearts personally express their support for our The Dalai Lama: Previously, I used to and I ask you this because you are a approach. This is what I feel is the positive respond when people asked what is the realist, “do you believe that you will result, but there is a problem which has to government of India’s attitude to the ever go back to Tibet in this lifetime?” be solved with the Chinese, and we cannot issue, and I have always said that those The Dalai Lama: Oh yes. stop it by ourselves. Sometimes I jokingly fields in which the Indian government tell that these people are new guests could help, it has provided maximum help NDTV: You still believe that? without proper invitation. Such guests - in educational field, in rehabilitation The Dalai Lama: Yes. Firstly the have come with a gun. Once they build a etc. In the political field, government of Tibetan spirit is inside Tibet and despite trench, they will control everything - the India’s attitude or policy towards China so much of change or new development Tibetan way of life, tell us how to be a in general and particularly Tibet I and also brainwashing or torture on good Buddhist. Sometimes the Chinese described as over cautious. It’s various matters, Tibet’s spirit never media describing me, ‘Dalai Lama not understandable. But in recent years, the changes, it is forever very strong. Then teaching proper Buddhism’. So it seems government of India’s stand on this issue on top of that many Chinese, according they know better. So the Tibetan problem is now more firm. to some information there are over 200 created from outside and so we have to millions of Buddhists in China including find a solution with them. So Chinese NDTV: We are in conversation with His many party members and high officials people support is very essential. Also the Holiness The Dalai Lama on the occasion who are outwardly communist atheist outside world, including the United States, of his 75th birthday in Dharamshala at but inside they are Buddhists. Sooner Indian government, European Parliament... his monastery so it’s a very special or later they have to realise that their all these influential bodies they also very occasion for us as well and for all the policy is unrealistic and will always be easily support ... people who have known and followed counter-productive.

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 9 FEATURE NDTV: Do you ever feel because while Tibetan people. So finally it’s up to the describe as ancient Indian thought. So I you are a holy leader, spiritual leader but Tibetan people. So time to time we ask myself describe me as the messenger of you are also human at heart. Do you people. ancient Indian thought. So wherever I sometimes feel that in this issue of going go I promote these two things. These back to Tibet for you or for your people, NDTV: So you are saying is that if Tibetan two things till my death I am committed. time is not on your side anymore? people wanted complete independence or The Dalai Lama: Oh yes, 51 years have more aggressive approach you would have Third is the Tibetan issue, so when I retire passed but as I mentioned earlier, you not discouraged them? completely, I will have more time energy see, last 60 years or more than 60 years, The Dalai Lama: As I just mentioned, and will spent on these two things things are changing quite rapidly in almost 99% are totally dedicated to non- China so the present situation cannot violent methods. The number of people NDTV: Have you set a time frame remain forever. We have to believe that supporting independence is growing mentally for this retirement? things will change but then if you ask, and we also sometimes find it difficult to The Dalai Lama: No. The difficulty is how soon, that is the question and explain because there is failure inside that people have too much emotion and nobody knows the answer. Tibet. Still from time to time we ask just too much expectation. that...I think 2008 in November we had NDTV: In your lifetime? this big meeting here and we asked the NDTV: People won’t let you retire? The Dalai Lama: Oh, in the next 5 years, people and there were strong voices The Dalai Lama: Well that is little bit 10 years or I think 15 years, things will about independence and criticism of our difficult, but then also finally I am also a change definitely. approach but finally majority of them human being and I also have the right. support our existing stand. NDTV: You joked once that to retire was NDTV: Well retirement is your human also your human right? NDTV: So if the majority opinion within right of life but I don’t think its The Dalai Lama: Yes. Since 2001, we the community changes, you will be happening. There are so many people already achieved elected political willing to change your position? and let’s start taking some questions. leadership of our establishment here. The Dalai Lama: Have to. I am not a We have Catherine Levine... My position is same as a retired dictator. Logically we are criticising position, so now I am looking forward these dictator policies and a person who Catherine: I am from Canada and I have to complete retirement. criticises them, how can he practice studied philosophy of the mind so I am being a dictator? very interested to hear you speak and NDTV: Do you think the Tibet very honoured to be here today and movement will remain the same if you do NDTV: Why do you want to retire Happy Birthday. You indicated that you retire because there are many people and then? What would this movement be do have hope for Tibet’s future? What young Tibetans who feel your message without you? are the main sources of hope for you? of non-violence has actually not worked The Dalai Lama: Age... and it is a The Dalai Lama: Truth. Honesty. because it has not managed to move a democracy, a national struggle - people Transparency. Our voice here is very cold un-feeling government in Beijing. should carry on the responsibility not small and very weak but people trust. So do you see those young people just one individual. So now I am 75 and Other side, very few trust. So the truth, today, some of them who talk about now I am looking forward to and think it honesty and transparency is the source having a more aggressive approach. Do time for retirement of our hope and source of our strength. you worry about what will happen to So the power of truth brings trust and this movement after you? NDTV: Are you serious or are you with that self-confidence. Then The Dalai Lama: No. Up to now inside joking? transparency, which brings trust and Tibet and as well as outside Tibet I can The Dalai Lama: I am serious, you know trust brings friendship. imagine almost 95% or even I may say I have three commitments: Number one 99% of people are totally dedicated to commitment is the promotion of secular NDTV: You have never in all these years non violent paths. Among Tibetans there values, irrespective of a believer or non lost hope? Not one moment of self- is the youth organisation and some believer. So that’s why I have always doubt, not one moment of thinking that other organisations that want complete received invitation from different parts its been decades and decades and I am freedom, complete independence so here of the world. Not that they invited me as not able to change anything, not one there is the difference is. Somekind of Dalai Lama but Dalai Lama’s thinking is moment of losing hope? debate is going on in our community. something they feel is quite realistic or The Dalai Lama: No. Of course some suitable so that is my number one disappointments occasionally come but Actually from our side, from time to time, commitment. basically as I mentioned earlier, we we ask people since we are totally believe in truth. So when we, my officials dedicated to the democratic principle Two - promotion of religious harmony. and some set of Chinese officials meet, and also the Tibet issue is the issue of Both of these two things I usually since we are totally honest, truthful and

10 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FEATURE transparent, we always feel very easy to country, during war and some NDTV: Because we all don’t know him talk with them. On their side there is emergency period, they practice that but as well as you do? always uneasiness. in a peaceful period this is totally Sharma: I had moments of great unacceptable. importance with His Holiness. My most NDTV: That’s a very interesting way of memorable moment was when a friend putting it but I think many of us marvel Then the independent judiciary is very rang me up to say that there was a very at where do you keep getting this very crucial. ‘Look at India’ , I often tell bad news and the bad news was that his optimism from? We have another my Chinese friend that they should look Holiness was leaving Dharamshala. question from Jeremy Russell... at India - north Indian, south Indian, west Something had happened and I will not Indian and east Indian - different go into the details. That was at 9:30 in Jeremy: I heard you say that you expect languages, even different script, cultural the evening and so in the morning I got to outlive the Chinese Communist Party, differences but no separation. They have going and in the afternoon I arrived here I wonder if you still feel that way and their own language and their own script, at his Holiness’s office but His Holiness whether you feel the change in the separate identity but everybody remains was very busy as hundreds of foreign Chinese Communist Party would be in this union. Kashmir has some journalists were there and I was told that gradual or sudden? problems and that’s with mainly no audience could be granted. I sent a The Dalai Lama: The communist party Pakistan. So Chinese should learn these message back saying that I will not leave inspite of lots of destruction but also things. So India has advantage of free this place, sit on dharna until midnight some positive things they have done. information and transparency and unless His Holiness allows me to meet Particularly in the early period when real independent judiciary. I think China him. He was kind enough that his then revolutionary movement was taking should be transparent and have free secretary sent the word to me that His place they were totally dedicated people. information and eventually create an Holiness will meet me at quarter to six in When I was in China in 1954-55, of course independent judiciary. This is very the evening after he was free from the I met several times with Chairman Mao, necessary. journalists. I went to meet His Holiness all those top leaders and also I met a and as usual he was standing at the number of top leaders in different NDTV: Do you still think of yourself as threshold. I will not reveal to the public provinces. All of these people were a Marxist? what he said to me when both of us totally dedicated to the well-being of the The Dalai Lama: Yes. As far as social waited for a second at the threshold people. I really admired that. So my economic theory is concerned I am a before entering the room. Only at that impression is good about this Marxist Marxist. moment I wished like Sita for the ground party. So I offered, “I want to join under me to open so I could go inside it Communist Party” but then they said ‘no NDTV: Maybe that will give you some and disappear. I was so shocked and hurry’. So I think even they know that membership to the Communist Party of then I said no your Holiness let us sit. eventually their Communist Party will be China. Then we talked and talked but I don’t spoilt so better to not join the party. At The Dalai Lama: Now unfortunately know what I talked and a stage came that time it was really a wonderful party, Chinese Communist Party is no longer a when I started crying like a baby and really a working class people’s party. So Communist party, it is a capitalist party. His Holiness got up and I got up and logically now the time has come for them One my Nobel laureate friend, a very His Holiness embraced me like anything to retire with grace. However, I have respected friend whom I admire, he and promised, ‘I will never leave some sort of reservation to say that in supported the People’s Republic of Dharamshala’. That is one of the most China democracy must start immediately. China - a socialist country many years memorable events of my life. China, who has 1.3 billion people, has ago. About two years ago I met him and never experienced democracy and large asked him, “are people from China really I have the privilege of having his grace numbers of people are uneducated. So socialist?” He said, “no, no longer and blessing for the last 40 years. some kind of centralised authority socialist but capitalists and should be there. So therefore under authoritarians.” NDTV: I hope you are never leaving Communist leadership, there should be Dharamshala and if you ever do it will a gradual change. NDTV: Which is a potent combination only be to go to Tibet. to deal with. And now to hear from His The Dalai Lama: The local people at that I think one thing we immediately need is Holiness’s one of oldest friends, time and when the trouble happened I transparency and free information. Professor Sharma, who has also been the was in America and someone asked me 1.3billion people have every right to former Principal of Dharamshala College. so I expressed that if the local people know the reality. It’s immoral. 1.3 billion Sir, since you know His Holiness so well don’t want us to be here then we have Chinese people also have the capacity tell us something that none of us know? to leave. Then when I reach here some to know what is right what is wrong. of my old friends, especially this person Maybe during war or during civil war Sharma: That’s a very difficult question very emotionally asked me that till the some censorship, that’s it. In a free to answer. day I leave for Tibet, please remain here.

