The polling giant Gallup released its list of the “Most Admired” men and women in America today, and unsurprisingly, President Barack Obama topped the list again in 2011. Other notable names in the mix this year included George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, the Pope, and… wait a second. Is that Tim Tebow?
Apparently so. Tebow finished “only a vote or two” outside the top 10 this year, according to USA Today. Behind the Denver Broncos’ polarizing quarterback was none other than the Dalai Lama.
Tebow won seven of his first eight games as a starter this season, leading the Broncos from the brink of death back into contention for the AFC playoffs. He’s drawn the adoration of millions, the hatred of millions more, and endless debate in the media throughout his whirlwind season at the helm in Denver.
But more admiration for the Dalai Lama? That’s lofty.
Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton were followed by reverend Billy Graham and billionaire Warren Buffett in the top five. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton topped the list of America’s most admired women.
Source Credit: Sports Illustrated
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Dalai Lama Weeps for Japan’s Quake Victims as Golfers Play On: Pico Iyer
The scenes around the northern Japanese city of Sendai are still shocking. Clothes set out to dry hang outside two-story houses whose first floors are entirely crushed and hollowed out; the second floors are generally untouched.
A solitary chair sits in the smashed wreckage of what must recently have been a living room. Cars can be seen floating on small rivers, and telephone poles teeter at crazy angles. Giant rectangles of scrap metal stand all along what were in January typically spotless and sleek Japanese highways, Bloomberg Businessweek reports in its Dec. 26 issue.
In November, I traveled up to the little fishing village of Ishinomaki, an hour from Sendai, with the Dalai Lama. Almost eight months after the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, the sense of devastation was hard to bear.
An old wooden temple still stood firm against a hill, but the gravestones in front of it were broken or tilting over. Tidy boxed remains of the recently departed, accompanied by snapshots -- here a teenage schoolboy, there a smiling grandmother -- sat in rows by the altar, but no survivor had come to claim them, and there were perhaps no homes to take them back to.
When the Dalai Lama stepped out of his car to greet and console the hundreds who had gathered in the street to see him, women began wailing and sobbing, “Thank you, thank you.”
He told them to look forward, not back; to honor the dead with something more concrete than tears; to rebuild their community as their nation had so stirringly rebuilt itself in the wake of World War II. As he turned round, however, I noticed that the usually unshakable Tibetan was wiping a tear from his eye.
Source credit: bloomberg
A solitary chair sits in the smashed wreckage of what must recently have been a living room. Cars can be seen floating on small rivers, and telephone poles teeter at crazy angles. Giant rectangles of scrap metal stand all along what were in January typically spotless and sleek Japanese highways, Bloomberg Businessweek reports in its Dec. 26 issue.
In November, I traveled up to the little fishing village of Ishinomaki, an hour from Sendai, with the Dalai Lama. Almost eight months after the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, the sense of devastation was hard to bear.
An old wooden temple still stood firm against a hill, but the gravestones in front of it were broken or tilting over. Tidy boxed remains of the recently departed, accompanied by snapshots -- here a teenage schoolboy, there a smiling grandmother -- sat in rows by the altar, but no survivor had come to claim them, and there were perhaps no homes to take them back to.
When the Dalai Lama stepped out of his car to greet and console the hundreds who had gathered in the street to see him, women began wailing and sobbing, “Thank you, thank you.”
He told them to look forward, not back; to honor the dead with something more concrete than tears; to rebuild their community as their nation had so stirringly rebuilt itself in the wake of World War II. As he turned round, however, I noticed that the usually unshakable Tibetan was wiping a tear from his eye.
Source credit: bloomberg
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Myanmar Religious Court Dalai Lama
By Celine Fernandez
Associated Press
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama gestures as he laughs during an event at a school in New Delhi, India.
In one of the latest signs of increasing political openness in Myanmar– and an increasing willingness to defy the wishes of China – one of the country’s most influential Buddhist monks is attempting to bring the Dalai Lama to the Southeast Asian nation.
Reverend Ashin Nyanissara, abbot of the Sitagu Monastery near Mandalay, said that the Dalai Lama wants to visit Myanmar for the first time. The Southeast Asian nation is 80% Buddhist, though it doesn’t practice the same form of Buddhism as the famous Tibetan exile.
The Myanmar abbot has approached the government for permission and hopes to get approval as early as next year. “Step by step, I will plan it,” he told the Wall Street Journal.
The odds of gaining a visa for the Dalai Lama, who is widely regarded as the spiritual leader of Tibet, are slim, experts say. China has long objected to the Dalai Lama’s overseas visits because of the publicity it brings to global campaigns for Tibetan independence.
