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His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a good friend: President Obama Vol. 03, Issue 126, Print Issue 50, February 15, 2015

Heavy security forces pour into Ngaba County

By Jane Cook: January 25, 2015

Dharamshala: - Chinese paramilitary troops have poured in large numbers over the last few days into a Tibetan county of north-eastern Tibet, openly intimidating local residents and raising fears of a clash.

The heightened security presence in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) county in the Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture comes just a week ahead of Losar, the Tibetan Lunar New Year, which is celebrated for two weeks in large gatherings across Tibetan regions.

It has also raised tensions in a community already rocked by earlier protests and burdened by tight security controls, Sonam, a Tibetan living in exile said citing local source on Friday.

“This area especially is always under strict Chinese control,” source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Over the last few years, the Chinese have opened new police stations and set up barracks in the county and nearby areas, and troops are stationed here throughout the year.”

“But now they are bringing in more troops, with many trucks arriving in just the last few days,” he said.

“The security forces are displaying a hostile attitude toward the Tibetans and are openly intimidating them, hurting local feelings,” he added.

With large numbers of Tibetan nomads now also arriving in the county’s main town to buy supplies for New Year’s celebrations, tensions between Tibetans and security forces could easily lead to protests, he said.

A Ngaba resident said that “unusually large” numbers of Chinese paramilitary police and other security forces are now present in the town.

“Checkpoints have been set up along the roads at a distance of every four or five Tibetan houses, and police are checking everyone’s identification papers,” the source said.

Military and police personnel “armed to the teeth” had earlier been deployed in Ngaba in December following a selfimmolation and other protests. Now, as the Tibetan New Year approaches, a large number of military trucks have arrived in Ngaba county. Additional forces were sent to [Ngaba’s] Kirti monastery to beef up surveillance there.

Celebrating His Holiness-Obama’s first public appearance

By Jane Cook: February 03, 2015

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I n t e r n a t i o n a l

B o d - K y i - Cha-Trin

Non-violence should be an antidote of violence: Sikyong Sangay

A Voice For Tibet Bi-monthly

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Make 21st century an era of dialogue for peace: His Holiness

By Yeshe Choesang: February 10, 2015

Basel, Switzerland: - The spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness said that ‘it is quite possible to make the 21st century an era of dialogue in a happier more peaceful world, if young people today take the necessary steps.’

On the last day of the teachings, on Sunday February 8, 2015, His Holiness conferred the Avalokiteshvara Empowerment at St Jakobshalle in Basel. After lunch, His Holiness was visibly pleased by a performance of an extract from Tibetan opera by a group of young singers and musicians.

City-Canton President Guy Morin in his introduction, noted that the first Tibetans had settled in Basel 55 years ago, very soon after coming into exile. He tickled the audience when he reported that on the basis of their Google searches, the people of Basel are apparently the least happy in Switzerland. He asked His Holiness - “How do we become happier?”

In response to this, “His Holiness said: “I am extremely happy to have come here to meet you all. When I look at the faces of the people of Basel who have come here, they all look quite happy.

I think your question requires more investigation.”

“All 7 billion human beings alive today face problems. No one is without problems, but when faced with them our mental attitude makes a big difference to how we respond. Of course, physical facilities and comfort are important and have their place.”

“But I have met people who have all the facilities and comfort they could want who are still unhappy. On the other hand I often remember a Catholic monk I met in Montserrat, Spain, who had spent 5 years in the mountains living as a hermit on only bread and water. I asked him what he’d been practising and he told me he’d been meditating on love. And as he said this his eyes sparkled with joy.”

His Holiness added that “on the basis of his testimony our mental experience is superior to our physical experience.

What we need is inner peace, the kind of peace that remains undisturbed in the midst of trouble.”

His Holiness noted that scientists have found that peace of mind

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his final day teachings in Basel, Switzerland on February 8, 2015. Photo/Olivier Adam

and the qualities that give rise to it like patience, tolerance and forgiveness are good for our physical health as well as our sense of mental well-being.