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 11 FEATURE I was very much moved. Of course as a The Dalai Lama: Yes! The Buddha Mahatama Gandhi and some other human community some problems himself...there’s no Buddha institution, leaders, were totally dedicated to non- occasionally occur but basically all local no Nagarjuna institution but the violence - ahimsa. Some western powers people have genuine friendship not a teachings still remain, not the considered it a weak sign, India’s friendship due to money matters but organisation. Of course I cannot weakness, but nowadays, that kind of friendship built on trust. compare myself to these great leaders, concept has changed. Actually, using but some of my thoughts, my books will violence, using weapons is a sign of NDTV: So you are not leaving remain after me, for a few 100 years, but weakness and fear. Non violence is a Dharamshala. that’s nothing to do with the institution. sign of strength, self-confidence and The Dalai Lama: No. truth. Violence happens if you have no NDTV: So it doesn’t matter if there’s no truth, no reason to argue... that’s when NDTV: We will not allow you to leave. Dalai Lama after you? they pick up weapons. Even in a Another veteran from Dharamshala, Ajay The Dalai Lama: Some people got the husband-wife relationship when some Singh. impression that the institution is very kind of differences happen, if either side important for Tibetan Buddhism, it’s not. have selfish reasons, then the only thing Ajay: In today’s world you are one of Of course as far as the freedom struggle is to shut up or do some physical the most radiant personalities for the is concerned, the institution is useful, violence, these are signs of weakness. people in Tibet and in the world and for that also, afterwards, it won’t matter. all the millions of people who follow NDTV: How does the world deal with an Buddhism and for all of them you are NDTV: When I met you last time, you Osama Bin Laden, Taliban...how do we the epitome of hope and belief and where said, I’m not a Godman. deal with people who kill? Can we really ever you go, you spread so much joy The Dalai Lama: Yes. I am a human turn the other cheek? and peace, so would you now appoint a being. No question. On my first visit to The Dalai Lama: Oh yes of course. successor? Israel, some correspondent or media Then, as one Buddhist master stated, The Dalai Lama: Now as far as the persons from Israel came here and I used basically we have to think of the successor and regarding the Dalai Lama the wrong word. Instead of saying I’m a maximum benefit. In some cases in order institution is concerned, as early as normal human being, I mentioned I’m a to seek maximum benefit to larger people, 1969, I made an official statement. perfect human being or something like it is permissible to use some harsher Publicly I stated that this centuries old that, but I meant that I’m normal, just a words, some harsh sort of physical institution whether it should continue human being. So I used the wrong word. action. That’s the Buddhist way of or not is up to Tibetan people. But When I reached Tel Aviv, some thinking. Method is not that important. Tibetan spirituality and Tibetan newspaper mentioned it with a little Important is your goal and your national struggle of course will be negative attitude, ‘Dalai Lama considers motivation. When you speak some harsh carried on by Tibetan people. Now for himself as a perfect human being’. And words, harsh physical action, your that reason we already have an elected also another point ... when they asked motivation should not be hatred, but political leadership. Every five years about Hitler, the holocaust, being a must do it with compassion. Like elections take place. In the spiritual Buddhist, I said even Hitler, basically, happens with good teachers and good field, among Tibetan’s different particularly when young, must be a parents. To stop wrongdoing by their Buddhist traditions - now younger normal human being, more children or students, out of a sense of generation say between twenty to thirty compassionate. concern, out of sense of compassion, years old now - very healthy young sometimes they may say some harsh spiritual leaders are coming. So after me, NDTV: You’re saying you can show words, but this is essentially non they will carry on the responsibility compassion for Hitler? violence. On the other hand, desire to regarding spirituality. But meantime, The Dalai Lama: Of course! If I keep cheat, or exploit and harm them, and you see, some suggestions among hatred, no use. Hitler has already gone. using nice words and with some gift, is Tibetans, maybe worthwhile to take essentially violence. into serious consideration - to choose NDTV: But there are modern day Hitlers, one sort of successor. So last few years there are modern day terrorists...there I think in ancient times, people maybe we have discussed about my successor are modern day people who perpetrate more balanced because their lives were or how to keep this institution. So the hate, can you really always turn the difficult, so trust is in a community was topic is already but no concrete other cheek? That’s what Mahatama important. In last two centuries, decision yet. Gandhi used to say, that’s what Jesus technology developed, then human used to say, turn the other cheek...but beings totally paid attention to these NDTV: You said once, that you believe some would say that’s weak, to turn the fields. Usually I tell people to pray, to that even the institution of the Dalai other cheek. meditate, your goal may be achieved in Lama could fade away, do you really The Dalai Lama: I think when Indian next life eventually. But prayers cannot believe that? independence was happening, solve your present problem immediately.

12 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FEATURE Technology can immediately. Money people is the lack of moral principles. education and for the promotion of non- also has immediate benefits. But For certain time periods they hold the violence “ahimsa”. Now in today’s through prayer there are no immediate power and responsibility but then they world the reality is tha t the world is gains. So people totally pay attention forget about democracy and only just one entity. Six billion human beings to money and technology...a lot of moral remember the power. Like the Burmese in the continents are just part of one crisis happening. military general and I think few years in world. Asian future depends on West Pakistan. Look at India since and vice-versa and Africa. Your enemy Fortunately now, in the latter part of the independence - democratic principle is also a part of you and your future 20th century, even among rich families, remains permanently. Drawbacks here depends on them. So destruction of or some leader of big corporations, now and there. But I was also telling some your neighbour and your enemy is there are more and more people now spiritual leaders here that I feel proud destruction of yourself. So therefore showing the values of spirituality. On a as the messenger for India wherever I Ahimsa does not mean the mere few occasions they invited me to talk, go but within our home, we have absence of problem or conflict. among scientists also. In previous problems like caste system or dowry Sometimes I jokingly tell people that as centuries, in past, modern science and and we must address them. long as human’s smart brain remain then spirituality were something totally some problems always remain there. If different... now these things have come NDTV: So military is needed for we really want to build a peaceful world closer. And now in the US, some top purpose but they have to let go of then human beings must go. So the scientists have really begun a serious power. They can’t. differences are there and we have to interest in our emotions, how to tackle The Dalai Lama: Short period of find a method of solving these problems emotion through meditation and so they emergency but never forever... again without touching the gun and by being actually are creating some projects, related to moral principle non-violent. Through dialogue. So look special research work in these fields. So South African independence movement these are big changes. And also, I think NDTV: Okay we have Bhuvnesh Dubey under the leadership of Nelson everybody is now talking that we lack who runs a school. Mandela. They actually practiced moral ethics. For some people, moral Mahatma Gandhi’s principles. So you ethics must be based on religious faiths, Bhuvnesh: Your Holiness your first see in Africa white people and black then it becomes very limited. With commitment of promotion of human people generally remain quite peaceful, religion it is very good but even without values, Ahimsa is a part of human so that’s a realistic approach. religion, the basis of ethics, including values. How much relevant the doctrine our own physical health, truthfulness, of ahimsa in today’s time of violence Recently I was in Patna and also Orissa honesty, transparency, builds more self and Naxalism? What is the reason for and I met with a person from the confidence. Self confidence reduces the spread of Naxalism in democratic Parliament and we discussed about this fear, brings inner strength and so stress countries like India and how do we deal Naxal problem and I mentioned about gets reduced, fear is reduced, anxiety is with it? tribes. He mentioned in the constitution reduced. Now some medical scientists The Dalai Lama: I think violence on the policy is good and some good have begun to realise these things. So global level including September 11 this is a hopeful sign. event, we have to look at these events points are mentioned to counter these in a more holistic way. At that time some problems but the problem is that the NDTV: Next question is from Francisco media people asked and I mentioned person who implemented these polices who is here from Argentina. that this unbelievable tragedy has its does not carry it out seriously and that own causes and conditions. These is the problem. So I heard in some of Francisco: My family is from Argentina causes have its own causes, and own the Naxalite area or villages no and I’ve been studying here for 6 causes and own causes. So these electricity and no water and their months. In Argentina we have a long causes maybe related with last one or attitude towards police was negative history of military dictatorships, and two centuries, that means - colonial and that’s when I stressed that the real you’ve talked about violence. My rule. And also from some of the transformation of India must start from question is, given the military countries, their oil has been exploited these villages. Not just few good cities occupation of Tibet by the Chinese, by the industrialised nations while their like Hyderabad or Bangalore and given this history of violence throughout own people remained poor. So these Calcutta is good. So it should be more South America, given today’s terrorism also are ultimately moral ethics. At that equal. I met some leaders in Delhi and I throughout the world, can there be a time I expressed a wish that in order to mentioned that please go and positive benefit to having a military? counter these things we have to think investigate and should not rely on just The Dalai Lama: Maybe under certain at two levels - one is immediate which official report. So therefore these places circumstance for some period and some is to be taken care of by the politicians are neglected which causes frustration kind of emergency, if it is relevant. But and the leaders and the second is we which transforms into anger and anger the problem again with all those military have to think long-term that is proper into violence.

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 13 FEATURE Jessica: Do you feel the Obama So I reminded Obama that Indian Prime lifestyle - our materialistic lifestyle with administration is too lenient in polices Minister’s expression is very important the spiritual life or shall we even reduce towards China? that the West is investing in China but if or remove the material lifestyle and go The Dalai Lama: I don’t think. Initially you always talk money money money in the spiritual levels more? a little bit cautious but after then the other side will get a sense of Copenhagen the new administration pride which is based on ignorance. The Dalai Lama: Combination, gaining more experience. So this is just Genuine pride must have a sound basis. combination. Follow spirituality and the beginning. You will have to wait Some of these drug dealers make lots of living like a beggar ... that is also not and see. I think basically there was full money through wrong means and then good. Of course some people or saints sympathy and full support, which is feel proud...that is wrong. Money is who live in the Himalayas completely very good. My meeting with him since important but must be based on moral naked. People cannot do that. Majority he became President was a very frank principles then should feel proud. So of people cannot do that. Otherwise the discussion and very good. unfortunately in China millions of money whole world will die of starvation. So come from outside - Taiwan, Western material development is very necessary. NDTV: No disappointments with Europe and America. I don’t think much The Southerners, Africans, many Asians Obama? money from India. So with this money within India still need a lot of further The Dalai Lama: No, no. they are exploiting cheap labour in China. development in the economic field. Now Actually exploitation is wrong and there here the Marxist principle also is very NDTV: You don’t think he is cozying is no independent labour union. So important. The moral principal of equal up to China? basically the world has become always distribution is very important. The Dalai Lama: I don’t think so. about money, economy and science and When I met Obama I reminded him of never about inner values. Few people become billionaires but many Indian Prime Minister’s expression. people still remain poorer. Look at India in economic field is a little behind I was returning from Japan and I was America - huge gap... now that famous China but India also has some told by the younger generation that there socialist country also having that gap fundamental values like democracy, is too much stress, anxiety and where few people are billionaires with rule of law, free press and transparency. loneliness and due to which suicide rate power and the rest poor particularly in These are not only India’s values but is increasing. The standard of life the interiors... gap... huge gap. We still also universal values. So I mentioned compared to India is much higher in need a lot of material development but to Obama that the concept of G-8, G- Japan but mentally lots of problems. So at the same time we blindly believe that 20 is only for money matters. within India I have a friend from Sikkim if you receive the maximum material Unfortunately people and even media and they mentioned to me last decade or development all human problems are pay attention to these values and not so that lots of development is taking gone. That’s totally wrong, unrealistic the fundamental values. So I place but in the mean time they also told and short-sighted. Only thinking about mentioned to Obama the Indian Prime me that the drug problem and mental the physical comfort. All of us have Minister, usually I describe him our stress is going up as well. So these are experienced that mentally happy prime minister because for the last 51 clear signs that material things and physical discomfort is okay, but mentally years now I have lived here. I express money only provides physical comfort unhappy and physical comfort cannot myself as son of India and that not mental comfort. give you happiness. Mental happiness expression makes some Chinese can subdue physical pains. So there is officials furious. But that is true, now NDTV: Your Holiness there is somebody no point in neglecting taking care of our major portion of my life spent here. If here who has a question on money since mind . Spirituality does not necessarily you open my brain then I think I am we are talking about it. mean God, Buddha, but just about mental 100% Indian because my teachers, all calmness. So that practice of these India Nalanda masters are our Woolfgang: It’s an honour to speak to compassion is very very helpful for a gurus and we are chelas. And also you you. My question is related to that calm mind. see, we are quite reliable chelas because I am from Austria who left his because you know once in the 8th job and came to India and left western NDTV: I am going to play for you now century the Nalanda brilliant thoughts comforts like so many people do these another message we are carrying from and concept reached Tibet we kept days . So we feel that that something is Delhi...it is from the dancer Sonal Man them. During those centuries in their missing despite us living comfortably, Singh. own homeland lots of destructions … maybe its called spiritual awakening. So now Nalanda just ruins, nothing. So, we come to other countries and do Sonal: I offer my prayers and salutations during these period when our guru volunteering and reads books of you, to His Holiness Dalai Lama. I think I was little bit suffered we kept all your for example. My question is when we a school girl and he was a 16 year old treasures intact. So we are quite know that life is more than materialistic and he was visiting India and I showed reliable chelas. comforts, shall we try to combine our him his picture and he laughed in his