In October, the Dalai Lama canceled plans to visit South Africa after not receiving a response for a visa request to that country, which has sought closer trade ties with China. Myanmar, meanwhile, relies heavily on Chinese investment and diplomatic support, and likely would not want to pick a fight with Beijing over the issue.
That hasn’t deterred the Dalai Lama’s fans in Myanmar, though. The plan to bring him to the country started to form last month, when the Dalai Lama told Mr. Ashin that he wanted to visit Myanmar as they both attended the Buddhist Global Congregation in New Delhi, according to the abbot.
The Dalai Lama’s spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
If Myanmar can host the World Buddhist Summit in the coming years, Mr. Ashin Nyanissara is guessing the government would have to allow the Dalai Lama to attend because of rising expectations that it is opening up to the outside world after a series of recent reforms. The Dalai Lama did not attend the last time Myanmar hosted the summit in 2004.
“As a religious leader in Myanmar, I have the right to invite all Buddhist religious leaders around the world,” he said. “I must invite His Holiness.”
The Reverend Ashin Nyanissara hopes the Dalai Lama will be able to visit Yangon’s famous golden Shwedagon Pagoda as early next year.
“I don’t know how the government may feel on this matter,” said Ko Ko Hlaing, an advisor to the Myanmar’s president, who said he could only give his own views, not the government line. “But in my personal opinion, there is only a (small) chance he could visit the Shwedagon Pagoda. As you know, China is quite sensitive on issues involving the Dalai Lama. It is no problem from religious aspect, but very controversial from political point of view.” A Myanmar government spokesman did not respond to a request for a comment.
The 74-year-old abbot said he would rather China not be part of the decision.
“I must talk to the Myanmar government only. It’s not necessary for me to talk to Chinese government,” he said. “If Myanmar’s government is going to discuss this with the Chinese Communist government …. It will be a long procedure.”
Source credit:AP
Associated Press
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama gestures as he laughs during an event at a school in New Delhi, India.
In one of the latest signs of increasing political openness in Myanmar– and an increasing willingness to defy the wishes of China – one of the country’s most influential Buddhist monks is attempting to bring the Dalai Lama to the Southeast Asian nation.
Reverend Ashin Nyanissara, abbot of the Sitagu Monastery near Mandalay, said that the Dalai Lama wants to visit Myanmar for the first time. The Southeast Asian nation is 80% Buddhist, though it doesn’t practice the same form of Buddhism as the famous Tibetan exile.
The Myanmar abbot has approached the government for permission and hopes to get approval as early as next year. “Step by step, I will plan it,” he told the Wall Street Journal.
The odds of gaining a visa for the Dalai Lama, who is widely regarded as the spiritual leader of Tibet, are slim, experts say. China has long objected to the Dalai Lama’s overseas visits because of the publicity it brings to global campaigns for Tibetan independence.
In October, the Dalai Lama canceled plans to visit South Africa after not receiving a response for a visa request to that country, which has sought closer trade ties with China. Myanmar, meanwhile, relies heavily on Chinese investment and diplomatic support, and likely would not want to pick a fight with Beijing over the issue.
That hasn’t deterred the Dalai Lama’s fans in Myanmar, though. The plan to bring him to the country started to form last month, when the Dalai Lama told Mr. Ashin that he wanted to visit Myanmar as they both attended the Buddhist Global Congregation in New Delhi, according to the abbot.
The Dalai Lama’s spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
If Myanmar can host the World Buddhist Summit in the coming years, Mr. Ashin Nyanissara is guessing the government would have to allow the Dalai Lama to attend because of rising expectations that it is opening up to the outside world after a series of recent reforms. The Dalai Lama did not attend the last time Myanmar hosted the summit in 2004.
“As a religious leader in Myanmar, I have the right to invite all Buddhist religious leaders around the world,” he said. “I must invite His Holiness.”
The Reverend Ashin Nyanissara hopes the Dalai Lama will be able to visit Yangon’s famous golden Shwedagon Pagoda as early next year.
“I don’t know how the government may feel on this matter,” said Ko Ko Hlaing, an advisor to the Myanmar’s president, who said he could only give his own views, not the government line. “But in my personal opinion, there is only a (small) chance he could visit the Shwedagon Pagoda. As you know, China is quite sensitive on issues involving the Dalai Lama. It is no problem from religious aspect, but very controversial from political point of view.” A Myanmar government spokesman did not respond to a request for a comment.