He said the question is how we can promote the inner values that give rise to peace of mind and suggested to rely less on religious tradition than on reason, common sense and scientific findings.

As a different approach to educating people about inner values, he cited the example of secularism as it is observed in India, a country with a secular constitution. The Indian approach of holding the views of all religious traditions and even those of non-believers

Monk severely beaten and arrested after staging lone protest in Tibet

Minneapolis, MN: - The Tibetan National Congress (TNC), an independent Tibetan political party, celebrates what it sees as a tippingpoint in closer India-U.S. relations, with critical implications for Tibet.

TNC especially applauds the new India-U.S. commitment to security cooperation, which coincided with a TNC Twitter campaign highlighting the regional security implications of China’s occupation of Tibet.

In a historic visit to India, U.S. President Barack Obama joined Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a landmark joint strategic vision aimed at responding “to diplomatic, economic and security challenges” in Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region.

Numerous reports indicate that the two democratic leaders share unease about China’s aggressive moves in the region, and share P-2... an interest in a united approach to counter them.

in equally high regard seems especially relevant in today’s world.

His Holiness suggested that whatever words we use to describe what he calls secular ethics, it represents an approach to human values that is not confined to this or that religious belief. He said that whereas yesterday and this morning he had spoken as a Buddhist monk, he was presently speaking just as another human being. He said: P- 2...

China to reward tips on ‘terror attacks’ in Tibet?

By Yangchen Dolma: February 05, 2015

Dharamshgala: - Chinese authorities in Tibet will offer rewards up to 300,000 yuan ($48,000) for tips on “violent terror attacks”, state media reported, in an effort to “promote stability” in the region beset by ethnic tensions.

China has stressed that it is facing a serious and complex struggle against terrorism, and other provinces and regions have offered similar payouts for information on what authorities deem terrorism crimes and suspects.

In Tibet, the government will give rewards for tip-offs on “overseas terrorist organizations and their members’ activities inside China”, and the “spreading of religious extremism”, the official Xinhua news agency said late on Saturday.

Information on “terror related propaganda, those producing, selling and owning weapons, activities that help terrorists cross national borders and terror activities via the Internet,” will also be eligible for rewards, Xinhua said, citing a document from Tibet’s public security officials.

China launched an anti-terrorism crackdown in May after a series of attacks that authorities have blamed on separatists and Islamist militants from the western Xinjiang region, home to the Muslim Uighur ethnic minority.

Capital Lhasa sees heaviest snow in two decades

Prisoners frequently subjected to torture: Rights group

Undated image: Pema Dorjee, a 17-year-old Tibetan monk from Dza Gonsar Monastery in Dege County, eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI Mr John Gaudette, Ms Tsering Tsomo, Mr Tenzin Nyinjey and Ms Fan Xuan Li at the press conference in Dharamshala, India, February 7, 2015. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

By Yanchen Dolma: February 09, 2015

Dharamshala: - Political prisoners in Tibet are “frequently subject to torture, beatings, and denial of medical care,” an exiled Tibetan rights group Saturday said, adding that “137 Tibetans were either detained or sentenced in 2014” alone.

“Despite the promised reforms, the human rights situation in Tibet is continuing to deteriorate,” Ms Tsering Tsomo, head of Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) told reporters at a press conference in Dharamshala, India, on February 7, 2015 to launch their 2014 annual report.

According to the Human Rights group, that there are currently “2,110 known political prisoners” in Tibet, including “137 Tibetans who were either detained or sentenced in 2014.”

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By Yeshe Choesang: February 09, 2015

Dharamshala: - Chinese police authorities detained a Tibetan monk in Karze County, Kham Province of eastern Tibet after staging a peaceful protest against Chinese repressive rule in Tibet.

“Pema Dorjee, a 17-year-old Tibetan monk was severely beaten and arrested by Chinese police in Karze County, eastern Tibet on Friday afternoon at 2pm, January 6, 2015,” Ven Yeshe, a Tibetan monk living in South India told the Tibet Post International.

“A group of eight Chinese police officers arrived at the scene. He was beaten very severely and had a badly injured face when he was taken away,” he said.

