www.tibetnetwork.com/blog – 吐蕃网博客བོད་ཀྱི་དྲ་མཛོད་ཀྱི་ཟིན་བྲིས།

Kashag’s Statement on the Occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s

Seventy-Sixth Birthday Celebration

[Wednesday, 6 July 2011]

Kalon Tripa Professor Samdhong Rinpoche addresses a gathering of Tibetans and well-wishers on the occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 76th birthday celebrations in Dharamsala, India, on 6 July 2011/Photo by Namgyal Tsewang/Tibet TV

On this very auspicious occasion of the seventy-sixth birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Kashag, on behalf of all Tibetans in and outside Tibet, would like to offer our heartfelt greetings and at the same time single-mindedly beseech Your Holiness to remain with us to dispel the suffering of all human beings and especially to guide the Tibetans as long as possible.

Today is a special day not only for the Tibetans but for people all over the world for whom a new champion of world peace was discovered. Taking this opportunity, the Kashag would like to offer our warm greetings to people all over world in general and particularly those who offer their support and stand in solidarity with Tibet and Tibetans.

Throughout his entire life, His Holiness has been tirelessly working for the welfare of the Tibetan people and when Communist China violently annexed and occupied Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was forced to come into exile to protect Tibet and her rich cultural heritage, including the Buddha dharma. In exile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama led more than 100,000 Tibetans and rehabilitating them in settlements and building various institutions to preserve Tibetan culture and religion. His Holiness has also established many schools where the younger generation of exile Tibetans can get opportunities to study both modern and traditional education.

For over half a century, His Holiness the Dalai Lama widely travelled all over the world to speak and promote the principles of peace and compassion. As a result the Buddha dharma has spread to many parts of the globe and won the support of many people and nations, which helped sustain the issue of Tibet alive on the global forum. The just cause of Tibet has become an issue of interest and many stand in solidarity with Tibet. Moreover, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has abandoned the idea of victory for oneself and defeat for the other and initiated the principle of the Middle Way Approach to resolve the issue of Tibet, which has won overwhelming majority support from the Tibetans inside and in Diaspora. This has also led to an increasing number of truth- and peace-loving people and nations around the world to clearly see that the issue of Tibet is a just cause and that the Chinese Communist authorities’ position is wrong.

In exile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has also introduced democratic process with the establishment of democratic institutions such as the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, ratification of the Charter for Tibetans-in-Exile and the election of Kalon Tripa directly through popular people’s vote. As the Tibetan people have more understanding of the democratic process and inculcate a higher level of democratic culture, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has recently devolved all his powers to an elected Tibetan leadership, which was the first time that such a historic step has been taken in Tibetan history. These are some of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s innumerable and immense achievements.

On this extraordinary day, the Kashag would wish to gratefully thank and remember the visionary steps that His Holiness the Dalai Lama took in the democratization of the Tibetan polity and devolving all his powers to the elected Tibetan leadership, which will represent the six million Tibetans living in and outside Tibet and has empowered the elected leaders to continue to work hard. His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s democratization of the Tibetan polity has given the Tibetans the opportunity to make the issue of Tibet more global and strengthened the legitimacy of the exile administration.

However, a few people in our community, who are not satisfied with His Holiness the Dalai Lama devolving all his powers, still continue to criticize him without recognizing and respecting his tireless work for Tibet and the Tibetans. Taking democratic rights as an excuse, these people, who do not have to shoulder any responsibility and who are devoid of any principle and moral values, use their glib tongues to express their dissatisfaction. It is clear that these are aimed neither to improve the democratic culture nor for the welfare of society or for the improvement of Tibetan political discourse. And the fact that the society at large ignores these unjustified criticisms without challenging nor to responding to them is a sign that, perhaps, our collective merit is exhausted.

On this special occasion, the 13th Kashag nearing its completion of term of office would like to pay our respect to the Tibetan people and at the same time would like to remind you the following.

At this time when important changes are taking place in Tibetan political system, the exile community by abandoning regionalism and sectarianism, and by following democratic principles took active part and succeeded in electing a well-qualified new Kalon Tripa with immense majority support. This is a matter of pride and happiness as it signifies the unity among the Tibetans and it shows their political maturity. The Kashag would like to urge the Tibetans to uphold their spirit and determination by not being deterred by these political changes and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s devolution of all his powers, and should further work hard to carry forward the empowerment of Tibetan polity.