The 74-year-old abbot said he would rather China not be part of the decision.
“I must talk to the Myanmar government only. It’s not necessary for me to talk to Chinese government,” he said. “If Myanmar’s government is going to discuss this with the Chinese Communist government …. It will be a long procedure.”
Source credit:AP
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Dalai Lama to Ashton: send EU diplomats to Tibet
BRUSSELS - The Dalai Lama has urged foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton to keep asking China for EU diplomats to visit Tibet.
"The situation in Tibet is very desperate. It is urgent that the international community sends fact-finding delegations to the Tibetan area to investigate the situation on the ground. This will have a restraining influence on the Chinese authorities," he said in written remarks sent to EUobserver during his visit to Prague on Monday (12 December).
"Should the Chinese side reject the request, the EU could issue a strong statement of deep concern and raise the issue at international fora, such as the United Nations Human Rights Council."
He noted that China cares about its international reputation and is not immune from Arab-Spring-type events.
"As powerful as China may be, she is still part of this world and cannot escape the global trend toward more freedom and democracy. The international perception of China is of great importance to the Chinese leadership - China has the ambition to play a leading role in the world."
Ashton's diplomats say they have already made formal requests to visit the disputed region.
But China's man in charge of Tibet, vice-minister Zhu Weiqun, at a rare meeting with press in Brussels also on Monday, ruled out the possibility.
"China is an independent country and we have the full capacity to handle problems on our territory. So under no circumstances will we allow foreign fact-finding missions into the Tibetan autonomous region ... I don't believe that the interference of any foreign force could achieve anything constructive. Indeed it could very well lead to an escalation of the crisis and to wars," he told this website.
He made a veiled reference to the EU's need for Chinese financial assistance.
"EU-China relations are all the more important due to the financial crisis ... I don't see why at this point in EU-China relations the EU lets so many people point fongers at China's internal affairs. I don't recall China finger-pointing at EU affairs."
Addressing a European External Action Service (EEAS) official at the meeting, Francesco Magiello, Zhu said Ashton should rebuke MEPs for meeting with the Tibetan prime-minister-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, in November.
"I do hope that from the EU institutions some efforts could be made to persuade those people who have a habit of making irresponsible remarks against China to learn more about this issue instead of pointing fingers," he said.
The official narrative on Tibet is that China in 1951 "liberated" the region from feudalism and has over the past six decades created economic prosperity.
Zhu on Monday accused Western governments of funding the Dalai Lama's India-based movement to weaken China for strategic reasons.
He called the Dalai Lama a "savage" who gets young monks to set themselves on fire to provoke anti-Chinese feeling. He added that Chinese intelligence has evidence the head-in-exile of the Kirti monastery in Tibet, Kirti Rinpoche, organised three of the 12 recent self-immolations. He also said a "Dalai Lama group" in Taiwan recently published an article saying monks who kill themselves will be reincarnated as Buddhas.
For his part, Magiello sided with the Dalai Lama and international NGOs, such as Human Rights Watch, who see the self-immolations as a reaction to Chinese repression.
"We are concerned about the recent cases of self-immolations because these in our view seem to reflect the desperation of some Tibetan people regarding the erosion of Tibetan culture," he said.
He declined to use the Chinese formula of "so-called prime minister" for Lobsang Sangay, calling him instead the "prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile."
Dalai Lama envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen told EUobserver that China tries to pin inflammatory statements made by some exiled Tibetans on the official movement in order to discredit its non-violent credo.
When asked by EUobserver to show it a copy of the pro-self-immolation article mentioned by Zhu, the spokesman for the Chinese EU mission, Wang Xining, said: "The ... article is difficult to locate on internet. Sorry."
Source credit: EU Observer.com
"The situation in Tibet is very desperate. It is urgent that the international community sends fact-finding delegations to the Tibetan area to investigate the situation on the ground. This will have a restraining influence on the Chinese authorities," he said in written remarks sent to EUobserver during his visit to Prague on Monday (12 December).
"Should the Chinese side reject the request, the EU could issue a strong statement of deep concern and raise the issue at international fora, such as the United Nations Human Rights Council."
He noted that China cares about its international reputation and is not immune from Arab-Spring-type events.
"As powerful as China may be, she is still part of this world and cannot escape the global trend toward more freedom and democracy. The international perception of China is of great importance to the Chinese leadership - China has the ambition to play a leading role in the world."
Ashton's diplomats say they have already made formal requests to visit the disputed region.