“Dorjee called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and raised slogans for his long life,” the source added.

Witnesses also said “the monk was shouting the slogans and bleeding heavily from his face when he was detained.”

Dorjee is a native of Dzakhok, Dege County in Kham Region of eastern Tibet. He had previously studied in Serta Larung Monastery. His father’s name is Lhagya and his mother’s name is Meyang.

The movement of Tibetans has been strictly controlled by Chinese authorities since 2008. Many Tibetans from the Dege and Karze have disappeared, while many have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms on charges of “subversion”.

In Tibet today, Tibetans are being arbitrarily arrested, imprisoned and tortured for merely expressing their suffering under Chinese rule. However, authorities in Beijing still claim that “China ‘peacefully liberated’ Tibet, and that the “Tibetans are living in a Maoist socialist paradise.”

Photo shows snow-covered Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, on Feb. 13, 2015. Photo: Xinhua

By Yeshe Choesang: February 13, 2015

Dharamshala: - Lhasa, capital of Tibet , received its heaviest snowfall in two decades Friday, many believe as a good omen for the upcoming Tibetan ‘year of the wooden sheep’.

Lhasa residents woke up to a fairytale world this morning, as roofs, vehicles and mountaintops were all covered with a thick white blanket, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

While shop owners were busy clearing their doorsteps of snow and ice, most citizens had fun outdoors making snowballs and snowmen.

Figures released by the regional weather bureau showed Lhasa received 17.3 mm of snow today. Fallen snow measured 13 centimetres in some areas.

The snowfall broke Lhasa’s previous record of 17 mm, reported on March 29, 1998, according to the bureau.

Traffic authorities said the snow did not disrupt traffic in downtown Lhasa nor on the highway linking Tibet with neighbouring areas.

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TPI NEWS

February 15, 2015

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If there is justice in the world, then truth will ultimately win for Tibet February 15, 2015

Dharamshala: - Over 1.2 million Tibetans died between 1949 and 1979. China still claims that what occurred during this period was the “peaceful liberation” of Tibet. But the whole world must know that there are so many unanswered questions about how these mass murders occurred and who is really responsible.

Tibet known as the ‘roof of the world is an Asian nation, situated between the two ancient civilisations of China and India, separated from the former by the mountain ranges to the east of the Tibetan Plateau and from the latter by the towering Himalayas.

In 1949, China’s new leader, Mao Zedong - widely regarded as the most prolific mass murderer in human history - decided to invade it, with the help of Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin. In 1949, Mao’s socalled People’s Liberation Army invaded the area under the pretence of emancipating the Tibetan people. They quickly defeated the small Tibetan Army and corrosively forced the government of Tibet to sign the Seventeen Point Agreement in May 1951, a covenant tying Tibet to communist China.

With over 40,000 troops situated in Tibet and growing repression by the Chinese heavily felt, many Tibetans began to fear for the future of their country, so resistance movements started to form.

China’s occupation has attempted to destroy Tibetan culture and national identity.

Although this has brought superficial improvements to the region, human rights are extremely limited with thousands imprisoned for exercising basic freedoms.

Over 6,000 monasteries have been systematically destroyed in Tibet in an attempt by China to eradicate native religious identity. On top of this, China’s excavation of Tibet’s natural resources has had a crippling effect on livelihoods of those living in rural communities.

Thousands of Tibetans, including Buddhist monks, lost their lives in major Tibetan protests against the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 2008 to the present. By 1959, discontent with the Chinese occupation had become widespread and culminated in a mass popular uprising on March 10 1959. This uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed by Chinese troops resulting in more than 90,000 deaths in Lhasa alone. In 2008, over 200 Tibetans were killed, thousands were imprisoned and hundreds simply disappeared.

Since 2009, at least 135 Tibetans have selfimmolated, with more than 116 of those resulting in death. This wave of suicides have all been in response to China’s regime and their ongoing crackdown in Tibet.

