China struggles to contain wave of defiance in Tibet

It's illegal for Tibetans to protest, and yet demonstrations against Chinese rule have taken place almost daily for the past two months.

Several monks have set themselves alight, illustrating the desperation of Tibetans resisting Chinese rule.

The spate of self-immolations in the Tibetan-dominated areas of China that have occurred over the past year is "extreme" and hurts social harmony, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said recently.

Wen's comments, at a news conference at the end of the annual meeting of parliament, come after around 26 Tibetans have set themselves on fire, mostly in southwestern China, to protest against Chinese rule in Tibet. At least 19 have died, according to Tibetan rights groups.China rejects criticism that it is eroding Tibetan culture and faith, saying its rule has ended serfdom and brought development to a backward region.

Activists say China violently stamps out religious freedom and culture in Tibet, which has been under Chinese control since 1950.

The brother of a monk who self-immolated spoke from exile, saying he was "shocked" when he heard the news, but understands the monk's sacrifice. "I feel really, really proud of him and I respect his sacrifice a lot," he said.

Source Credit: MSNBC.com/ Reuters

Here We Go Again!

China's recent overture to Dalai lama that they are willing to talk if Dalai lama renounce independence for Tibet is nothing startling. It is yet another typical Chinese ploy to put the blame for lack of effort on Dalai lama. It is evident that china is losing confidence and their hold on Tibet. The Chinese leadership seemed to be suffering from memory lapse or they are deliberately choosing to show their ignorance on the sincerity of Dalai lama's effort to bring about an amicable resolution to address the Tibet's issue. He has displayed his sincerity time and again to have genuine dailoque with Chinese leadership on their own term. Since early 1980s and thereafter, Dalai lama has made public that he is seeking a genuine autonomy comprising three provinces of Tibet where Tibetans can preserve their culture, practice religion and protect the ecology and environment of Tibet. He has said he do not wish to seek independence for Tibet. Nothing has changed about his overture to resolve the Tibet's issue and yet China always chose to blame the Dalai lama for somehow not renouncing his quest for Tibet's independence. What a hypocrite! Dalai lama has made his intention very clear from the very beginning. Let the Chinese leadership revisit the 1987 five points peace plan and 2001 Strasbourg Speech before the European Parliament. No where in his statements, he has mentioned about seeking independence for Tibet but rather a sincere and comprehensive proposal to resolve the Tibet's issue.
Chinese leadership should stop blaming Dalai lama as an obstacle to resolving the Tibet's issue but should wake up and face the reality. Continued lingering of their desire to engage Dalai lama is an indication of weakness and lack of confidence in finding an amicable resolution to Tibet's issue.

Dalai Lama wins Templeton Prize as more than 'simple Buddhist monk'

The Dalai Lama has won the Templeton Prize for exceptional contributions to affirming life’s spiritual dimension by spreading his message of compassion worldwide.

He calls himself a “simple Buddhist monk.”But his biographers and religion experts say the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is way more than that. A monk, yes. But, also an exiled spiritual and temporal leader of 6 million Tibetan Buddhists, a philosopher-scientist, an author, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.And, on Thursday, the Dalai Lama received yet another honor: the 2012 Templeton Prize, which honors a living person who has made exceptional contributions to affirming life’s spiritual dimension.“I think he has become the best known Buddhist in the world,” says John Berthrong, former academic dean at Boston University’s School of Theology.The award has been given to other high-profile religious leaders in the past, such as Mother Teresa and the Rev. Billy Graham. The Dalai Lama’s story is compelling for its own reasons.

He was chosen at age 2 to become the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. By age 6, he was studying Buddhist theology. He was forced into exile at age 24 to try to avoid war in Lhasa, the capital. Since then, the Dalai Lama has traveled the world, meeting political leaders, learning about other religions, absorbing everything he couldn’t learn in the closed society of Tibet, such as Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.  

In its announcement of the award, which is worth about $1.7 million this year, the Templeton Award noted how the Dalai Lama has focused on the connections between the investigative traditions of science and Buddhism “as a way to better understand and advance what both disciplines might offer the world.”

A key question the Dalai Lama asks, says the Templeton Foundation in its press release, is “Can compassion be trained or taught?”

Compassion is a major focus for the Dalai Lama.

People who have spent time with him say it is a life-changing experience. Richard Davidson, a professor at the University of Wisconsin who has spent extended time with the Dalai Lama, told the Wisconsin State Journal, "These are private meetings where he literally spends five days with us. It is very hard to go back and be the same person you were before the conference. It really is a very precious opportunity."

According to biographer Pico Iyer in his book "The Open Road," the Dalai Lama begins five hours of meditation at 3:30 a.m. “on the roots of compassion and what he can do for his people, the ‘Chinese brothers and sisters’ who are holding his people hostage and the rest of us, while also preparing himself for his death.”

The Dalai Lama's concern over the Tibetans has led him to walk a tightrope. He does not talk about independence but instead autonomy. On his official website, he writes, “Yes, I remain optimistic that I will be able to return to Tibet. China is in the process of changing. Besides, I am not seeking separation from China.”

“He is resolute not to have any violence against the Chinese, who he views as fellow sentient beings,” says Mr. Berthrong. “He tells his people to respond with patience.”

Credit Source: The Chistian Science Monitor