But China's man in charge of Tibet, vice-minister Zhu Weiqun, at a rare meeting with press in Brussels also on Monday, ruled out the possibility.
"China is an independent country and we have the full capacity to handle problems on our territory. So under no circumstances will we allow foreign fact-finding missions into the Tibetan autonomous region ... I don't believe that the interference of any foreign force could achieve anything constructive. Indeed it could very well lead to an escalation of the crisis and to wars," he told this website.
He made a veiled reference to the EU's need for Chinese financial assistance.
"EU-China relations are all the more important due to the financial crisis ... I don't see why at this point in EU-China relations the EU lets so many people point fongers at China's internal affairs. I don't recall China finger-pointing at EU affairs."
Addressing a European External Action Service (EEAS) official at the meeting, Francesco Magiello, Zhu said Ashton should rebuke MEPs for meeting with the Tibetan prime-minister-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, in November.
"I do hope that from the EU institutions some efforts could be made to persuade those people who have a habit of making irresponsible remarks against China to learn more about this issue instead of pointing fingers," he said.
The official narrative on Tibet is that China in 1951 "liberated" the region from feudalism and has over the past six decades created economic prosperity.
Zhu on Monday accused Western governments of funding the Dalai Lama's India-based movement to weaken China for strategic reasons.
He called the Dalai Lama a "savage" who gets young monks to set themselves on fire to provoke anti-Chinese feeling. He added that Chinese intelligence has evidence the head-in-exile of the Kirti monastery in Tibet, Kirti Rinpoche, organised three of the 12 recent self-immolations. He also said a "Dalai Lama group" in Taiwan recently published an article saying monks who kill themselves will be reincarnated as Buddhas.
For his part, Magiello sided with the Dalai Lama and international NGOs, such as Human Rights Watch, who see the self-immolations as a reaction to Chinese repression.
"We are concerned about the recent cases of self-immolations because these in our view seem to reflect the desperation of some Tibetan people regarding the erosion of Tibetan culture," he said.
He declined to use the Chinese formula of "so-called prime minister" for Lobsang Sangay, calling him instead the "prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile."
Dalai Lama envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen told EUobserver that China tries to pin inflammatory statements made by some exiled Tibetans on the official movement in order to discredit its non-violent credo.
When asked by EUobserver to show it a copy of the pro-self-immolation article mentioned by Zhu, the spokesman for the Chinese EU mission, Wang Xining, said: "The ... article is difficult to locate on internet. Sorry."
Source credit: EU Observer.com
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Tibetan Dalai Lama arrives in Prague, meets Havel
Prague - The Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, arrived in Prague for a three-day visit this morning at the invitation of former Czech president Vaclav Havel and he met Havel for an hour, Oldrich Cerny, head of the Forum 2000 foundation, said today.
The foundation is organising the Dalai Lama´s stay in Prague.
Havel thanked the Dalai Lama, his long-term friend, for arriving in the country where people love him but politicians fear him a bit, Cerny said.
The Dalai Lama told reporters when leaving the meeting that he had asked Havel to live for another ten years.
"It was primarily a meeting of two old friends and it took place in this spirit," Cerny said.
The Dalai Lama has met Havel, a well-known human rights advocate, in Prague several times, last time at a conference on the state of democracy in Asia two years ago.
This time the Dalai Lama arrived on the occasion of the Human Rights Day today.
Havel, who apparently suffered from health troubles, received a white shawl and a golden wheel, the symbol of a spiritual change, protection and the ability to overcome obstacles, from the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama said it was a great honour to him to meet his long-term friend. Havel is not only his personal friend but he considers him a friend and leader of the free world who always sides with people facing problems or being oppressed, the Dalai Lama stressed.
He Lama informed Havel about his summer decision to give up the political and administrative power, Cerny said.
It occurred formally on August 8 when the Dalai Lama handed over his powers to the democratically elected representatives of the Tibetan exile.
Cerny explained Havel´s words about Czech politicians slightly fearing the Dalai Lama by the strengthening of China´s power position in the past years since the Dalai Lama´s previous visit to the Czech Republic.
The Dalai Lama will not meet any active Czech politicians during his stay.
Within his three-day programme in Prague, the Dalai Lama is to meet Havel and they both should participate in a panel debate on China held at Charles University on Sunday.
The participants will, among others, touch upon the stances of the imprisoned Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner and dissident Liu Xiaobo.
The debate will also be attended by Iranian Peace Nobel Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, the last living co-author of Universal Declaration of Human Rights Stephane Hessel, from France, and Chinese dissident Yang Jianli.