These acts savagely reveal the extent of the grievances that Chinese policies exact upon Tibetans, which in turn has exacerbated resentment Chinese government both in and out of the country. Besides being dull at times and silent strike until world leaders take action on Tibet, Beijing continue to be harsh, restricting freedoms and basic human rights - intensified grievances and exacerbated the resentment felt across the region.

The regime is committing a form of ‘cultural genocide’ in Tibet - eliminating Tibetan culture, language, and national identity once again for what many believe is another Chinese false-flag policy.

Thousands of Chinese troops are currently stationed in Tibet and monks and nuns have been subjected to increasingly harsh “patriotic re-education” programmes. Tibetans have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for advocating for the right to use their language, and the friends and families of Tibetans who have self-immolated have been interrogated and severely punished.

Naturally, many living within Tibet and a distinct proportion of the world view this as a Chinese false-flag operation. Many leading Chinese

intellectuals, artists, lawyers and writers in China point to the Chinese government and its policies as the cause of the self-immolations and the growing resentment of the Tibetan people.

Unsurprisingly, China refute this.

In 2011, Zhu Weiqun - of the CCP United Front - boldly proposed abolishing all reference to nationality on the identity cards that Chinese citizens must carry for inspection. This latest step towards erasing Tibetan identity as a category with legal meaning has not spontaneously appeared. It has a lineage and is best understood in the context of a steady, deliberate, two-sided strategy that has been implemented over the past 20 years.

Prior to Weigun’s proposal, in 2010, the language of instruction in Tibetan schools was changed from the native language to Chinese. It was met with widespread protest from thousand of students.

But let us accept the proposition that China did warn those Tibetan officials in a recent crackdown. Can that really help the communist regime’s cause? Didn’t China destroy more than 6,000 monasteries and institutions? Didn’t the regime kill at least 1.2 million Tibetans? Didn’t they do the same thing in 2008? Didn’t the Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu of South Africa end up saying, “China must stop naming, blaming and verbally abusing one whose life has been devoted to non violence, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Laureate”?

What was the purpose of giving a warning when Tibetans were going to be severely punished anyway? Didn’t the Chinese jail more non-violent people than terrorists?

Didn’t they attack unarmed protesters while they were protesting peacefully?

Mao Zedong killed an estimated 49-78 million people during China’s Cultural Revolution between 1966 and 1976. From Mao to Hu Jintao, one after another, the Chinese dictators have taken full control over the lives of their citizens. Today, China is more brutal and inhumane than any other communist regime in the world. The beginning of the 21st century continues to be a time of genocide and violence for the people of Tibet.

Make no mistake that the economic growth that China has seen is not due to its people. It is because of its use of cheap labour, poisonous fake products, unending propaganda, corrupt government officials, nationalistic land thieves, and evil authoritarians. The country has been moving steadily towards downplaying, forgetting, even erasing ethnic difference, as a key policy that has existed since the start of the CCP’s reign.

China should remember that the immediate cause of the Soviet Union’s collapse was ethnic nationalism. Thus China should do all it can to nurture concepts such as ethnic autonomy and self-determination, with special rights and responsibilities guaranteed for legally classified ethnic minorities. Unlike Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan, Tibet, as another part of mainland China, is treated in a totally different way.

Many say the CCP defines people in Hong Kong and Macau as Chinese but not Tibetans.

There lies the contradiction. On the one hand, the official policy is that Tibetans are part of their family. On the other, they grant one constitutional system to Hong Kong and Macau, yet deny it to Tibetans.

Perhaps there is a lesson here for all of us. We must understand that we are not the author of history. We are only a part and a product of it.

If there is justice in the world, then truth will ultimately win for Tibet. It is just a matter of time. The regime may become even more powerful, but that does not negate the fact that if it continues in its current form, it will encounter a toxic demise. This is encouraging. The regime possesses tremendous resources in the media and politics, but tremendous resources are not necessarily signs of a bright future. In the end, those who have the truth hold the future.

OPINION

The Tibet Post International

China, Tibet and Xinjiang: Political repression at a high mark: HRW

By Yeshe Choesang: February 02, 2015

Dharamshala: - “China remains an authoritarian state, one that systematically curbs fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, association, assembly, and religion, when their exercise is perceived to threaten one-party rule,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its World Report 2015.