Regarding the Sino-Tibetan dialogue, we have made our stand clear through the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People and Note on the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People. Thus from our side there is nothing new to add. However, it seems that the present leadership of the People’s Republic of China has no desire to give any meaningful consideration of our Memorandum and its Note. But from our side, we have a firm determination to continue the dialogue process. Moreover, we have already formulated a clear stand and a firm base to carry forward the dialogue in accordance with any future change that may take place in the People’s Republic of China.

In our continued effort towards the welfare of exile Tibetans and specifically the education and the future direction of the younger generation, many programmes regarding further improvements of the settlements are being carried out and the Basic Education Policy was introduced. Though these may have produced some positive results, there are many other programmes where we have not satisfactorily succeeded as we had wished. However, we have no regret on our part for we tried and worked our level best. The Central Tibetan Administration managed to overcome our critical financial problems and presently the administration is self-reliant in terms of its basic needs.

Due to recent political situation in Nepal, the Central Tibetan Administration has not been able to provide necessary support or to look after the welfare of the Tibetans living there. We are also deeply concerned and yet helpless that the Representative could not be appointed nor the Tibetan Welfare Association was able to register. Even our desperate efforts to relocate Tibetan in Nepal to other places in order to downsize the population was miserably failed. Of late we have appointed a Nepalese citizen as a voluntarily liaison for the Tibetans, and we hope that he can solve some of the immediate problems that Tibetans living there face. We request the Tibetans there to cooperate with him as and when needed in accordance with local situation.

Since 2008, many brave and determined Tibetans in Tibet have carried out a series of non-violent campaigns. Particularly in the last few months, many people in Kirti Monastery and in several places including Kardze have selflessly taken part in peaceful protests. We stand in solidarity with them and pay our heartfelt tribute to them. And we pray for the immediate release of all those who are imprisoned and those who are being persecuted.

As the immediate and the ultimate wellbeing of all Tibetan people depends upon His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his long life is the sole basis of the Tibetan people’s welfare. It is a matter of immense happiness for us that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has time and again accepted to have a long life. Furthermore, recently when the civil servants of the Central Tibetan Administration presented a long-life offering, the state oracle envisaged that His Holiness the Dalai Lama was promised to live till the age of 113. However, the state oracle stated that it depends upon the deeds and conduct of the Tibetan people. Thus, the Kashag would like to urge all Tibetans to engage in actions that will not breach the wishes of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and at the same time to work hard in preserving our traditional values.

Finally, the Kashag prays for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the immediate fulfilment of all his wishes. May the just cause of Tibet prevail soon!

Note: This is the English translation. Should any discrepancy arise, the Tibetan version should be considered the final authority.

---

[Translate]

His Holiness leaves for US to confer Kalachakra Initiation for World Peace

[Monday, 4 July 2011, 10:44 a.m.]

DHARAMSHALA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Dharamsala today for a thirteen-day visit to the United States, where he will confer the Kalachakra Initiation for World Peace.

His Holiness will be in Washington, DC, to confer the Kalachakra Initiation for World Peace, at Verizon Center from 6 to 16 July. Many of the events will be webcast live in English, Chinese and Russian languages. (Watch live webcast of Kalachakra for World Peace)

On 6 July, His Holiness will give a short teaching, following which he will grace an event in honour of his 76th birthday. The birthday celebrations will be joined by Mr Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, and Mr Martin Luther King III, son of the late Martin Luther King Jr. The event will be broadcast live on www.dalailama.com

During the first three days of the Kalachakra Initiation from 6 to 8 July, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, along with the monks of Namgyal Monastery and senior lamas, will conduct rituals which prepare and consecrate the venue. These include chanting of prayers, creation of the sand mandala and other ancient rituals.

From 9 to 11 July, His Holiness will give preliminary teachings on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s “37 Practices of a Bodhisatva (Laklen Sodunma)” and Kamalashila’s “The Middling States of Meditation (Gomrim Barpa)”.

On 12 July, the Kalachakra Ritual Dance will be performed by the monks of Namgyal Monastery.

His Holiness will confer the Kalachakra Initiation from 13 to 15 July.