The Dalai Lama will also give a public lecture entitled "In Search for Happiness in Uncertain World" in Prague's Congress Centre. The proceeds from the event will be donated to a Tibetan school.
source credit: //www.ceskenoviny.cz/news
The foundation is organising the Dalai Lama´s stay in Prague.
Havel thanked the Dalai Lama, his long-term friend, for arriving in the country where people love him but politicians fear him a bit, Cerny said.
The Dalai Lama told reporters when leaving the meeting that he had asked Havel to live for another ten years.
"It was primarily a meeting of two old friends and it took place in this spirit," Cerny said.
The Dalai Lama has met Havel, a well-known human rights advocate, in Prague several times, last time at a conference on the state of democracy in Asia two years ago.
This time the Dalai Lama arrived on the occasion of the Human Rights Day today.
Havel, who apparently suffered from health troubles, received a white shawl and a golden wheel, the symbol of a spiritual change, protection and the ability to overcome obstacles, from the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama said it was a great honour to him to meet his long-term friend. Havel is not only his personal friend but he considers him a friend and leader of the free world who always sides with people facing problems or being oppressed, the Dalai Lama stressed.
He Lama informed Havel about his summer decision to give up the political and administrative power, Cerny said.
It occurred formally on August 8 when the Dalai Lama handed over his powers to the democratically elected representatives of the Tibetan exile.
Cerny explained Havel´s words about Czech politicians slightly fearing the Dalai Lama by the strengthening of China´s power position in the past years since the Dalai Lama´s previous visit to the Czech Republic.
The Dalai Lama will not meet any active Czech politicians during his stay.
Within his three-day programme in Prague, the Dalai Lama is to meet Havel and they both should participate in a panel debate on China held at Charles University on Sunday.
The participants will, among others, touch upon the stances of the imprisoned Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner and dissident Liu Xiaobo.
The debate will also be attended by Iranian Peace Nobel Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, the last living co-author of Universal Declaration of Human Rights Stephane Hessel, from France, and Chinese dissident Yang Jianli.
The Dalai Lama will also give a public lecture entitled "In Search for Happiness in Uncertain World" in Prague's Congress Centre. The proceeds from the event will be donated to a Tibetan school.
source credit: //www.ceskenoviny.cz/news
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Martin Sheen narrates Dalai Lama's new book
(CBS) When the Dalai Lama's latest book, "Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World," hit stores this week, many Americans recognized the voice narrating the audiobook, although they knew him best as President Josiah Bartlet.
Actor Martin Sheen, who played Bartlett for years on the on the hit TV drama "The West Wing," told Reuters he thought of the work as "a very special opportunity" and found that the book's message of compassion and universal ethics resonated with his own beliefs.
A devout Catholic and social activist, Sheen, 71, said, "It doesn't say drop your religion; you can't go this path and remain a Catholic or a Protestant or a Muslim or a Jew. On the contrary, it's about your humanity. That's where we're all united. "
Sheen, who played Bartlett on TV from 1999 to 2006, is an Emmy winner and multiple Golden Globe nominee. He has appeared in more than 65 films including a star turn as Captain Benjamin L. Willard in Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 movie "Apocalypse Now," which brought Sheen international recognition. Born Ramon Antonio Gerard Estevez in Ohio, Sheen is the father of four, including actor Charlie Sheen and actor/director Emilio Estevez.
The Dalai Lama, who bills himself in the book as a "stateless refugee" and "India's longest-staying guest," is the author of more than 100 books but he says this is the first non-fiction focused on his secular teachings.
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is the publisher.
source credit: CBS
Actor Martin Sheen, who played Bartlett for years on the on the hit TV drama "The West Wing," told Reuters he thought of the work as "a very special opportunity" and found that the book's message of compassion and universal ethics resonated with his own beliefs.
A devout Catholic and social activist, Sheen, 71, said, "It doesn't say drop your religion; you can't go this path and remain a Catholic or a Protestant or a Muslim or a Jew. On the contrary, it's about your humanity. That's where we're all united. "
Sheen, who played Bartlett on TV from 1999 to 2006, is an Emmy winner and multiple Golden Globe nominee. He has appeared in more than 65 films including a star turn as Captain Benjamin L. Willard in Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 movie "Apocalypse Now," which brought Sheen international recognition. Born Ramon Antonio Gerard Estevez in Ohio, Sheen is the father of four, including actor Charlie Sheen and actor/director Emilio Estevez.
The Dalai Lama, who bills himself in the book as a "stateless refugee" and "India's longest-staying guest," is the author of more than 100 books but he says this is the first non-fiction focused on his secular teachings.