14 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FEATURE shaky way and hugged me. You know NDTV:We now want to play a message then if Tibetans and other concerned just to be hugged by him and be from somebody who used to be you people from the Himalayan region and enveloped - it’s like going into the deep Liaison Officer, who knew you long also Mongolians, if they really want waters of Ganga. So your Holiness you back, Inder Malik. to have another Dalai Lama are anekshatru, you are yugpurush and reincarnation then they will choose. you are what you are. I want to wish Inder Malik: Your Holiness, I am you many many healthy fruitful laughter extremely grateful to you. During my NDTV: What is in your mind your filled years where you spread joy and long stay I got so much knowledge and Holiness about choosing a successor, beauty to all and my one question is wisdom not only from you but also from I know I am taking the same risk as the how do you do it with all the problems your senior and junior tutors that I New York Times reporter but please you have faced in your life ... fantastic. could write a book on you. My book don’t get angry, what is your mind? My humblest namaskar. Dalai Lamas of Tibet, for which you Would you like to see someone The Dalai Lama: Thank you. wrote the foreword and inaugurated in appointed in your life time? 1984 became a hit and I became a writer. The Dalai Lama: I am not much NDTV: How do you do it? Divinity was writ large on his face, that concerned about these things. And it The Dalai Lama: There is no other was my first impression in 1962 and seems that the Chinese Communists now I have been seeing him for the are more concerned about the Dalai choice. If you rely drugs or alcohol, last 50 years after that and the glow Lama institution than me ... political it’s going to be self-destruction. So we has been expanding and expanding. reason of course, silly thinking. And have a wonderful human mind which Now, I have the pleasant duty in at a practical level, no hurry. I am quite has the ability to think with reason or wishing you a long long and a very healthy. If I don’t commit suicide then fact. So use that maximum way and healthy life because you are required otherwise my body is very healthy, then become realistic. Once in the 8th by the whole world. another 10 -20 years I can... no century a Buddhist master expressed: The Dalai Lama: Thank you. problem, maybe 30 years. when we are facing problems think of the problem and if you can overcome NDTV: Tracy Chrisman from England, NDTV: One of our last questions now, that problem then no need to worry. If if you can identify yourself, there is a Katherine Schwitz, Catherine are you there is no way to overcome that question from Tracy... yes go ahead... there? Yes? problem then don’t worry too much. Very realistic advice. Tracy: My question was regarding the Katherine: Just to let you know, your selection process of future Dalai Holiness, first of all Happy Birthday. NDTV: It’s actually extraordinary, your Lamas. Do you think that the Not just 10-20 years... please stay for optimism. traditional process will still continue another 75 years. given that what is happening in China I want to ask you something, I don’t about the Panchen Lama? NDTV: Not just 10-20 years, stay with think I have ever met a spiritual leader, us for another 75 years. I am not saying holy man or godman, NDTV: Given that you appointed the The Dalai Lama: Oh that’s too long I just a spiritual or political leader who Panchen Lama and the Chinese think, unrealistic. Maybe a 100 years. is so loved by so many people, how appointed someone else, what will does it not go to your head because happen to your succession and what NDTV: A century mark. many people become arrogant after all if China appoints somebody as the next this attention? Dalai Lama? The Dalai Lama: Recently I met the The Dalai Lama: Self discipline. And The Dalai Lama: Unfortunately those former President of India, a great also there are verses, I recite every day. Chinese Communist hardliners, they scientist... The verses mention that if you are being are quite expert in creating respected by everybody and praised by unnecessary problems. Look now there NDTV: Abdul Kalaam. everybody, then you must think that are two Panchen Lamas, one official The Dalai Lama: He mentioned that you are the lowest person. I always Panchen Lama, and the other Panchen his father, when he passed away was practice that. And one of the 8th Lama of Tibetan heart. So all these 103. Also I found in Tibetan century Nalanda masters said that some things create more complications, more settlements, two years back I think, I people are praising you but some resentment with Chinese government. met these Tibetans who said their ages people are also criticising you, think They still seem to have not learnt these were 103, 104, like that, so it is possible that also. things. Say if I die within this year, the now, so up to 105, 110 may be possible, Chinese would most probably appoint some people say. NDTV: It balances it out. one boy as a Lama whose parents are The Dalai Lama: Yes very good, it is more loyal to Chinese Communists. So Some prediction by some Tibetan realistic. that’s one official Dalai Lama. And masters about 200 years ago, in a

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 15 FEATURE prediction related to me it mentioned vinaya vow should be taken according more thinking like Tibetan. Those that the person’s longevity was 113. to the vinaya rules, so there are some young Tibetans who come from Tibet And in the early 60s I had a dream problems at the technical level. So the they grew up in tense situation so which indicated that my life span was next reincarnation, if the circumstances much short temper and more violent 113. So two years ago I received that are such that the female reincarnation nature. So generally Tibetan who are 200 year old prediction and it goes more effective and recognised through brought-up in Tibetan communities same. So then I thought, maybe. And spiritual traditional way, I have no here are comparative better but still we according to my beautiful sort of story problems. need a lot of work. which I usually tell big audiences that NDTV: So your successor could be a in the audience some people believe that woman? Okay Swati, next question, if These are signs of degenerating Tibetan Dalai Lama has some healing power . So we can get you the mike please... culture heritage inside Tibet, so now as far as that is concerned 2008 I think in Swati: Happy Birthday your Holiness, here Tibetans who bring up a Tibetan October, I went through surgery. So that I am a psychologist by profession from community are comparatively still better, scientifically proves that Dalai Lama has Dharamshala. My question is how do but we still need a lot of work. In the no healing power, I think it’s quite clear. you deal with the conflicts and early 60s, with immense help from the confusions of the young Tibetan Indian government, Pandit Nehru himself NDTV: I think you are the only spiritual minds, who are growing up in India took the responsibility of providing leader who is honest enough to say that with worldly ambitions and desires? proper education to the young Tibetans, otherwise many godmen parade that with all expenses met by Indian they have healing powers. NDTV: Because some of them have government. The Indian government The Dalai Lama: So you see, after they never even been to Tibet, born in India, created a special committee for Tibetan checked my body post the surgery, one rooted there.. schools to be built separately, all this specialist described as me as a young The Dalai Lama: I think, generally, aiming to preserver Tibetan culture, patient, so I told him that I am not a Tibetan cultural heritage, Tibetan Tibetan spirituality with of course the young patient, I was 73. Then he said Buddhist teachings, everybody education system based on the normal that he knew my age but my body considers it like their dearest mother, Indian education system. condition was in the 60s, that’s why he so that kind of feeling makes called me a young patient. tremendous difference. Some Tibetans Some people have questions whether the including my late physician, and many existing education system, Indian NDTV: Well may it always stay that way. other companions died through education system is really suitable or You had to ask a question, go ahead. torture, starvation, but most people not. Some question marks there. India’s including him had a mental state that own traditional education system was Katherine: Your Holiness, there has was very calm. At one of our such may be more like monastic but the been some discussion about full meetings where we were discussing present education system was ordination of nuns in the Tibetan mental calmness I mentioned these introduced by British colonists. More Buddhist tradition and there are some things, so some scientists actually and more people are now questioning obstacles to this which you your examined these people, and they were the modern education system. It’s not Holiness had described in a conference surprised. They told me that these adequate regarding warm heartedness or in Hamburg in 2007 as old fashioned people have gone through great risks moral principles because 1000 years ago thinking in the society that they including risks of life but their mind when this education systems started, wouldn’t accept this for nuns. Last year are very calm. One particular monk, then these moral ethics were taken care your Holiness said that you might be now his age is 93, he had the of by the Church. Now as time passes, reincarnated as a woman and the next opportunity to come over here and join the church influence has reduced, the Dalai Lama might be a woman. So how this monastery in the 80s. We family values also reduced so the does your Holiness think that the happened to be talking one day and education system alone has to take both Tibetan society would accept a female he mentioned that during those 18-19 education for brain and for warm Dalai Lama when they are having trouble years in the Chinese gulags, he faced heartedness. So now you see even in accepting fully ordained nuns? danger and to which I asked what kind India it is questionable. In fact during The Dalai Lama: This question is not of danger, he said, danger of losing Indira Gandhi ji, I had some lengthy that way in meaning. You see the compassion towards the Chinese. So discussions and I mentioned that the Bhikshunis, the highest ordination of people have that kind of attitude. It’s Himalayan range, this area, the Buddhist nuns, there is some very important to keep compassion education system should have more of hesitation, not due to public reluctance. towards a perpetrator. So deliberately research work. So then Indira Gandhi ji No. The Buddha himself gave the same by keeping it that way, their mental appointed three professors from some right, to bhikshus and bhikshunis. So state is calm. Tibetan younger university in Delhi but then soon after everybody has the right to achieve that. generation who is born in this country she was assassinated. So we need some The question is now technical. The with Tibetan atmosphere are still much research work, hope to introduce in

16 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FEATURE Tibetan and Indian school also, after having talks with him, I asked him neither vegetarian or non vegetarian, education about moral ethics, without how is it that you are a Buddhist and he should accept whatever he gets, so touching religion. Then moreover India a firm believer in ahimsa or non that’s the principle. But vinaya clearly is a multi-religious country. So one violence, yet you consume meat like mentions that meat which was religion is difficult. So a common sort of others, how do you compromise this purposely killed for you is not to be practice, love, compassion, forgiveness situation? And secondly I asked him eaten. But in general it is not - these are common to every religion. what are your shortcomings? He prohibited. And for non believers also. Now through mentioned two - my love for watches scientific findings and also common and second meat eating. When we I think practically in northern part of sense, warm heartedness is the key were going out he caught hold of my Tibet, no vegetables. Very difficult. So factor for a happy family, happy arm and asked the photographer to that’s practical reason. However, since community. After all we are social animal. photograph us, and I have that I was about 13, 14 years old, all Tibetan So there must be some force emotionally photograph with me in my study and official festivals previously offered a to bring us together. By hating each it is the most precious treasure that I lot of meat - I changed all to vegetarian other, how can we develop general ever will have in my life. food. Then, in 1959 come to India and cooperation. So social animal must around 1965, I became a vegetarian. cooperate. So general principle is based NDTV: Your Holiness, do you still on trust, friendship. Friendship is based think that meat eating and watches are NDTV: Why? on trust. So trust is very much related to your only two flaws? And as flaws go The Dalai Lama: Better. Philosophical warm-heartedness. If you have extreme they are pretty innocent. reason. 20 months I remained strict self-centered attitude there is possibility The Dalai Lama: My fondness of vegetarian. At that time I took advice of developing the thinking of how to watches, that is one of my from some of my Indian friends about exploit, how to bully, how to cheat. If weaknesses. My first watch, a present the substitutes of meat. Lot of milk, you have warm heartedness, all members that I got was from President cream and ... then in 1967 or 66 I of society respect their rights, develop Roosevelt, 1942, I was then 7 years old. developed gall bladder, hepatitis. So a sense of concern for their well being, Here is a strange story - with that watch my whole body became yellow. So at so there is no room for cheating, for and a silver made old ship, and a letter that time I become like living Buddha. exploitation like that. So these are the was sent. As a 7 year old boy, no Whole body yellow. Eyes also yellow. secular ethics without attaching religion. interest in that letter, only interested Nails also yellow. It remained I think That way I think this country can easily in that watch. I put the silver made ship for about three weeks. So Tibetan develop. So we are working on it and on a small pond, it sank. And it was physician, as well as allopathic discussing with a number of scientists shameful because as soon as I physician advised me to take meat. So and educationists. received information about a back to original diet. Meantime, all our delegation, when the British mission monastic institutions in south India, The younger people in India have more reached Lhasa, I got the information also Namgyal monastery and my own desire for money. So there is corruption through foreign ministry officials that common kitchen, serve only vegetarian also. Although this country is they had reached, then I was told about food. Also in foreign countries when I comparatively better. But still corruption the watch. Then before a formal visit Buddhist centers I always ask exists. So these are the signs of lack of meeting I already asked ‘bring the them. Now it is up to the individual. moral principles. So few religious leaders watch’. How bad, isn’t it? That boy But as a society, as a institution, when are talking about moral principles that it too much greed. The letter I never saw they give some sort of a festival, it must may not have reached the masses. Now till my meeting with Obama this time. be vegetarian. That business started we must introduce in education He kindly copied that original letter for the gall bladder trouble. Finally, beginning from kindergarten about moral me. Since 1942, till 2010 - 70 years later, surgery. So that’s the background. So principle without touching religion. I saw the letter. my own case, meat once or twice a That’s a secular sort of moral ethics. week, otherwise vegetarian. NDTV: Did Obama give you a watch? NDTV: I want to end with one of your The Dalai Lama: No, this watch came NDTV: At 75 do you have any regrets? friends Professor Chaman Lal Gupta, will recently in a parcel from America. Then The Dalai Lama: Small small things like to share a personal story with us about taking meat, there are some almost everyday. Like right here, too like Mr Sharma, we want to know things contradictions but in vinaya no hot. So this garment, maybe a thinner that we don’t know already. prohibition in eating meat. So monks one maybe nice. Then one occasion in in Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, they Delhi some business meeting, again Chaman Lal Gupta: I came in contact take both veg and non veg food. One same question. I mentioned it. Come with his Holiness in 1999 for the first time. time I discussed this subject with a to Delhi in a charter plane. I thought It was his birthday, and we came to him monk from Sri Lanka many years ago. Delhi is hot. So thin cloth. But when I from Bharat-Tibbat Sahyog Manch and He mentioned Buddhist monks are reached the hotel, the air conditioning

