by Robert Wilkinson
From news sources we find that China is "tightening security" in Tibet to muzzle free speech and gatherings marking the 50th anniversary of the original resistance to the brutal Chinese invasion that forced the Dalai Lama to flee Tibet. His Holiness has made some very frank remarks lately, given his compassion and restraint over the decades. It seems that he really is annoyed, (even if it is an impermanent condition.)
By Matthias Williams of Reuters, via the UK Independent, comes the headline "Dalai Lama says Tibet 'hell on earth' under China." That's a pretty strong statement made in public to over 10,000 Tibetans around the world.
From the story:
Speaking before some 10,000 Tibetans from around the world, the 73-year-old slammed China for bringing 'untold suffering and destruction' during a series of repressive and violent campaigns in Tibet since 1959.'These thrust Tibetans into such depths of suffering and hardship that they literally experienced hell on earth,' he said from the main Buddhist temple in Dharamsala...
'The immediate result of these campaigns was the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans.'
As could be expected at such a time, the riot police and surveillance crews are out in abundant force. And yet, in a curious turn it seems like there is more support for Tibet in China than we have considered up to now. Beijing may not be as monolithically nonspiritual as we believe.
The article continues with His Holiness stating:
'More and more Chinese (are) now starting to acknowledge there is problem there," he said. 'In fact, quite a number of Chinese high officials, (their) family members (are) showing interest in Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism.'
Which is great news, since the more that meditate on the cessation of suffering in the place where suffering is being generated, the more the tendency to diminish those violent sources of suffering is furthered. Still, His Holiness went on to assert what most of us already know:
The Dalai Lama mourned what he called the suffering and destruction wrought by Chinese Communist policies and campaigns.Many were seen crying with folded hands as he said: 'Even today, Tibetans in Tibet live in constant fear.
'Today, the religion, culture, language and identity, which successive generations of Tibetans have considered more precious than their lives, are nearing extinction. In short, the Tibetan people are regarded like criminals deserving to be put to death.'
Shortly after the speech, thousands of Tibetans, many among them children, marched through the narrow streets of Dharamsala carrying 'Free Tibet' posters and protesting against a Chinese security clampdown in Tibet.
I believe that the global witnessing of the travesty of Beijing eroding Tibetan autonomy and culture will eventually yield results after all the present authoritarian models crash under their own weight in the years to come. May all Sentient Beings have happiness, may all Sentient Beings have blessings, and may all Sentient Beings have an end to suffering.
"There is one thing we can all agree on. More suffering is bad. Less suffering is good." -- H.H. Dalai LamaIf you want to read the entire piece, please go to the original story here.
© Copyright 2009 Robert Wilkinson
On time spot-on! What a Synchronicity with the current opposition and the full moon....Is it then Uranus the way forward?
Blessings.
Posted by: marina | March 10, 2009 at 03:24 PM
That is a very sad situation. This planet, I don't believe, is made for anything peaceful that lasts. I guess there is some peace in knowing that. Seems there is always an opposing side to EVERYTHING good!!! On so many levels.
It's a tiring place. I think I'll go a meditate for a while.
Wendy
Posted by: wendy | March 10, 2009 at 03:33 PM
It breaks my heart over and over when I look at what the Chinese Government is doing to the people of Tibet. What will it take to overcome the apathy of most people who ignore this while they keep buying those cheap tennis shoes at Wal-Mart? One thing everyone can do is stop shopping at Wal-Mart since much of their products are made in China.
Our Full Moon group is reading "glamour a world problem" by Alice Baily. In it the Tibetan Elder and Master Djwal Khul talks about the insideous glamours and illusions that are perpetrated on the unsuspecting masses that remain lost in consensus groupthink. Here are a couple worth pondering:
"There will always be war. War is the human condition. It is inevitable. There will never be global peace."
"The big dog always eats the little dog. It is the way of the world. It will never change."
"The Chinese Government will never leave Tibet. They are too powerfull and indifferent to international pressure." and finally, here is one especially for all the Amerikans sitting with their remotes anxiously scrolling through the latest episodes of "Survivor" and "American Idol":
"All Muslims are terrorists. All Muslims believe in Jihad. Their goal is to kill all non-Muslims. So we must kill them first."
May all Sentient Beings have happiness, may all Sentient Beings have blessings, and may all Sentient Beings have an end to suffering.
dcu
Posted by: dcu | March 12, 2009 at 03:28 PM
dcu - a Tibetan Elder and Master said all muslims are terrorists? all muslims believe in Jihad? Their goal is to kill all non-Muslims? and also said "so we must kill them first?"
a Tibetan Elder and Master said all that?
Posted by: donna | March 12, 2009 at 07:21 PM
Donna: Sorry for the confusion. What he said was that most people are lost in glamor and illusion. He said that most of humanity accept what they are told and don't really question it. He said this in the 1950's. Then I gave a couple of contemporary examples of lies that the masses are being told. The examples are from me, not D.K. But these are examples of things that are NOT true, yet many people accept them as true because they are repeatedly told "this is reality." You can see that the last example which makes the ridiculous claim about Muslims is designed to play on Americans' fears and ignorance. Anyone who cares to learn the truth can easily discover that less than one percent of Muslims are radical to the point of wanting to put all of us infidels to the sword. Just as there are radical fundamentalist Christians who are ready to start a new Crusade to the Holy Land. Both groups of extremists are equally misguided, and are examples of people being lost in fear, which is the primary source of glamor in our world. My point was that we all need to question the things we are told. I hope this makes more clear what I was trying to communicate.
dcu
Posted by: dcu | March 12, 2009 at 10:43 PM
dcu - thank you for clearing that up.
Posted by: donna | March 13, 2009 at 08:23 AM
Give em hell, Dalai!
Posted by: Chistine E | March 13, 2009 at 09:25 PM