Under president Xi Jinping, China has unleashed the harshest campaign of politically motivated investigations, detentions, and sentencing in the past decade, marking a sharp turn towards intolerance of criticism, HRW stated.

In the 656-page World Report 2015, its 25th edition, the rights group said it has reviewed human rights practices in more than 90 countries.

“Under President Xi, China is rapidly retreating from rights reforms and the Party’s promise to ‘govern the country according to law,”’ Sophie Richardson, China director at HRW said, adding that the “Repression of critics is the worst in a decade, and there appears to be no end in sight.”

In China, the authorities have unleashed an extraordinary assault on basic human rights and their defenders with a ferocity unseen in recent years.

The government targets activists and their family members for harassment, arbitrary detention, legally baseless imprisonment, torture, and denial of access to adequate medical treatment, the report said.

The Chinese government’s hardline approach was particularly discernible in Xinjiang and Tibet, areas that are nominally autonomous.

Indiscriminate anti-separatism campaigns fueled rising tensions, resulting in several clashes on the Tibetan plateau – including at least one in which security forces used live fire against unarmed demonstrators – and a marked increase in violence in Xinjiang, the report said.

The report also said that “activists increasingly face arbitrary detention, imprisonment, commitment to psychiatric facilities, or house arrest. Physical abuse, harassment, and intimidation are routine.”

“A series of self-immolations by Tibetans protesting Chinese government repression appeared to have abated by early 2014,” the report said, adding that “the authorities punished families and communities for allegedly inciting or being involved in these protests; punishment of individuals included imprisonment, hefty fines, and restrictions of movement.”

The report further said that “authorities were intolerant of peaceful protests by Tibetans, harshly responding with beatings and arrests to protests against mines on land considered sacred and against detention of local Tibetan leaders.”

“China’s mass rehousing and relocation policy has radically changed Tibetans’ way of life and livelihoods, in some cases impoverishing them or making them dependent on state subsidies. Since 2006, over 2 million Tibetans, both farmers and herders, have been involuntarily “rehoused”— through government-ordered renovation or construction of new houses—in the TAR. Hundreds of thousands of nomadic herders in the eastern part of the Tibetan plateau have been relocated or settled in “New Socialist Villages,” the report found.

“The most significant legal trend in 2014 has been the government’s effort to further strengthen an already powerful, unaccountable state security apparatus. It adopted an overly broad counter-espionage law and the publication of a draft counter-terrorism law that equates peaceful dissent with terrorism, strengthens control over civil society groups that receive foreign funding, and appears to target specific ethnic minority groups,” the report said.

This year ’s report also flagged weakening international concern about human rights abuses in China. China continues to refuse meaningful

engagement with UN human rights mechanisms and voted down resolutions spotlighting abuses in Belarus, Iran, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Ukraine. China repeated its calls for “political solutions” in Syria, Sudan, and South Sudan in 2014, but took steps that prolonged human rights crises in all three.

The report says that “the United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon similarly failed to criticize the Chinese government’s deteriorating rights records during his August visit, instead praising the government for “its contributions to the promotion of ... human rights.”

The report added: “China’s 2013 leadership change has not yielded fundamental changes in its foreign policy, though it has more aggressively advanced its territorial claims in parts of Asia.”

“While China engages with various UN mechanisms, it has not significantly improved its compliance with international human rights standards nor pushed for improved human rights protections in other countries, such as North Korea,” it added, saying “there are eight outstanding requests by UN special rapporteurs to visit China, and UN agencies operating inside China remain tightly restricted, their activities closely monitored by authorities.”

In his introductory essay, HRW’s Executive Director Kenneth Roth has urged governments to recognize that human rights offer an effective moral guide in turbulent times, and that violating rights can spark or aggravate serious security challenges.

The short-term gains of undermining core values of freedom and non-discrimination are rarely worth the long-term price.