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 17 O B I T U A R Y was so powerful and it was very cold. have time, I read, I study Tibetan consulting higher officials, I always So I mention this one regret. Major scripts, those text written by asked my sweeper, my close friend, regret - I think during my study period, Nagarjuna. These days I am reading what they would feel? That I always around 10 years, I was rather lazy. So I another text by a disciple of Nagarjuna. do. So any major decision - firstly, used to often tell people the way I So otherwise, in the political field, and utilise my own brain in the maximum studied at young age under threat of some other field, since I took way, look at the problem in a holistic whip by my senior tutor, very stern responsibility at 16 years of age, since way, and secondly, ask opinion from when I was young. He never smiled. then till now, on any major decision, I different people including state And he kept a whip. At that time my have no regrets. oracles, advisers. If I do not reach a elder brother and I used to study final decision and still some dilemma together, so two whips there. One NDTV: That in itself is extraordinary. exists, I also, as a Buddhist meditational, normal whip, one yellow whip - holy You have lived an extraordinary life. use some sort of spiritual method to whip. So for holy student, holy whip The Dalai Lama: I think one reason is investigate like the 5th Dalai Lama. So I is relevant. But then I have quite that I am the type of person who do that. So until now, all the major sufficient sort of brain to realise that always discusses, who always asks for decisions, no mistake. So I feel, happy holy whip may not bring holy pain, just opinions, including from sweepers. ordinary pain. Therefore, I fear that Now for example, in the 50’s things NDTV: May you go from strength to whip. So that I feel little bit of regret. were difficult, then some major strength. It was an absolute pleasure So till now 75 years old, whenever I decisions had to be taken. Besides meeting you.

Mr Phurbu Tsering, after taking ill for Tibetan Religious Artifacts at on 1 August 1992 and continued his the last few months, breathed his last at Dharamshala and accountant at Security services at the department following his Delek Hospital on Thursday, July 29, Department. promotion as deputy secretary. 2010 at Dharamshala. He was 57. From April 15, 1987 – January 2, 1991, After being promoted as joint-secretary, As a mark of deep condolence and Mr Phurbu Tsering served as manager Mr Phurbu Tsering served from March respect for Tibetan Parliamentary of the Tibetan Handicraft Centres at 19, 1999 – November 3, 2001 as the joint Secretary Mr Phurbu Tsering, who Mundgod and Dekyi Larsoe Tibetan secretary at the Health Department and dedicated 37 years of his life in the settlement in Bylakuppe. the Central Election Commission. Tibetan civil service, the Central Tibetan Administration held a prayer session in Mr Phurbu Tsering was reposted at the Mr Phurbu Tsering was promoted to the afternoon of July 30 following which Security Department following his the post of additional secretary on the offices remained closed. promotion to the under-secretary level June 7, 2007.

Mr Phurbu Tsering At the pinnacle of his joined the Central civil service career, Tibetan Administration’s Mr Phurbu Tsering civil service as an served as the acting accountant cum junior secretary for the clerk at the Tibetan Tibetan Parliamentary settlement in Nepal’s Secretariat from May 19, Solo Khumbu region on 2008 – August 16, 2008 August 16, 1973. and was later promoted as the secretariat’s He then served at secretary general on numerous Tibetan June 1, 2010. settlements including Lugsung Samdupling Mr Phurbu Tsering will Co-operative Society at be remembered for his Bylakuppe, Office of life-long service of Tibet Affairs at Delhi, dedication and acting head of Centre of inspirational hard work.

18 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY-AUGUST 2010 FEATURE

Over 1,550 Chinese submitted 317 questions to His Holiness the Dalai Lama through the renowned Chinese writer, Wang Lixiong. 11,705 Chinese netizens then voted for the following 10 questions, to which His Holiness the Dalai Lama responded from his residence in Dharamshala on July 16, 2010.

The responses were released on the Chinese-language website of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on July 19, 2010. Following is the english translation of the Tibetan original. In case of any discrepancy please treat the Tibetan version as authoritative and final.

uestion One: Looking at the is very evident that 99% of the Tibetan “Xizang” is mentioned, it is taken to be current situation, it seems people have complete faith in the non- as referring only to the Tibet Autonomous difficult that a reconciliation with violent path [that we have chosen] and Region. This is not right. There are only a Q little over two million Tibetans living in the Chinese government will come about so you should not worry [about their in your lifetime. After your passing away, ever resorting to violence]. the Tibet Autonomous Region and the you will have no control over the remaining approximately four million Tibetan youth organisation which holds Question Two: Your Holiness, how do you Tibetans live in the neighbouring four on firmly to their ideology [of seeking plan to resolve the problem of those areas Chinese provinces. As such, we are saying Tibetan independence]. Is it not possible which form a part of your notion of that all of these Tibetan people should be that they will engage in large-scale ‘Greater Tibet’ but are incorporated into given the same rights. For example, I do terrorist activities then? Are there ways the Chinese provinces as far as the not belong to the Tibet Autonomous by which they can be prevented from current administrative divisions of these Region; I hail from Tso-ngon [Ch: Qinghai] taking such a course? provinces are concerned? Will the province. Likewise should you care to look Answer: On the whole, I believe that autonomous government of your ‘Greater at Tibetan history, you will see that many even after my death the Tibetan exile set- Tibet’ exercise control over the other of the highly-realised Lamas/Tulkus have up will continue to make progress, ethnic groups living within those areas? come from these four provinces. Even particularly in the field of education. If so, how would you safeguard the today, most of the [respected] teachers More importantly there are a growing aspirations of these ethnic groups? teaching in the monastic institutions of all number of young Lamas between the Answer: We have not used the term the religious traditions of our community ages of 20 and 30 who are currently ‘Greater Tibet’. It is [actually] a term have come from these provinces; very few pursuing studies in the various religious employed by the United Front Work of them belong to the Tibet Autonomous schools of our community who are Department of the Chinese government Region. Therefore, we are saying that a capable of taking up greater leadership [to refer to our demand]. What we say is uniform policy should be adopted for all roles in the spiritual field. In the political that all those Tibetans who speak and of these areas since they share the same field, for the last more than 10 years I write the same language of Tibet should religion and culture. have been in a state of semi-retirement. have equal right to preserve and promote All the important political decisions are their religion and culture as well as to It is altogether a different matter if we being taken by the elected political work for their collective economic are seeking separation or independence leadership and this will continue to do development. Now this is, in principle, but we are not. We are simply saying so in the future as well. There are forces agreed upon by the Chinese that we be granted the freedom to within our community such as the government. In the Fifth Work Forum on preserve our own religion, culture and Tibetan Youth Congress who criticise Tibet, the Chinese central government language within the larger framework of our Middle-Way policy and demand has recommended a uniform policy for the People’s Republic of China. If, in due complete independence [for Tibet]. It overseeing all Tibetans living in the Tibet course of time, we get an opportunity to seems their voices are growing stronger Autonomous Region and in other Tibetan discuss about it in detail, then the [these days]. We cannot blame them for autonomous areas under the four Tibetans inside Tibet should take the this, since our successive efforts to bring Chinese provinces. Premier Wen Jiabao main responsibility. Once they are able about a mutually-beneficial solution [to has, particularly, mentioned this in his to engage in extensive discussions [with the issue of Tibet] have failed to produce work report to the National People’s the Chinese government] without any any positive results and under such a Congress. This, I believe, is really in fear in their minds, I do not think we will situation, their viewpoint is gaining keeping with the actual prevailing face any problems [in resolving the issue momentum [in our society]. However, it situation. Otherwise, when the word of Tibet].