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is the publisher.
source credit: CBS
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
China targets India for monks' stir, bilateral talks at risk
Rattled by self-immolations by Buddhist monks in Sichuan, Chinese authorities are blaming the Tibetan government-in-exile in India.
NEW DELHI: Rattled by a seemingly unending stream of self-immolations by young Buddhist monks in Sichuan, China, the Chinese authorities are blaming the Tibetan government-in-exile in India as well as what they call overseas organizations, press and media institutions.
Self-immolations by monks could be one of the reasons for China to become more sensitive than usual to the Dalai Lama and the unusual pressure on India to restrict the Tibetan spiritual leader's movement.
A commentary in the official Xinhua News Agency this week reflected the growing anger over the protests by monks, and annoyance with India for not clamping down on Dalai Lama. "Besides the mastermind behind the self-immolations, the instigation by some overseas organizations, press and media institutions, the 'living Buddha' and politicians also played a part."
Chinese government called off boundary talks with India, after New Delhi refused to prevent the Dalai Lama from addressing a global Buddhist congregation. No fresh dates have been set yet by either side. The Chinese followed this up by asking West Bengal governor M K Narayanan and chief minister Mamata Banerjee to stay away from a Dalai Lama event in Kolkata last week. Startled on both occasions, the Indian government has pushed back vigorously against Chinese pressure. China is stretching the notion of what is "anti-Chinese" - by its current reckoning, every activity which includes the Dalai Lama, is, by definition, anti-Chinese.
But by these actions, New Delhi believes Beijing is changing the field of play - in all these years, China's problems with the Dalai Lama were reasonably insulated from its dealings with India. The continuing immolations, especially coming just ahead of a politically fraught leadership transition, appear to have prompted Beijing to cast the net wide - reaching for the "foreign hand". China analysts here believe Beijing's response to New Delhi may become more shrill and even condemnatory and could risk bilateral ties.
The living Buddha is known as Kirti Rimpoche by Tibetans here. He belongs to the Kirti monastery in Sichuan, having fled to Dharamsala in 1959 and has been a close associate of the Dalai Lama. The Kirti monastery has been the scene of many of the immolation bids by Tibetan monks in recent months. About 11 immolations have occurred in the Sichuan province since March, while reports of the 12th incident came in from the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR).
The Xinhua commentary said, the immolations were meant to mar normalcy and the people's aspirations for stability, peace and welfare. "The monks will not be monks if they do not abide by Buddhist precepts, and monasteries will not be monasteries if they interfere with politics. Tibetan Buddhism is worried about whether it has been tarnished by these people," he said.
China has spent billions in development of TAR, even sending Han Chinese to Tibet to tilt the demographic balance and resorting to hard-line crackdowns during riots and other incidents. "It doesn't seem to be working," Indian officials tracking China observed.
Source Credit: Times of India
NEW DELHI: Rattled by a seemingly unending stream of self-immolations by young Buddhist monks in Sichuan, China, the Chinese authorities are blaming the Tibetan government-in-exile in India as well as what they call overseas organizations, press and media institutions.
Self-immolations by monks could be one of the reasons for China to become more sensitive than usual to the Dalai Lama and the unusual pressure on India to restrict the Tibetan spiritual leader's movement.
A commentary in the official Xinhua News Agency this week reflected the growing anger over the protests by monks, and annoyance with India for not clamping down on Dalai Lama. "Besides the mastermind behind the self-immolations, the instigation by some overseas organizations, press and media institutions, the 'living Buddha' and politicians also played a part."
Chinese government called off boundary talks with India, after New Delhi refused to prevent the Dalai Lama from addressing a global Buddhist congregation. No fresh dates have been set yet by either side. The Chinese followed this up by asking West Bengal governor M K Narayanan and chief minister Mamata Banerjee to stay away from a Dalai Lama event in Kolkata last week. Startled on both occasions, the Indian government has pushed back vigorously against Chinese pressure. China is stretching the notion of what is "anti-Chinese" - by its current reckoning, every activity which includes the Dalai Lama, is, by definition, anti-Chinese.
But by these actions, New Delhi believes Beijing is changing the field of play - in all these years, China's problems with the Dalai Lama were reasonably insulated from its dealings with India. The continuing immolations, especially coming just ahead of a politically fraught leadership transition, appear to have prompted Beijing to cast the net wide - reaching for the "foreign hand". China analysts here believe Beijing's response to New Delhi may become more shrill and even condemnatory and could risk bilateral ties.