“China under Xi Jinping is escalating hostility to human rights and democratic pressures, at home and abroad, yet the international community remains largely silent,” Richardson said. “Abetting the systematic suppression of basic freedoms is a short-sighted and dangerous policy, one that only encourages Beijing’s growing intransigence.”

The report said that “the Chinese government targeted the Internet and the press with further restrictions in 2014. All media are already subject to pervasive control and censorship. The government maintains a nationwide Internet firewall exclude politically unacceptable information.”

“Authorities also tightened press restrictions. The State Administration of Press Publication, Radio, Film, and Television issued a directive in July requiring that Chinese journalists sign an agreement stating that they will not release unpublished information without prior approval from their employers and requiring that they pass political ideology exams before they can be issued official press cards,” the report added.

“Even as China has taken major steps backwards on human rights under Xi Jinping,” it said, “most foreign governments have muted their criticisms of its record, opting to prioritize economic and security issues or trying to win Chinese co-operation on issues like climate change.”

“Few bilateral human rights dialogues were held in 2014, and few governments that had pointed to such dialogues as centerpieces of their human rights strategy developed effective, alternative long-term strategies, such as elevating their engagement with Chinese civil society,” the report noted.

“Foreign governments also largely failed to mark the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre, or to speak up for Hong Kong when China ruled out true universal suffrage for the territory, though several noted the harsh sentences handed down to high-profile human rights defenders and the release of Gao Zhisheng, who, however, remains under heavy surveillance. For the third time in recent years, South African authorities indicated they would not grant a visa to the Dalai Lama,” it further added.

Tibetans celebrate His Holiness ...

“The Tibetan National Congress is strongly encouraged by the deepening ties between India and the United States,” said TNC’s Vice President Migmar Dolma. “From the perspective of regional security, it is critical that India and the U.S. enhance their cooperation and address the destabilizing situation in Tibet.”

On January 24, PM Modi invited public questions for a joint radio program co-hosted with President Obama using the hashtag #AskObamaModi, TNC launched a social media campaign to tweet the following question: “China’s occupation of #Tibet is a regional security threat. How can we resolve it to secure peace? #AskObamaModi”. Tibet supporters from around the world re-tweeted the question, making it one of the leading retweets.

During the radio program, PM Modi chose to focus on personal questions that “touch the heart”, even while noting that “most of the questions [received on Twitter] are connected to politics, foreign policy”. Dolma stated, “Prime Minister Modi clearly acknowledged that he received important foreign policy questions. Of course Tibet was one of his top foreign policy questions.”

“The Chinese occupation of Tibet is the root cause of major security threats to the entire region: the constant danger of Sino-Indian border conflict, trans-boundary

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water disputes over rivers originating in Tibet, China’s interference in Nepal’s internal affairs, and undeclared martial law in Tibet due to the ongoing self-immolation crisis,” she added, saying “It is only through Tibetan selfrule that these problems can be resolved.”

“India and the U.S. share a national interest in resolving the destabilizing Tibet issue, to say nothing of also promoting their values of human rights and democracy,” said Dolma.

“It is a natural partnership that these two great democracies -- India and the U.S. -- promote their security and their values, by jointly promoting Tibetan self-rule.”

Just days after President Obama returned from his historic visit to India, it has been announced that he will appear in public with His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the first time in his presidency. The U.S. President and the Tibetan spiritual leader will appear together on February 5 in Washington, D.C. at the National Prayer Breakfast.

Dolma stated, “This will be the first time that a U.S. President appears in public with the Dalai Lama since President George W. Bush presented His Holiness the Congressional Gold Medal at the Capitol in 2007. This is indeed a recognition of Tibet’s importance as a strategic and moral issue, and builds directly on the exciting momentum generated from the Modi-Obama visit.”

The Rights group stressed that “China also continued to pressure governments to forcibly return Chinese asylum seekers and to deny visas to individuals it dislikes, such as the Dalai Lama.”

Tibetan and South African officials hold constructive talks on Tibet

By Oliver Arnoldi: February 12, 2015

Dharamshala: - Secretary for the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Tashi Phuntsok met with Deputy Foreign Minister of South Africa Nomaindia Mfeketo on 9 February for a constructive discussion on the future of Tibet.