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 19 FEATURE In the case of the Tibet Autonomous Dorjee Shugden as ‘a vow-breaking Apart from that, we have done nothing to Region, a few Chinese lived there prior to demon/evil spirit born into such a state as throw them out of the Tibetan settlements. the 1950s. [The number grew later.] A a result of his wrong aspiration/negative I urge all of you to come to India and visit considerable number of Chinese, however, prayer”. This is mentioned in the Collected the Tibetan settlements in South India to have been living in Kham and Amdo Works of the Great Fifth, Volume K,- an see for yourselves what the reality is. The regions, particularly in the area of my birth earlier edition block-printed in Tibet. So Dolgyal followers have established their [Xining], since early times. Tibetans are ‘wrong aspiration/negative prayer’ is what own separate monastery there and lead not saying, and will never say, that Tibet caused Dorjee Shugden whose nature is their lives like any other Tibetan. Nobody should be occupied by exclusively but a ‘vow-breaking demon/evil spirit’ and is creating problems for them. Tibetans to the exclusion of all other whose actions are to ‘harm the Dharma nationalities, which includes [even] the and humanity’. This is admitted by the In short, what I am saying is that it is one’s Han Chinese. What is important is that Dolgyal himself in his autobiography. freedom, in general, to practise or not to since it carries the name ‘Tibetan practise any religion. How one chooses to Autonomous Region’ or ‘Tibetan Earlier I too propitiated Shugden. Later on practise one’s religion is also one’s Autonomous Areas’, the natives of these as I studied the words of the Great Fifth, I freedom. Therefore, whichever deity or very places should constitute the majority came across the document cited above. I demon one may worship, one may decide -and the rest of the nationalities the have, from my side also, conducted a series as one pleases. To say that the practice of minority of the total population. It is for of investigations about it and found that the spirit in question is disadvantageous this very purpose that the name has been it is not good to worship the spirit. and it has no advantages whatsoever is given. If, otherwise, the number of Chinese Consequently I gave up the propitiation my duty. Therefore, I have highlighted the or other minority nationalities living in completely but did not, at that point of negatives. Now it is up to the people to these places is more than the Tibetans, time, place any restrictions on the section think over or decide for themselves then there is no way such names as of the Tibetan community who were whether they want to listen or not. A mentioned above could be given. We are practising it. Then the problem surfaced Chinese friend has raised this question. If hoping that we are able to establish a big at the Jangtse College of the Gaden you are interested in the subject, it is family of friendship between the Chinese Monastery. Through my examinations, it [really] your freedom [to worship or not to and Tibetan peoples based on over became very clear to me that the problem worship the spirit]. But you must carry out thousand years of relations with each other. at the Jangtse College was caused by its a proper investigation [before plunging We also hope -and even pray that the new initiative of propitiating Gyalpo into it]. Usually, our religious practitioners People’s Republic of China flourishes with Shugden. I communicated this to the say that ‘one must develop a pure all its nationalities enjoying equality in a concerned. When the issue became more perception of one’s teacher and investigate spirit of one big family. public later on, some people began to [thoroughly] the religion one practises’. spread the rumour that I was trying to curry So religion must be subjected to Question Three: Last year, a television favour with the Nyingma Tradition [of investigation. For instance, Nagarjuna and channel in France broadcast a Tibetan Buddhism] and that I had not other scholars [of the ancient Nalanda documentary titled The Dalai Lama’s actually imposed any restrictions but University] have shown through their Demons, in which Shugden-worshipping simply pretended to do so. Under these example that even if they were the words Tibetan monks were shown to be thrown circumstances, I had to come out in the of the Lord Buddha, they must be out of the Tibetan settlements in India. open to express my strong objections to, subjected to investigation for ascertaining The situation has come to such a pass and make things clear about, the their truthfulness. [The Buddhist concept for these monks that they could not even worshipping of this evil spirit. of ‘Four Reliances’ says, among other visit shops and hospitals as well as enter things, that] one must ‘rely on the doctrine their monasteries at the time. In the No children of the Dolgyal followers have than on individuals’. So it is very important documentary, you were also shown to be been expelled from the schools. If in the for all of you to investigate. issuing a strict order that these Shugden- monasteries the worshippers and non- propitiating monks must be expelled from worshippers of Dolgyal assemble together, Question Four: During the 2008 Tibet their monasteries. Moreover, one of the it does not go very well with the sanctity incident, why did many monks and lay monks interviewed said: ‘On the one of the spiritual bond [that is so very Tibetans raise their hands against the hand the Dalai Lama talks about the essential in matters of spirituality]. Those ordinary Chinese citizens? We must freedom of religious belief and who do not worship Dolgyal have all understand that it is the Chinese compassion, but on the other hand he received spiritual teachings from me and government which you are against [and restricts our religious freedom and those who worship it are the ones who not the ordinary Chinese citizens]. shows us out of our monasteries.’ What have some problem or disagreement with Answer: As far as I know, the first protest do you have to say about it? the Lama from whom they receive of 2008 in Tibet occurred in the afternoon Answer: Gyalpo Shugden came into teachings. Therefore we are saying that of 10 March. This was then followed by existence during the time of the Great Fifth we feel very uncomfortable to be more protest demonstrations on 11, 12 and Dalai Lama. The Fifth Dalai Lama saw associated with the Dolgyal followers. 13 March of that year. The Chinese

20 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FEATURE security people, from the very beginning, government policies. The Chinese especially went to visit many Chinese learned about these demonstrations as a government strikes hard upon the Tibetan provinces, during which I met many result of which they blocked the road of people for the [only] reason that they are Chinese leaders, who were members of the the monk protestors arriving from Drepung loyal to their religion and culture as well as Communist Party and had real Monastery. On the morning of 14 March, their spiritual leader. This creates a feeling revolutionary outlook and were genuinely the incident of setting shops on fire, of hurt in the minds of the Tibetan people. working to serve the working class and hurling stones and destroying properties This is also the reason why Tibetans are the country. I saw many who had no desire occurred. One foreign journalist, who had strongly critical of the Chinese government for personal gain and were working for the been an eye-witness to this incident, came policies. You should not, however, take common good. They impressed me. Mao, to meet me [at Dharamshala] and told me: this as a form of Tibetan people’s animosity for instance, made many promises to me. ‘Apart from video-taping the entire to the Chinese people. If what I have heard However, from 1956-57 onwards, I felt that happening, the Chinese security personnel is indeed true, then Tibetans visiting the things were moving towards ultra-leftism. at the scene did nothing to stop them.’ Chinese cities and towns seem to be facing The Chinese government’s propaganda a lot of problems after the 2008 March Question Six: If in the future China has a about the 3-14 incident disregards the fact incident. This is because the Chinese genuine democratic system, what would that the first protest broke out on 10 March. hoteliers, shopkeepers and restaurateurs Tibet’s relations be with that government? Moreover, according to reports they in these places show a cold attitude to the What is your opinion? deliberately hired some mischievous Tibetan customers. Moreover, we have Answer: Right now many of the unwanted people on the morning of 14 March to heard that a lone Tibetan member of a problems, whether it is PRC’s external indulge in rioting, which they video-shot Chinese government delegation was relations or issues within the country, I for later use in shifting the blame of the stopped at the airport for interrogation. All think, are created by suspicion and lack of entire incident on the Tibetans. Tibetans these developments are a cause of mutual trust. For the last 51 years, I have arriving from Tibet after the March incident disappointment for the Tibetan people. lived outside Tibet. From my many friends informed us that ‘Tibetans’ whom they had in the US, Europe, Japan and in India, I never seen earlier had been brought to Question Five: Was the ‘liberation of Tibet’ know that China has the desire to build Lhasa at that time. They further said that a deception from the beginning or did it good relations. But its failure to build ‘these people were the main culprits who change later? genuine relationships is due to the lack of created the disturbances’. [I believe] this Answer: It is difficult to say. When the mutual trust. This, in turn, is the result of [unfortunate] incident should actually be People’s Liberation Army arrived in lack of transparency in China which, investigated independently. This is one Chamdo, they fought with the Tibetan though, it outwardly pretends to have so. thing I want to say. army and killed about seven to eight Hence many problems arise. Whether it is thousand Tibetan soldiers. Khenchung the issue of Tibet or Xinjiang, there is [Another thing I want to say is that] in the Thupten Dhonyoe, who was a staff of clearly a huge difference between the monasteries of the Kham and Amdo the Governor General of Eastern Tibet at external impression that China gives and regions, there is an ancient custom of that time, told me that Wang Qiming, the the real feelings that the people in these keeping old swords, spears and rifles in PLA general (who ‘liberated’ Chamdo) regions harbour. Therefore, once a time the shrines of the guardian deities. I was said to him with tears in his eyes: ‘We, comes when China will have transparent, informed that these weapons were fraternal nationalities, have killed each honest and just policies, many of the forcefully taken out in order to blame the other.’ I feel that some of them may have problems will naturally be solved. monasteries for using weapons to stir been genuine. Likewise, when the road violence [in the country]. It is, in a way, from Kham to Central Tibet and Amdo to Regarding the Tibetan issue, if there is very probable that a few people -in their Central Tibet were being built, some transparency and sincerity on the part of fits of anger may have unwittingly caused people used their bodies to block water the Chinese government, we on our part some inconveniences to the Chinese when floods took place. They worked are not seeking separation. We have a long people [during that time]. If such a thing hard. Those things, I feel, were genuine. history, but I am not thinking about it. If really happened, then I stand ready to For others I cannot say what their we think about the future, materially Tibet apologise [on their behalf]. It is very likely intentions were from the beginning. The is behind others and therefore if we stay indeed that some enraged Tibetans may best thing would be for historians to within the PRC, it will be beneficial for have caused such a situation because at thoroughly study classified government Tibet’s development. Because of this we that time, the Chinese government tried documents, which will make things clear. are not seeking separation. The most [its level best] to create the false impression That is the most important thing. important thing is that Tibet has a unique of the Tibetans as being anti-Chinese. culture, language and religion. Amongst Majority of the Tibetans would never do In terms of overall policies, in 1954, I went the Buddhist traditions, many of the such a thing. to China and spent about five to six world’s scholars today say that Tibetan months in Beijing. At that time I met most Buddhism is the most extensive and Tibetans cannot be blamed for airing their of the Chinese leaders, including Mao profound. Tibetan language has become grievances against the Chinese Zedong, who I had met many times. I the best medium to articulate/express this

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 21 FEATURE profound and extensive philosophy. The Tibetan religious and political leaders Committee to make a number of changes translations – both in terms of literal must take responsibility as if I am no to our taxation and loan systems. But we translation (dra gyur) and contextual longer with them. They have been doing were only able to carry out some of them. translation (don gyur) – of the texts from it and that is how they acquire experience. Since I already had thoughts about the Sanskrit language are of the highest There is a new leadership after every five carrying out reforms from the time I was standard. Therefore, if we are able to years. There will be a new political leader in Tibet, we established a democratic maintain this religion and culture, it will next year directly elected by the people. system immediately after we came into also benefit the overall culture of the In the religious field, there are heads of exile in India. I have no intention of PRC. Generally speaking, China is also each Buddhist school to take holding any post when Tibetans in and a Buddhist country. As the number of responsibility. There is no difference outside are reunited. I made this clear Chinese Buddhists is increasing these whether I am with them or not. in 1992 that when there will be days, we will surely be able to autonomy or a considerable degree of contribute in this field. I think this is of Question Nine: You say that there should freedom for Tibet, we will return. mutual benefit. be a democratic system for Tibet. However, I said, from that time onwards However, when you and your I will not take any responsibility and Question Seven: If Tibet achieves predecessors ruled Tibet did you rule will hand over all my historical genuine autonomy or wins democratically? If not, what confidence responsibility to the local government. independence, do you have plans to do you have to rule Tibet more Even now that is my thinking and I will transform the system of governance in democratically than Communist China? never take any political roles. Tibet into a democratic one? How will Answer: The First to the Fourth Dalai religion and politics be separated? Lamas did not take part in politics. The Question Ten: What is your view on the Answer: I do not think this question Fifth Dalai Lama became the temporal and Chinese who are settled in Tibet and the needs a special answer. If you are religious leader of Tibet. At that time there second-generation of Chinese living there? interested, you can come to India. You were no such thing as democratic system It is possible that your ‘High Level of will then actually see how we have carried in Tibet’s neighbours like China, India and Autonomy’ may end up marginalising out democratisation during our stay in Russia. They were all largely feudal them, which is the concern of those exile, how we have set up a political system societies. However Tibet had a strong Chinese inside Tibet who are opposing during the last 51 years and our future Buddhist tradition and the principle of you and the Tibetan administration in exile. programmes. For me personally, since developing compassion for all sentient Answer: Tibet is an autonomous region. 1969, I have been saying that the people beings. That is why, in 1959, when the In that region Tibetans cannot become a should decide whether the institution of ‘landlords’ were put under struggle minority. Otherwise, we will applaud the Dalai Lama should continue or not. I sessions following the ‘Democratic however many Chinese brothers and have no worry. The most important thing Reforms’, there were many ‘serfs’ who sisters decide to stay there. Particularly, is that we need to preserve and maintain came forward to save the lives of their we will appreciate those Chinese brothers the unique Tibetan religion and culture. ‘landlords’. Many of the ‘landlords’ were and sisters who are interested in Tibetan In terms of Tibet’s development, it is very also able to escape into exile in India with religion and culture. I normally say that important not to harm the natural the help of their ‘serfs’. Therefore, ‘serfs’ Chinese brothers and sisters can cook us environment. Tibet’s environment is may be a common phenomenon in all delicious food and we Tibetans can fragile and susceptible to damage. these feudal countries, but the treatment provide spiritual food to them through Because of the high altitude and dry of Tibetan ‘serfs’ was different. Buddhism. That is why there is absolutely wind, it is said that once damage occurs, no reason to worry. Then there are those it will take a long period to restore the At the end of 1955, ‘Democratic Reforms’ Chinese who look down upon Tibetans ecological balance. This is a special issue were carried out in Tibet starting from by considering Tibetan Buddhism as bad that you must pay attention to. The Sichuan. As elsewhere in China, and the Tibetans as dirty. For them, there glaciers in the high Tibetan Plateau are ‘Democratic Reforms’ were carried out in is no reason to live in such a filthy place; the main source of many of the great Tibet, which did not suit the Tibetan it is better for them to return to cleaner rivers in Asia. That is why we should situation. Such things happened. It is places. Tibet predominantly practises take special care of them. important to investigate these things. You Buddhism and in Buddhism there is totally do not have to believe these things no reference to racial discrimination. Question Eight: What do you think will because I said them. If you have the Earlier in Tibet, many of the abbots in happen to Tibetan unity once you are freedom later to investigate it is important monasteries were Mongolians and there no longer in the scene? Will the to do so thoroughly. were Chinese studying Buddhist charisma of your successors be able to scriptures as well. We were of different control the Tibetan nationalists to In the later stages of his life, the races but there was no discrimination retain the non-violent and peaceful Thirteenth Dalai Lama thought about whatsoever. Likewise, if there are religious nature of your struggle? introducing a democratic system in Tibet, scholars amongst Chinese, they too can Answer: It will make no difference. For but he was unable to carry it out. In 1952, become abbots and Lamas in Tibet. There over 30 years I have been saying that when I was in Lhasa we formed the Reform is no difference at all.