The living Buddha is known as Kirti Rimpoche by Tibetans here. He belongs to the Kirti monastery in Sichuan, having fled to Dharamsala in 1959 and has been a close associate of the Dalai Lama. The Kirti monastery has been the scene of many of the immolation bids by Tibetan monks in recent months. About 11 immolations have occurred in the Sichuan province since March, while reports of the 12th incident came in from the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR).
The Xinhua commentary said, the immolations were meant to mar normalcy and the people's aspirations for stability, peace and welfare. "The monks will not be monks if they do not abide by Buddhist precepts, and monasteries will not be monasteries if they interfere with politics. Tibetan Buddhism is worried about whether it has been tarnished by these people," he said.
China has spent billions in development of TAR, even sending Han Chinese to Tibet to tilt the demographic balance and resorting to hard-line crackdowns during riots and other incidents. "It doesn't seem to be working," Indian officials tracking China observed.
Source Credit: Times of India
South Africa Admits To China Factor In Denying Visa To Dalai Lama
CAPE TOWN (South Africa), Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Despite earlier denials, the South African government has now admitted that it did take into account its relations with China while denying visa to the Dalai Lama two months ago.
The China factor in the denial of visa was mentioned in an affidavit filed by the government in the Cape High Court on Tuesady, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
Earlier, government officials had vehemently denied any pressure from its relations with China amid an international outcry over the controversial visa refusal which precluded the Dalai Lama from attending the 80th birthday celebration of his fellow Nobel Laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
But the Department of Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni in an affidavit said his department had taken into account South Africa's multi-billion Rand trading partnership with China when deciding on the visa.
The court was hearing an application by the leaders of two opposition parties to process "fairly and lawfully" any future visa application by the Tibetan spiritual leader within 30 days of such an application.
Apleni said Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Congress of the People President Mosiuoa Lekota had no legal standing to bring such an application, suggesting that those who had originally invited the Dalai Lama were not party to the application.
Apleni said that when visa applications from persons with the stature of the Dalai Lama were reviewed, issues such as the national interest of the country were taken into consideration.
The director-general also recalled the "backlash" that occurred when Australia and France allowed the Dalai Lama into their countries and how this had "provided some learning to the (South African) government and the sensitivities that were attendant" to allowing the Dalai into the country.
The relations with China, South Africa's biggest trading partner, as well as the role of China in getting South Africa admitted to the BRICS group had also played a role in the decision, Apleni conceded.
"(Minister of Home Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma) further took into account the fact that the deputy president (Kgalema Motlanthe) had just conducted a successful (week-long) visit to China", Apleni said, although the impact of this on the visa application was also denied at the time.
However senior counsel for Buthelezi, Anton Katz told the court that the denial of a visa to the Dalai Lama by the South African government was "unlawful and unconstitutional".
Buthelezi has invited the Dalai Lama to participate in a peace prayer event he will host in South Africa in March next year.
The case will continue on next week.
source Credit: Bernama
The China factor in the denial of visa was mentioned in an affidavit filed by the government in the Cape High Court on Tuesady, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
Earlier, government officials had vehemently denied any pressure from its relations with China amid an international outcry over the controversial visa refusal which precluded the Dalai Lama from attending the 80th birthday celebration of his fellow Nobel Laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
But the Department of Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni in an affidavit said his department had taken into account South Africa's multi-billion Rand trading partnership with China when deciding on the visa.
The court was hearing an application by the leaders of two opposition parties to process "fairly and lawfully" any future visa application by the Tibetan spiritual leader within 30 days of such an application.
Apleni said Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Congress of the People President Mosiuoa Lekota had no legal standing to bring such an application, suggesting that those who had originally invited the Dalai Lama were not party to the application.
Apleni said that when visa applications from persons with the stature of the Dalai Lama were reviewed, issues such as the national interest of the country were taken into consideration.
The director-general also recalled the "backlash" that occurred when Australia and France allowed the Dalai Lama into their countries and how this had "provided some learning to the (South African) government and the sensitivities that were attendant" to allowing the Dalai into the country.
The relations with China, South Africa's biggest trading partner, as well as the role of China in getting South Africa admitted to the BRICS group had also played a role in the decision, Apleni conceded.
"(Minister of Home Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma) further took into account the fact that the deputy president (Kgalema Motlanthe) had just conducted a successful (week-long) visit to China", Apleni said, although the impact of this on the visa application was also denied at the time.
However senior counsel for Buthelezi, Anton Katz told the court that the denial of a visa to the Dalai Lama by the South African government was "unlawful and unconstitutional".