The 45 minute meeting was convened at Mfeketo’s political office in Johannesburg, South Africa. Phuntsok was accompanied by Nangsa Chodon, Representative for the Office of Tibet, South Africa and Guy Lieberman, a long-standing member of the Friends of Tibet movement.

“Phuntsok outlined the Middle Way Approach of the Central Tibetan Association (CTA) in resolving the ongoing struggle of Tibet, drawing attention to the repressive rule of Tibetans under China,” according to an official Tibetan media report The Middle Way Approach attempts to establish a nonpartisan and moderate status for Tibetans through nonviolent means that protects the autonomy of their culture, religion and national identity. Phuntsok stressed the need for increased international support for the Approach.

Mfeketo reassured Phuntsok with the need for dialogue, discussion and perseverance in the efforts of Tibet, and likened its struggle to the experience of black South Africans under apartheid.

Phuntsok also briefed Mfeketo on the schedule of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who met with Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on 5 February, a meeting which angered Beijing political officials. Hong Lei, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, stated: “We oppose any foreign country allowing the Dalai Lama to visit, and oppose any country using the issue of Tibet to interfere in China’s internal affairs.”

Regardless of China’s dissatisfaction towards the meeting of Obama and His Holiness, Mfeketo expressed to Phuntsok her desire for South Africa’s relationship with Tibet to continue.

Make 21st century ... ... continued from front page

“You have problems and so do I. You find yourself having to deal with emotions like anger and jealousy; me too. And just as I pay attention to inner values to try to generate inner peace, you can do the same to be happier in yourself, in your family and community. We are all fundamentally the same as human beings.”

He drew a distinction between those in the audience like him who were more than 30 years old and who belong to the 20th century and those younger than 30 who belong to the 21st century. He suggested that while we cannot change the past, we can learn from it. If young people today take the necessary steps it is quite possible to make the 21st century an era of dialogue in a happier, more peaceful world.

Inviting questions from the audience, he was asked how he could be happy without freedom.

He replied that when he reached India he felt truly liberated. And as to whether there would be a 15th Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader reiterated what he has said before and made clear as early as 1969, the question ultimately restes with the Tibetan people. However, in 2011 a meeting of Tibetan religious leaders had resolved to defer the decision until he was about 90. So he laughed and said, “Wait another 10 years.”

To a question about whether animals can attain Buddhahood, he replied that consciousness is the seed of enlightenment. He said human life is precious, because, while some animals may have sharper senses, human beings have an intelligence that provides immense potential.

A young boy asked why he was troubled by people at school and His Holiness told him he didn’t know since he appeared to be humble and gentle. However, he suggested that sometimes when others try to take advantage of you, you have to be a bit tougher.

This answer attracted resolute applause. To another question about preparing for the process of dying, His Holiness said the important thing, first of all, is to lead a meaningful life, serving others if possible, but at least not doing them harm.

Another member of the audience told a story of being deceived by people on Facebook, especially when she realized that they followed Shugden. His Holiness said there shouldn’t be a situation like that when Time magazine ran a cover story about a monk in Burma who it labelled a ‘Buddhist terrorist’.

The President of the Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein made a financial statement and thanked all who had contributed to making the two days they had hosted for His Holiness a success. In a talk explicitly to Tibetans following this, His Holiness praised the strong sense of unity and patriotism among Tibetans inside and outside Tibet.

He encouraged them to study, to keep up their use and knowledge of their language and culture and to ensure that they didn’t let down the Tibetan reputation for honesty and kindness. “You’ve shown me great hospitality here in Basel. Thank you. Tashi Delek, stay happy.”

Tibet News February 15, 2015 3 His Holiness the Dalai Lama calls for a new moral outlook at the ISFiT President Obama calls His Holiness the century so it may be possible, before it ends, to Yet while corruption in India is supposedly tempered Dalai Lama a good friend and inspiration create a better, happier world.” by the rule of law, an independent judiciary and a free

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The Tibet Post International

By Oliver Arnoldi: February 11, 2015

Trondheim: - The spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his hopes and concerns for young people across the world on 9 February at the International Student Festival in Trondheim, Norway (ISFiT).