22 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FOCUS

HASA | Tue Jun 29, 2010 (Reuters) Tibet, fingered unidentified “anti- visiting journalists, in a city still tense - China can maintain its grip on Chinese” forces and exiled spiritual leader two years after it was ravaged by LTibet “forever,” a senior official the Dalai Lama as the main threat to a deadly ethnic rioting. said on Tuesday, but conceded that a region which has been hit by sporadic heavy security presence was still unrest since 2008. “What you see in the streets, including needed to ensure order in Lhasa two the police and other legal forces, are years after deadly riots. “We have the ability and confidence necessary measures to maintain to maintain stability in Tibet forever, stability,” he said, speaking in an ornate Hao Peng, deputy Communist Party boss and we will ultimately achieve long- room in the Tibet government offices. and deputy governor in mountainous term order and stability,” Hao told At least 19 people died in the March 2008 riots in Lhasa, which sparked waves of protests across Tibetan areas. Pro-Tibet groups say more than 200 people were killed in a subsequent crackdown.

Protests against Chinese rule, led by Buddhist monks, gave way to torrid violence, with rioters torching shops and turning on residents including Han Chinese and Hui Muslims.

Many Tibetans see Hans as intruders threatening their culture and religion, and say they have been treated harshly by the government since the riots.

Beijing has denied being heavy-handed, and says it has poured billions of dollars Andy Wong/Associated Press In Tibet, the government keeps the people and the press under guard.

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 23 FOCUS into boosting Tibet’s development, “It’s still very difficult to get things The Dalai Lama denies China’s charges money it says benefits mainly Tibetans. done, there are still a lot of restrictions, against him, and says he only seeks Hao said peace had returned and blamed a lot of surveillance, a lot of troops. more meaningful autonomy for Tibet and overseas agitators for the continued Certainly tourism and travel is not back that he has never advocated violence. presence of armed police in Lhasa, to normal.” China says it does not believe him. especially in the old Tibetan quarter. The area is usually off-limits to foreign But his image is not allowed to be shown “The situation in Tibet is more stable than reporters, apart from those on rare and publicly in what is officially called the before the March 14 incident,” he said. tightly-controlled government trips like Tibet Autonomous Region despite the the one Hao met with, which makes it reverence many Tibetan Buddhists have “The Dalai clique and some anti-Chinese for him. Every year some make the hard to assess competing accounts. forces internationally have colluded to dangerous trek to India and back to see make trouble in Tibet. Because of this, him in person. we have to take a lot of measures, to No Dalai Lama portraits Hao, repeating the government’s ensure the stability of the legal system The Nobel Peace Prize-winning Dalai and the stability of Tibet.” standard line about on-off talks with Lama fled into exile following an abortive representatives of the Dalai Lama, said uprising in 1959. Exiled Tibetans and rights groups say China was willing to talk if those in Tibet are living under difficult independence was off the table. Hao said the prohibition on his image restraints and many are still waiting to was natural. “The Dalai Lama is not hear from relatives and friends who “The core of this policy is for the Dalai merely a religious figure, he is also a disappeared after the violence. Lama to abandon Tibet independence, mastermind of separatist activities. No stop separatist activities, and sovereign country in the world would “Two years down the line there is still acknowledge that Tibet is an allow the hanging of a portrait of a no normality across the Tibetan plateau. inalienable part of China,” he said. person like that,” he said. It’s still extremely tense,” said Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher on China with “If he does this then the door to talks is (Writing by Emma Graham-Harrison, Human Rights Watch, a New York-based always open.” editing by Miral Fahmy) advocacy group.

hasa | Thursday, July 8, 2010 seen incomes boom after renting out That is a familiar story to one unemployed (Reuters) Tibet is richer and more their farmland to Han Chinese graduate of a traditional medicine school. Ldeveloped than it has ever been, businessmen who grow vegetables there While fashionably dressed and able to its people healthier, more literate, and for sale in city markets. speak the fluent Mandarin he learned at better dressed and fed. school, China’s largesse in Tibet has not Farmer and Communist Party member been enough to win him a job. But the bulging supermarkets, snappy Suolang Jiancan shrugs when asked if new airports and gleaming restored he is worried about Hans taking away “Development is no good if I cannot get temples of this remote and mountainous land from native Tibetans, who a job,” the man told Reuters in Lhasa’s region cannot hide broad contradictions traditionally have grown barley. heavily Tibetan old quarter, where patrols and a deep sense of unhappiness among of armed paramilitary forces are a constant many Tibetans that China is sweeping “It is hard for the local people to learn reminder of China’s determination to keep away their culture. how to grow the vegetables wanted in a tight grip on Tibet. the market. The Han can teach us these Beijing has spent freely to bring skills, and we can earn more,” he said in “The Chinese are suspicious of development to restless Tibet, part of a his native Tibetan. Tibetans, especially since March 14,” he grand strategy to win over the proudly said, referring to unrest in 2008 ahead of Buddhist people by improving their The influx of Hans, however, is one of the the Beijing Olympics. standard of living. great sources of tension in Tibet. Many Tibetans resent their presence, saying Frustration at Chinese controls, along with In Gaba village, a half-hour drive down they do not bother to learn the language the rise of Han Chinese migrants, boiled a bumpy road from downtown Lhasa, and dominate the region’s economy at over in violent protests in 2008 in Lhasa, Tibet’s bustling capital, residents have the expense of the native population. in which at least 19 people were killed.

24 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FOCUS The unrest sparked waves of protest What China has failed to do is address “This is a socialist college, so what need across Tibetan areas, which more than the alienation many Tibetans feel in the do the students have of temples?” retorted two years on has failed to subside face of breakneck economic progress. Gesang Qunpei, chancellor of Tibet despite a heavy military and police University, when asked if his students presence and harsh punishment for “Tibet is a special country and its people were free to practice their religion. “We’re those who question Beijing’s authority. are special,” said one middle-aged about science and technology here.” The security belies China’s claims to teacher, speaking quietly in a back room have won over Tibetans. behind a shop in Lhasa’s old quarter, Religious figures who step out of line can centre of the 2008 riots. “We don’t think be ruthlessly punished. Rights groups say “To this day, two years later, they still need about money like Chinese people. We many monks were arrested after the 2008 to use military and police forces to control believe in Buddhism, but the Chinese protests, and some were tortured in jail. the situation. Does it sound like they’ve people believe in nothing,” he added, Many others had to attend “re-education” won the hearts of the people?” asked requesting anonymity out of fear for classes and denounce the Dalai Lama. prominent Tibetan blogger Woeser. repercussions. Beijing also keeps a tight grip on key China lauds progress Chinese officials frequently lash out at religious positions, saying it has a The physical scars the riot left on Lhasa “distorted” reports in foreign media historical right to appoint top lamas. in the form of burnt out markets and about Tibet. buildings have long ago been expunged. China’s selection in 1995 of its own Lhasa is starting to look like any other Yet there is also a mismatch between the Panchen Lama, the second-highest middle-tier Chinese city, with the same policies China has put in place in trying figure in Tibetan Buddhism, shortly after fast food outlets and mobile phone stores, to modernise a poor and backward the Dalai Lama announced his own and the same unimaginative architecture. region, and Tibet’s unique culture. choice, has upset many.

For China, there is no question that what “It’s absolutely true that Chinese policy The six-year-old boy appointed by the they are doing in Tibet is right. has always been to win over the people Dalai Lama was taken away by Chinese by being generous,” said Robbie authorities and has disappeared from Over the past 10 years, the central Barnett, a Tibet scholar at Columbia public view. government has poured a massive 310 University in New York. billion yuan (30.3 billion pound) into Tibet, The Beijing-anointed Panchen Lama is or nearly $15,000 (9,870 pound) per person, “They just don’t seem to be able to spurned by many Tibetans as a fake, building infrastructure and developing notice that each time, they mess this up especially in Shigatse, a flyblown town mining, agriculture and tourism. by cracking down on the culture, the several hours drive west of Lhasa that history or the religion. They make people is his traditional seat. In January, President Hu Jintao said the pay such a huge price.” government would seek “leap-frog” Ask monks in Shigatse’s Tashilhunpo development in Tibet, raising rural A Chinese crackdown on dissent monastery whether they believe China’s incomes to national levels by 2020. The following the riots has spread to Tibetan Panchen Lama is the real deal and the economy is already growing faster than intellectuals and critics see little sign of response is neutral, despite the millions the rest of China. Beijing changing tack in the current spent on temple renovations. climate of tension. Large sums have also gone into restoring “I really don’t know,” said one monk, monasteries and temples, the centre of “They just had a big national conference with a broad grim on his face and life for devoutly Buddhist Tibetans, on Tibet in Beijing and pretty much shrugging his shoulders. bolstering government claims that China nothing came out of it. It’s striking that respects religious rights. there hasn’t been a coherent response,” Shigatse’s people are less willing to said Nicholas Bequelin, of New York-based mince their words. “If we did not have the support and advocacy group Human Rights Watch. embrace of the local people, we could “We don’t think he is a bad person, but not have dealt with March 14 so well, Religion not encouraged he’s a fake,” said a wiry Tibetan man nor could we have made the Much of the Chinese government’s claim selling smuggled cigarettes by the side achievements we have over the past 60 to legitimacy in Tibet rests on its self- of a street. “Nobody believes in him. We years,” said Hao Peng, one of Tibet’s proclaimed protection of Buddhism. don’t want him.” Communist Party deputy bosses. And while Tibetans appear generally free (Additional reporting by Maxim “We have already won the hearts and to pray at temples and make pilgrimages, Duncan; Editing by Benjamin Kang Lim minds of the people,” Hao told foreign religion is not encouraged for the young and Ron Popeski) reporters on a rare, tightly-controlled visit. or Communist Party members.