Tibetans seek blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as he leaves Dharamsala for a thirteen-day visit to the US

On 16 July, a long life empowerment and a ceremony offering prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be performed.

His Holiness will also give a public talk on “A Talk for World Peace” at the West Lawn of the US Capitol on 9 July. The event will feature eminent author, producer and winner of Grammy and Golden Globe awards, Whoopi Goldberg, who is also equally well-known for her charitable and humanitarian efforts around the world. Also participating in the World Peace event is recording artist Skylar Grey, who will perform a never before heard song as a tribute to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.

The Capital Area Tibetan Association based in Washington, DC, is organising the Kalachakra Initiation and the public talk for world peace.

“The Capital Area Tibetan Association (CATA), along with the greater Tibetan community, Mongolians, Kalmyks, and the peoples of the Himalyan regions, join in acting on behalf of Buddhists throughout North America and the world. Together, we realise that the Kalachakra offers an unparalleled way to amplify the profound, unshakable commitment of His Holiness to values such as love, compassion, wisdom and interfaith harmony,” CATA said in a statement.

“In addition, we humbly want to offer our work on this great event as an expression of gratitude to the people of the United States, our host country, and to all those in the Western Hemisphere and around the world who have so kindly supported the preservation of Tibet’s rich culture, spiritual heritage, and distinctive identity for many years now. We deeply appreciate how your kind and generous commitments has enabled Tibet’s unique spiritual wisdom-heritage to survive, spread and take root in all parts of our world,” the statement noted.

On 17 July, His Holiness will give a public talk on Bridging the Faith Divide in the afternoon at the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC) Pavilion organised by The Theosophical Society in America.

His Holiness will visit Chicago on 18 July to participate in a conversation with religious leaders on Building Bridges in the morning at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance organised by The Theosophical Society in America.

---

[Translate]



---

[Translate]

Will Xi Talk to Dharamsala?

In 1954/55, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited China, he is said to have gifted a Rolex watch to Xi Zhongzun, the then vice premier of China. In 1980s when Tibetan fact-finding delegations from Dharamsala went to China and Tibet, Xi was the Chinese official interlocutor and was known to carry a photo of His Holiness in his pocket.

Xi was close to the 10th Panchen Lama, who submitted the historic 70,000 Character Petition to the Chinese government stating that Tibetans suffered more under Beijing’s rule then they have benefited. His association with the Panchen Lama was one of the reasons why Mao purged him three times. Xi also supported Hu Yaobang’s political reform and denounced the use of military force in Tiananmen Square in 1989, after which he disappeared from public.

By all account, Xi Zhongxun, was a liberal communist, who is known for his integrity and forthrightness. Xi’s son Xi Jinping will takeover the communist throne in Zhongnanhai from the current Chinese boss, Hu Jintao, in 2012.

Xi junior was born in 1953 and later witnessed Mao purge his father during the Cultural Revolution. His climb up the Communist ladder has been slow and un-dramatic. Xi joined the Chinese Youth League in 1971 and the Communist Party in 1974. After nearly three decades later, he took senior Party position in Zhejiang, one of the rich Chinese provinces and was made the Party chief of Shanghai in 2007. In October of the same year, Xi was inducted into the Politburo Standing Committee, a nine-member all-powerful group that decides the fate of world’s most populous nation.

Xi has an engineering degree from Tsinghua University and is married to Peng Liyuan, a famous Chinese folk singer. Their daughter is enrolled at Harvard University. Over the last few years, he has attracted a number of international admirers for his ‘openness and pragmatism’, including former US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who said that Xi is “the kind of guy who knows how to get things over the goal line.” However, Xi’s personal political views remain foggy, which will likely to remain so until he takes office the next year and consolidates his power.
Dharamsala’s Hope

There is a curious optimism and lilting hope among the senior Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala that light may shine from Beijing soon. During his campaigns for the exile Tibetan prime minister, Lobsang Sangay, (he is now the prime minister-elect), said on numerous occasions that things might change for Tibet in 2012 when a new leadership headed by Xi Jinping take power in China. Similarly, the current Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche, during his final speech to the first session of the 15^th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, said that changes are taking place all over the world especially in the Middle East and that within the next few years ‘changes are likely to take place in the People’s Republic of China.’