Buthelezi has invited the Dalai Lama to participate in a peace prayer event he will host in South Africa in March next year.
The case will continue on next week.
source Credit: Bernama
Friday, December 2, 2011
Tibet 'in first monk immolation'
Rights groups have long criticised China's treatment of Tibetan monks
A former monk has set himself on fire in Tibet, reports say, in the latest such protest against Chinese rule.
The monk is reportedly being treated for his wounds after the protest in Changdu, known as Chamdo in Tibetan.
If confirmed, the incident would be the first self-immolation in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Activists say 11 monks and former monks have set themselves on fire this year, but the incidents have all taken place in Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province.
Access to the Tibetan Autonomous Region is tightly restricted, and information is difficult to corroborate.
Radio Free Asia reported that the monk, a 46-year-old named as Tenzin Phuntsog, had scattered leaflets and shouted slogans before setting fire to himself on Thursday afternoon.
The US-based broadcaster quoted an anonymous source living in India, and another source calling from Tibet as confirming the incident.
"[The former monk] was very frustrated by the recent imposition of restrictions on Karma monastery and by the detention of many monks. There was even talk by Chinese officials of closing the monastery," the source in Tibet was quoted as saying.
The US-based International Campaign for Tibet said accounts of the incident had also been uploaded to Facebook and micro-blogs in the Tibetan language.
source Credit: BBC
A former monk has set himself on fire in Tibet, reports say, in the latest such protest against Chinese rule.
The monk is reportedly being treated for his wounds after the protest in Changdu, known as Chamdo in Tibetan.
If confirmed, the incident would be the first self-immolation in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Activists say 11 monks and former monks have set themselves on fire this year, but the incidents have all taken place in Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province.
Access to the Tibetan Autonomous Region is tightly restricted, and information is difficult to corroborate.
Radio Free Asia reported that the monk, a 46-year-old named as Tenzin Phuntsog, had scattered leaflets and shouted slogans before setting fire to himself on Thursday afternoon.
The US-based broadcaster quoted an anonymous source living in India, and another source calling from Tibet as confirming the incident.
"[The former monk] was very frustrated by the recent imposition of restrictions on Karma monastery and by the detention of many monks. There was even talk by Chinese officials of closing the monastery," the source in Tibet was quoted as saying.
The US-based International Campaign for Tibet said accounts of the incident had also been uploaded to Facebook and micro-blogs in the Tibetan language.
source Credit: BBC
Thursday, December 1, 2011
West Bengal governor ignores China's 'advice', attends Dalai Lama meet
KOLKATA: In a rebuff to China, West Bengal governor MK Narayanan attended a lecture on Mother Teresa by Dalai Lama ignoring an advice from the Chinese cosulate in Kolkata.
According to reports, the Chinese consulate had advised chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor MK Narayanan to stay away from the fucntion Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.
Narayanan, however, refused to comment on the issue when asked by the reporters.
TMC MP Derek O'Brien, who attended the function, said chief minister Mamata Banerjee would definitely have been present at the function if the condition of her mother was not serious.
He said the event was a solemn occasion.
Speaking to reporters at the venue, Dalai Lama said he was not surprised to hear about the china note asking West Bengal governor and chief minister not to attend the meet.
The Tibetan leader said the matter should not be "politicised".
"I am no longer a political leader. I don't like this visit to be politicised," he said adding he had faced similar opposition from China before as well.
Source Credit: The Times of India
According to reports, the Chinese consulate had advised chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor MK Narayanan to stay away from the fucntion Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.
Narayanan, however, refused to comment on the issue when asked by the reporters.
TMC MP Derek O'Brien, who attended the function, said chief minister Mamata Banerjee would definitely have been present at the function if the condition of her mother was not serious.
He said the event was a solemn occasion.
Speaking to reporters at the venue, Dalai Lama said he was not surprised to hear about the china note asking West Bengal governor and chief minister not to attend the meet.
The Tibetan leader said the matter should not be "politicised".
"I am no longer a political leader. I don't like this visit to be politicised," he said adding he had faced similar opposition from China before as well.
Source Credit: The Times of India
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
The Associated PressPublished: November 1, 2007 BEIJING: A Tibetan nomad held for three months for shouting "long live the Dalai Lama&q...
-
Mara-Lago, Florida, USA US President Donald J Trump signed Omnibus Spending and Covid Relief Fund into law. The signing of this bill also m...
-
New York, NY Following are the results of the votes count of the Preliminary election (Phase1) of North/South America Sikyong and Chitues ...