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higatse | Wednesday, July 14, 2010 mathematics or science, and exams have Only recently has there been any push (Reuters) Teenager Dawan to be written in Chinese - apart from for bureaucrats from the majority Han SDunjhu (Dawa Dhondup) is Tibetan language tests. Chinese to learn the languages of Tibetan and lives in Tibet, but says minority areas where they work, and the that if his friends and classmates can’t “It would be hard for the students to new drive has yet to show much fruit. master Mandarin Chinese, they have translate into Tibetan concepts they little hope of a professional future. have learned about in Chinese,” said There are similar issues with the deputy headmaster Cang Qiong, written language: the rule requiring “I want to be a lawyer, and for me Chinese patiently answering a stream of bilingual signs is easily flouted; plays a very important role both in my life questions from foreign reporters about billboards over stores are sometimes and my study,” Dawan Dunjhu, 16, told why Tibetan is so little used. only written in Chinese, or have just a Reuters during a government-organised cursory line of Tibetan. visit for foreign media to Tibet. Younger grades fall back on Tibetan when new ideas are introduced, but the Chinese is already seeping into everyday “If someone can’t speak Chinese then rest of the teaching is in Mandarin — Tibetan. they might as well be mute,” added the which parents and education experts say student at the Shigatse Shanghai can dent interest in learning among some Educated young Tibetans play with Experimental School, built with aid from young children who struggle to keep up. “Chibetan,” mixing in Mandarin words the Shanghai government in a run-down with Tibetan, much in the same way cool monastery town several hours drive from Standard language Chinese youth mash up English into Tibetan capital Lhasa. The government views the promotion of their speech. Mandarin as vital to unite a nation with Tibetan is an official language in Tibet and parts of China where Tibetans have thousands of Chinese dialects and “It’s very fashionable,” shrugged one traditionally been the main ethnic group, numerous other ethnic languages, from government worker. in what the government calls Tibetan and Uighur to the much “autonomous” regions and areas. threatened She, Evenki and Manchu. For words that have no commonly-used Tibetan equivalent, Mandarin is used Yet Beijing has for decades promoted Beijing says it supports minority instead. In the midst of a Tibetan ‘Putonghua,’ or standard Mandarin languages, pointing to broadcasting in conversation, certain bureaucratic Chinese, as a way of unifying a areas where they are still in widespread words crop up in Mandarin. diverse country. daily use, and official signs in Tibet - from shop boards to place names - where the These include “bu tie” (subsidy), “he This makes language choices fraught Sanskrit-based Tibetan script is required. tong” (contract) and “dang yuan” for groups that are not ethnically (Communist Party member). Chinese, many of whom chafe under Many Tibetans still speak no Mandarin, Communist rule. especially in the vast open spaces of the In Lhasa, some educated Tibetans say Tibetan heartland. Rights groups and they will fight the rising tide of Mandarin For Tibetans, the route to jobs and a exile communities complain it is being — by refusing to speak it. better income often requires mastering gradually marginalized in cities and Chinese, leaving many worried they will among the elite. “It is the language of the Chinese,” said lose their own ancient tongue and its one young Tibetan man, speaking in unique writing system. “Whether you can speak Tibetan has excellent English and out of sight of the already become a secondary issue, but police patrols in Lhasa’s old quarter. While Dawan Dunjhu’s school is whether you can speak Chinese has “Please don’t speak to me in it.” technically bilingual, the only classes become crucial to your livelihood,” said entirely taught in Tibetan are Tibetan prominent Tibetan blogger Woeser. (Additional reporting by Maxim language classes. Duncan, Editing by Emma Graham- “So the Tibetan written language has in Harrison and Sugita Katyal) Teachers say there are no text books in reality reached a very serious point.” Tibetan for subjects like history,

26 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FOCUS

BBC[Thursday, July 15, 2010] Lhasa plateau just before the Olympics in 2008, They were surrounded by monks who he Potala Palace, once the seat of and that the money China is investing to began shouting that there was no the Dalai Lama before he fled into develop Tibet is transforming the place. freedom in Tibet. It was a highly unusual Texile, glows in the evening light. protest against Chinese policies. But ours was a highly controlled tour. Its huge red and white walls, rising We asked what had happened to the above Lhasa, are spot-lit against the We had a set programme, minders monks, so one, a 29-year-old man called deep blue hues of the Tibetan sky. watching us everywhere, and few Norgye, was brought forward. This was opportunities to talk to Tibetans freely. not part of our carefully scripted tour. Across the road, Chinese tourists throng a huge open square. Patriotic Han Chinese music, about developing the western reaches of China, blares from loudspeakers.

Giant fountains, lit up by neon lights, dance in time to the music.

Facing the Potala Palace is a huge outdoor television screen also blaring out sound. A few Tibetans wander the streets selling trinkets to the tourists.

Through the crowd passes a Tibetan pilgrim.

He has wooden paddles attached to his hands. He uses them to prostrate himself on the ground in front of the Potala Adrian Bradshaw/European Pressphoto Agency Palace, then stands up, takes three “When we asked Norgye if he worshipped the Dalai Lama the young monk mumbled yes, but the official translator immediately told us he had said no.” paces (the length of his lying body) and lies down again. Everywhere we had a police escort, and His eyes downcast, Norgye looked we passed huge military convoys shame-faced and deeply uncomfortable It is a traditional Tibetan form of rumbling along the mountain roads. It at our questions. He told us he had been pilgrimage, to travel the length of your gave the impression China is nervous through patriotic re-education and now journey lying down. about its hold on Tibet. saw the error of his ways.

A complaint often voiced by Tibetans is We were taken to the Tibet University, a When asked what they had meant when that they believe that their traditional group of modern buildings with the they shouted there was no freedom, culture is being eroded by Chinese rule. Chinese flag fluttering high above them. Norgye whispered in Tibetan to an older Right in front of the Potala Palace the monk named Laba, the director of the cultures seem to clash. But when we tried to stop some Tibetan temple’s administrative office: “What students to talk to them security guards should I say?” Controlled tour came running across, shoved between us, For two years now Tibet has been and shooed the students away. The unconvincing answer, given for him, largely closed to foreign media. was that he had simply meant he had not At the Jokhang, Tibet’s most important had the freedom to go outside the temple We were allowed in with a small group of Buddhist temple, I was followed round during the unrest. journalists, escorted by Chinese minders. by at least four plain-clothes security men. And patriotic re-education clearly had China’s aim was to convince us that It was near here that the riots broke out in its limits. When we asked Norgye if he things are back to normal after the serious 2008. Just after those riots another group worshipped the Dalai Lama the young unrest that erupted across the Tibetan of journalists were brought to the temple. monk mumbled yes, but the official

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 27 FOCUS translator immediately told us he had “People here know that they are now to worship the Dalai Lama but had to said no. enjoying the best conditions they’ve do so in secret. ever had in Tibet. So local people love ‘Love’ for China China, they love the Communist Party.” Above all it seemed there was fear, most Outside the Jokhang, hundreds of He claimed the heavy security in Lhasa Tibetans were too afraid to voice any Tibetans circled the temple, whirling was only necessary because forces criticism of China openly. their prayer wheels and prostrating outside Tibet, led by the Dalai Lama, themselves on the ground. were trying to stir up trouble.” “In the past other people like you have come from outside Tibet and asked Chinese policemen, some armed with The Dalai Lama clique and some anti- about things like politics and religion,” automatic weapons, marched through China forces in the international one man told us nervously. the crowds and manned checkpoints. community colluded to foment unrest in Tibet,” he told us. “Some Tibetans talked to them about On the rooftops I could clearly make out those things. The police arrested the marksmen watching the pilgrims and “That’s why we have to take lots of Tibetans and locked them up. So it’s security cameras filming everything.We measures to ensure there is stability really not a good idea for me to talk to were hurried on by our minders to meet here. So what you see in the streets, you on these subjects,” he said. the police, the armed forces on duty, Hao Peng, the vice chairman of the Tibet they are just what is necessary to Autonomous Region. Other Tibetans told us there were spies maintain stability in Tibet.” everywhere listening to everything. He is Chinese and is one of the men We slipped out of our hotel at night into entrusted by China’s Communist Party China is pumping money into the the darkness of Lhasa’s alleyways, though with running Tibet. Tibetans, he region, hoping that raising Tibetan plain-clothes security tried to follow us. insisted, were happy with their lot. living standards, what it calls leap- In the night Tibetans whispered that frog development, will win over “All ethnic groups including Tibetans they were harassed by the security Tibetan support. have benefited a lot from the progress forces, that too many Han Chinese were and development that has happened in flooding into Tibet, taking jobs from But it seems that fear and repression the 60 years since the peaceful Tibetans, that they did not like the are at least as important in ensuring liberation of Tibet,” he said. Chinese presence, and that they wanted China keeps control in Tibet.

BBC[Friday, July 16, 2010] Lhasa Handsome wages But it is not all quite so simple. igh in Tibet’s mountains there One way things are changing in Tibet is are fears that an ancient way of evident at the 5,100 Mineral water factory The factory, it turns out, is owned by Hlife is slowly dying. four hours drive outside Lhasa. a company registered in Hong Kong, so the profits, and the water, really flow China is bringing development to Tibet, Bottles of mineral water fly along outside Tibet. changing it, trying to make it modern, production lines imported from Germany. but some Tibetans are worried that their The name comes from the altitude of the And although the factory’s boss says region’s unique identity is being eroded. glacier that feeds water to the factory, collecting the run-off from the glacier 5,100 m (16,700ft) above sea level. has no environmental impact, the water Our was a rare, Chinese government- would have flowed into a wetland in controlled trip to Tibet. The water is sold in China’s far-off cities. the valley where yak herds graze the The factory brings jobs and money to a mountain grasses. Our schedule and our movements were poor region. almost entirely controlled by official Ancient structure minders who rarely let us out of their sight. Around 150 Tibetans work here, among In Lhasa too there are signs of change them Pubu Zhaxi. He says the work is all around. The Potala Palace, rising Almost all the people we spoke to were not hard and he earns 5,000 renminbi high above the city, was once home to hand-picked to show us China’s view ($735, £491) a month, a handsome the Dalai Lama before he fled into exile. of Tibet. wage in Tibet.

28 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FOCUS It is a symbol of the way, for centuries, On his wall, as in every house we see here, We are told 3,000 passengers come here Tibet resisted outside influence. there is a poster of China’s Communist everyday, so roughly one million a year, leaders, from Mao Zedong to Hu Jintao. a third of them visitors. But now the palace courtyard is full of Below it is a huge television set. Chinese visitors. They pose in Tibetan In snatched conversations we managed cowboy hats. Tourism is another plank in Do Bu Jie is a Communist Party member with Tibetans during our five-day tour and supporter of the housing project. it was clear the sheer number of Han China’s plan for development. Chinese flowing in to Tibet was a cause “Our old house was made out of mud, it of resentment. Qiangba Gesang, the director of the Potala wasn’t this good,” he said. “I was just a Palace says that four years ago 370,000 farmer. But the Communist Party looks Chinese vs Tibetan tourists were allowed to visit the palace after us.” Another sensitive topic is the survival each year. Now the number has gone up of Tibetan as a language. to 600,000. It is a sign of the way China’s China’s government genuinely believes its economy is developing and of the way policies are helping transform Tibet from At the Tibet Shanghai Experimental Tibetans are becoming richer too, he says. what officials say was a state of School, so-called because it is built with “backwardness”. funds from the Shanghai government, a But he is not so clear when asked if the class full of Tibetan children in red and surge in numbers is having any impact on But while some Tibetans are benefiting, white track-suits are all having a Chinese the ancient structure. many are not convinced. lesson. Nine hundred of the students here come from the families of farmers Comfort? They believe the economic gains are and herdsman, we are told. Many get The influx of Han Chinese as tourists largely flowing to Chinese immigrants. help from the central government with and migrants is altering Tibet. funding to enjoy this education. And they say their way of life and their So too is China’s policy of moving every cultural identity are all under threat. It is another showcase project. Tibetan herder and farmer into a new home. We are taken to see one model Railway boom But although the school says teaching project just outside Lhasa. The number of Chinese moving to Tibet is Tibetan is a priority, on closer scrutiny, a sensitive topic. that does not seem to be the case. Half Neat rows of grey stone houses stand the teachers are Chinese, and only in lines with Tibetan prayer flags When I asked for figures from officials Tibetan language is taught in Tibetan. fluttering from them. in Beijing before our trip I was given a No other subject is. stern lecture about the bias foreign China says it has constructed 230,000 of journalists have in reporting on Tibet. All the exams, except for Tibetan language, what it calls these “comfort houses” for have to be written in Chinese. Even the 1.3 million Tibetans in the past four years. Then I was told the statistics are not kept. signs around the school and the names of the classrooms are all in Chinese. It gives grants to help pay the cost. But But in Lhasa we were taken to the new the Tibetans have to use their own railway station, a giant, modern building, And the curriculum is all Chinese too. So savings too and take out loans, so they echoing and empty. Its style vaguely the children, we are told, are taught that end up with debt. echoes the Potala Palace. the Dalai Lama is a threat to China.