There is an assumption that we are dealing with China that is self-sure, responsible and rational power that has come of age with dignity backed up by economic strength. This has led to oft mentioned and now almost a cliché statement that Tibet will benefit economically if it remains with China. However, this assumption reverses reality. China today is a brooding nation with a highly unequal social order. Its paranoid leaders are constantly worried, as Minxin Pei writes, about getting overthrown by its own people.

When Xi takes over from Hu the next year, he will inherit an empire, whose unbridle economic growth and hunger for more resources have led to irreparable environmental damages; a brittle society with more than 100,000 mass protests each year apart from uprisings in Tibet, East Turkestan and lately in Inner Mongolia; and an economy that needs massive adjustments to make the growth more sustainable. These will leave Xi’s hands so full that the political reforms will be the last of his priorities.

Dharamsala’s optimism and hope are based on the hope that there will be political reforms in China which will have trickle-down effect on the Sino-Tibetan talks, which in turn will bring a new and positive development for the issue of Tibet. In fact, the Chinese leaders have talked about political reform for over three decades but have done nothing about it. Premier Wen Jiabao famously called for ‘political reform’ and the need to have term limit for senior Communist leaders. Wen said, “[China] must advance political, economic and judicial reforms, so that our superstructure [politics] will keep abreast with the development of our economic foundation.”

But such liberal voices have no real impact, as was clear from the weighty 4,600-character communiqué after the fifth party congress in October 2010, which affirmed the ‘political advantages of China’s socialist system’. Under such an overwhelming opposition to any political reform, Xi junior is very likely to maintain the status quo, which will mean that Dharamsala’s hopes remain worryingly misplaced.

Will Xi lead a rising Dragon?
According to official statistics Beijing spent over $100 million on ‘domestic stability maintenance operations’ in 2010, which was more than China’s national defence budget. For a nation vying to be the next superpower, this does not augur well. In order to keep its people under control, Chinese government manoeuvres massive internal security system that involves approximately a million paramilitary personnel and an unknown number of secret police and informers. These people are often lowly paid and their other source of income is corruption, which for the time being seems to make the political system more efficient. However, endemic corruption rots the system from within. Besides in the long run China’s global ambition will be severely limited by its domestic security pressure.

Lustre is also pealing off from China’s hot economic engine. Decades of freewheeling developments have led to catastrophic impact on the environment. Experts say that the net economic growth, after the cost of reviving the environment, makes China very unattractive for foreign investors. Adding to this is a new worrying trend, writes Gordon Chang, authorThe Coming Collapse of China and a respected blogger in Forbes online, that “almost 60% of China’s ‘high net worth individuals,’ defined as those possessing more than 10 million Yuan in investable assets” are leaving China. “We have been working hard to develop the economy in the past 30 years, but now these elite members of society are fleeing with the majority of the wealth,” said economic analyst Zhong Dajun to the Global Times, the Communist Party-run newspaper.
Moreover, Beijing’s appetite for resources and unilateral control of major Asian rivers, originating from Tibet, are leading to head-on confrontations with India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, which are likely to produce unexpected hurdles in her global ambitions. Aggressive Chinese takeover of resources in Africa by bringing in cheap labour and cheaper Chinese products flooding their markets are being met with firm resistance from affected local population and loss of face for China in international forums.

Xi will have to lead China with all these multiple problems, some of which are as big the nation itself for which Xi and his coteries will find no easy solutions. As of now China is heavily cracking down peaceful protestors in Inner Mongolia and Kirti Monastery in Amdo Ngaba, Eastern Tibet. Within the last couple of years, the Chinese authorities have also cracked down and arrested unaccounted number of its people, including renowned artist, Ai Wei Wei. Beijing is visibly nervous. When nervous Beijing always mindlessly flexes its muscles.
This leads a few questions — Is China really rising? Or is it a large impressive structure from outside but without anything of substance inside much like the newly renovated National Museum of China? Will Xi impress this elite group of nine people to lead a quarter of humanity into a democratic society led by rule of law?
Going by the China’s records for the last sixty years, the answers are not even blowing in the wind.

Source: http://burningtibet.blogspot.com/2011/06/in-195455-when-his-holiness-dalai-lama.html

---

[Translate]