And, we are told, many of the Tibetans The railway is Beijing’s biggest investment It is clear China’s drive for development is in this village have leased their farmland in Tibet, costing billions of dollars, and is transforming Tibet, improving incomes to Chinese migrants to raise money. designed to connect the region with the and changing lives. rest of China. The Chinese grow vegetables while But it seems that is not always being the Tibetans now work on A train pulls in and passengers fill the welcomed. construction sites in Lhasa. So Tibet’s platform. demographics are shifting. For all the benefits China says it is There are Chinese migrant workers, bringing them, the impression left by our Backwardness dragging sacks of possessions, Tibetans visit was that Beijing is struggling to win Inside one house we find Do Bu Jie. with bundles of goods, Chinese tour the consent of ordinary Tibetans. groups all wearing red caps, the tour- In his seventies, he wears a brown Fedora leader waving her flag, and a few foreign And in a generation’s time their homeland hat at a jaunty angle. tourists too. may have changed irrevocably.

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HASA, Tibet [July 24, 2010] — “Why did I come here? To make money, Chinese officials say Tibetans make up They come by new high-altitude of course!” said Xiong Zhahua, a more than 95 percent of the region’s 2.9 Ltrains, four a day, cruising 1,200 migrant from Sichuan Province who million people, but refuse to give estimates miles past snow-capped mountains. And spends five months a year running a on Han migrants, who are not registered they come by military truck convoy, restaurant on the shores of chilly Nam residents. In the cities of Lhasa and lumbering across the roof of the world. Tso, the lake north of Lhasa. Shigatse, it is clear that Han neighborhoods are dwarfing Tibetan areas. China’s government invested $3 billion A rare five-day official tour of Tibet, in Tibet last year. though carefully managed by the Chinese Resentment of the Han exploded during Foreign Ministry, provided a glimpse of the March 2008 rioting — Tibetans in Han Chinese workers, investors, life in the region during a period of tight Lhasa burned and looted hundreds of merchants, teachers and soldiers are political and military control. Han and ethnic Hui shops; at least 19 pouring into remote Tibet. After the people died, most of them Han civilians, Tibet is more stable after security forces violence that ravaged this region in 2008, the Chinese government said. Han quelled the worst uprising against Chinese China’s aim is to make Tibet wealthier security forces then cracked down on rule in five decades. But the increased — and more Chinese. Tibetans across the plateau. ethnic Han presence — and the uneven benefits of Han-led investment — have Chinese leaders see development, along Robert Barnett, a scholar of Tibet at kept the region on edge. Columbia University, said the goal of with an enhanced security presence, as maintaining double-digit growth in the the key to pacifying the Buddhist region. Some Chinese officials acknowledge region had worsened ethnic tensions. the disenfranchisement of Tibetans, The central government invested $3 though they defend the right of Han “Of course, they achieved that, but it was billion in the Tibet Autonomous to migrate here. disastrous,” he said. “They had no Region last year, a 31 percent increase priority on local human resources, so of over 2008. Tibet’s gross domestic “The flow of human resources follows course they relied on outside labor, and product is growing at a 12 percent the rule of market economics and is also sucked in large migration into the towns.” annual rate, faster than the robust indispensable for the development of Tibet,” Hao Peng, vice chairman and Chinese national average. Now, a heavy security presence is deputy party secretary of the region, said needed to keep control of Lhasa. Around at a news conference with a small group Simple restaurants located in white the Barkhor, the city’s central market, of foreign journalists. But the current prefabricated houses and run by ethnic paramilitary officers in riot gear, all ethnic system “may have caused an imbalanced Han businesspeople who take the train Han, march counterclockwise around the distribution,” he said. “We are taking have sprung up even at a remote lake sacred Jokhang Temple, against the flow measures to solve this problem.” north of Lhasa. About 1.2 million rural of Tibetan pilgrims. Armed men stand Tibetans, nearly 40 percent of the region’s on rooftops near the temple. population, have been moved into new The government bars foreign reporters from traveling independently in Tibet. residences under a “comfortable Journalists on the tour were brought Limits on religious freedom have been a housing” program. And officials promise to several development projects by major cause of discontent. In the to increase tourism fourfold by 2020, to ministry officials, but were Jokhang itself, and in the Potala Palace, 20 million visitors a year. occasionally able to interview locals the imposing white-walled winter on their own. Tibetans interviewed fortress of the Dalai Lamas, images of But if the influx of money and people independently expressed fear of the the exiled 14th Dalai Lama have been has brought new prosperity, it has also security forces and spoke on the banned. Pilgrims carry the Dalai Lama’s deepened the resentment among many condition of anonymity. photograph in hidden lockets or amulets. Tibetans. Migrant Han entrepreneurs elbow out Tibetan rivals, then return One high school student complained As the pilgrims circle the Potala, a home for the winter after reaping profits. that Tibetans could not compete for jobs loudspeaker in a small park blares Large Han-owned companies dominate with Han migrants who arrived with high Communist Party propaganda: “We are the main industries, from mining to school diplomas. “Tibetans just get low- part of a Chinese nation contributing to construction to tourism. end jobs,” he said. a great future — we are Chinese people.”

30 TIBETAN BULLETIN JULY - AUGUST 2010 FOCUS Development programs are sometimes well “Renting out the farmland was suggested company did an environmental received, and sometimes they create by the bank,” said Suolang Jiancan, the assessment before starting operations resentment. Since 2006, the Tibetan village head. “It would be a guaranteed in 2006. “There’s no impact on the government has mandated that Tibetan income to pay back the loans.” wetlands,” she said. farmers, herders and nomads use government subsidies to build new homes Among the Han, it is not just farmers Because the company employs Tibetans, closer to roads. New concrete homes with who are profiting from the land. Large it receives government subsidies, Ms. traditional Tibetan decorations dot the companies from other parts of China are Jiang said. About 95 percent of the 150 or stark brown countryside. finding ways to tap Tibet’s resources. so workers are Tibetan, and the average salary, including housing subsidies, is But the base government subsidy for On July 19, China National Gold Group, the about $740 a month, a small fortune on the building the new homes is usually $1,500 nation’s largest gold producer, began work Tibetan plateau, she said. But ethnic Han per household, far short of the total needed. at a polymetallic mine whose daily output are the company’s managers and owners, Families have generally had to take out is expected to reach 15,000 tons. Tibet has and the ones who ultimately profit from it. multiple times that amount in interest-free more than 3,000 proven mineral reserves, three-year loans from state banks as well including China’s biggest chromium and Mr. Hao, the regional vice chairman, said as private loans from relatives or friends. copper deposits. China Daily, an official the key to making Tibetans more English-language newspaper, quoted a competitive in business “is to enhance “Though the government assures that Tibetan official in March saying that mining Tibetan people’s skills through villagers have not borrowed beyond their could make up at least 30 percent of Tibet’s education and training.” means, many villagers around Lhasa have gross domestic product by 2020, up from 3 expressed pessimism about their ability percent now. The government has encouraged to repay these loans, suggesting that the wealthier Chinese cities to finance degree of debt for the new houses is A prominent mineral water company school construction in Tibet. In the city beyond what they are comfortable with,” called 5100 that is registered in Hong of Shigatse, four hours from Lhasa, the said Emily Yeh, a scholar at the University Kong but managed from Beijing has set Tibet-Shanghai Experimental School was of Colorado at Boulder who has up a factory in Damxung, on a grassy completed in 2005 with an investment of researched the program. “This should plateau three hours north of Lhasa, to $8.6 million from the Shanghai become clearer over the next few years as collect glacial runoff and bottle it as government. The principal, Huang loans start to become due.” high-end mineral water. Last year, the Yongdong, arrived in January from company, named after the altitude of the Shanghai for a three-year posting. In the model village of Gaba, right outside glacier, produced almost two million Nearly 1,500 students, all Tibetan, attend Lhasa, residents leased out their farmland gallons of water. The water is shipped junior and senior high schools here. for eight years to Han migrants to pay out on the Qinghai-Tibet railway. back the loans, which mostly ranged from A portrait of Mao hangs in the lobby. All $3,000 to $4,500. The migrants grow a wide The water that is collected would classes are taught in Mandarin Chinese, variety of vegetables to be sold across otherwise flow through wetlands where except for Tibetan language classes. China. Many of the Tibetan villagers now yak graze. It is unclear how the factory’s Critics of the government’s ethnic policies work in construction; they cannot work has affected the ecosystem. Jiang say the education system in Tibet is compete with Han farmers because they Xiaohong, the factory manager, who destroying Tibetans’ fluency in their own generally know how to grow only barley. moved to Tibet three years ago, said the language, but officials insist that students need to master Chinese to be competitive. Some students accept that.

“My favorite class is Tibetan because we speak Tibetan at home,” said Gesang Danda, 13. “But our country’s mother tongue is Chinese, so we study in Chinese.”

On a blackboard in one classroom, someone had drawn in chalk a red flag with a hammer and sickle. Written next to it was a slogan in Chinese and Tibetan: “Without the Communist Party, there would be no new China, and Getty Images Chinese soldiers march infront of the Potala Palace. certainly no new Tibet.”

JULY - AUGUST 2010 TIBETAN BULLETIN 31 Recognising the incarnations of Lamas/Trulkus is a unique Tibetan practice related with Buddhism. It has nothing to do with politics. Using religious figures for political purpose, therefore, goes against religion. On 18 July 2007, the State Administration of Religious Affairs of the People’s Republic of China issued the Regulation on Management Measures for the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism by transgressing the bounds of both religion and politics. The heads of the four religious schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon religion as well as the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration issued a seven-point joint declaration on 2 September 2007, repudiating this regulation. Likewise the Special Meeting of the heads of the four religious schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon religion held on 3 May 2008 passed a resolution, which not only rejected it but also declared that in future no reincarnated Lamas/Trulkus of the Tibetan Buddhist and Bon religions shall be considered as true unless they have the final approval of the heads of the respective religious traditions.

Under the supervision of the Chinese Communist government, the so-called reincarnation of the Gyalrong Dedrug Rinpoche, belonging to Loseling of the Drepung Monastery in Tibet has apparently been recognised on 4 July 2010 through the ‘golden urn procedure’. As well as going against religion, this action of the Chinese government is a politically-motivated one. Therefore, as mentioned in the above declaration and the resolution, no Tibetan will ever accept this.

The previous Dedrug Rinpoche was a prominent religious figure who had contributed much to the maintenance and promotion of Tibetan religion and culture. Therefore, his reincarnation should be recognised according to tradition with the consent of the Gaden Throne Holder, the head of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism.

Department of Religion and Culture Central Tibetan Administration

Edited by Sherab Woeser printed and published by the Secretary, Department of Information & International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala-176 215, HP, INDIA Printed at Narthang Press, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176 215, HP, INDIA