His Holiness returned as a guest speaker to ISFiT – the world’s largest student festival of ideas which takes place every two years – for the first time since 1994. This year he was invited to speak on corruption, ISFiT’s theme for 2015.

Addressing a crowded hall of 1800 students – including 500 from outside Norway – he made a plea for his audience to carefully consider their future.

“Time goes on. It doesn’t stand still. The past is gone so we can’t change it, although we can learn from it. We are still at the start of the 21st

The Dalai Lama later reflected on the 20th century being a period of both unparalleled technological development and of unjustified bloodshed and violence. The latter, in his eyes, is a form of corruption.

“If people really had respect for moral values, for moral principles, there’d be no corruption. The killing, stealing and rape that take place would be impossible if people properly respected each other.”

He specified the widespread corruption that takes place in India, where he and the Tibetan government-in-exile reside, and China, who have occupied his motherland since 1949.

“My Indian friends tell me that if there was less corruption India’s development would have taken place much quicker.”

press, China does not exercise these civil liberties. It is estimated that just half of funds allocated by the Chinese government reach the projects for which they are intended.

Asked what the solution should be to such occurrences, the Dalai Lama stated: “Corruption is essentially about being dishonest so people have to hide it. No one is proud of corruption.

By contrast, honesty, transparency and openness bring peace of mind.”

“We need moral principles in all fields of human activity, even in our religious traditions. We need an approach to education that engenders moral values in students from nursery right through to university. This will produce a different outlook.”

By Yeshe Choesang: February 02, 2015

mostly wearing black suddenly came at him while returning to his monastery from the city.”

“His family and friends have tried to find out where he is being held and why. The Chinese authorities have not been given any information,” the Tibetan sources said.

“Tibetan blogger Gyatso, who wrote under pen name ‘Dademig’ had not been heard from in more than 20 days,” sources said. “They are extremely worried about his well-being.”

‘The Chinese police kept him in custody for around three months after he was arrested in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet in 2008,’ according to the sources. “Gyatso had previously studied in Drepung monastery. He was forced to return to his home after he was released.”

In Tibet today, Tibetans are being arbitrarily arrested, imprisoned and tortured for merely expressing their suffering under Chinese rule. Authorities in Beijing however still claim that “China ‘peacefully liberated’ Tibet, and the “Tibetans are living in a Maoist socialist paradise.”

Tibetan monk disappeared after arbitrarily arrested from Chengdu

Gedun Gyatso, a monk from the Thole Monastery in Tharshul township, Mangra County, north-eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: - Sources coming out of Tibet say, Chinese authorities have arbitrarily detained Gedun Gyatso, a 27-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monk who is reportedly a sympathiser with Tibetans inside Tibet.

“Gyatso, a monk at the Thole Monastery in Tharshul township, Mangra County (Chinese: Guinan), Tsolho, north-eastern Tibet (Chinese: Hainan, Prefecture of Qinghai province) was arrested from Chengdu City in Sichuan Province on January 10 for unknown reasons,” sources told the Tibet Post International.

“The well-being and whereabouts of a Mangra monk accused for alleged political writings remain unknown after his arrest,” sources added.

Sources said that “The Chinese authorities also seized his books in Tibetan, mobile phone, laptop and his course material.”

The incident occurred last month after he and a friend attending a Chinese language class in the city,” sources said, “a group of Chinese,

Non-violence should be an antidote of violence: Sikyong

By Yeshe Choesang: February 13, 2015

New Delhi: - Speaking on ‘World Peace and Journalism’ at a three-day Global Festival in Noida, the Tibetan political leader Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay Thursday said ‘non-violence should be an antidote of violence.’

The formal inauguration of 3rd Global Festival of Journalism Noida 2015 took place on the International Day of Journalism, February 12, 2015.

“I am overwhelmed by the novel idea of Sandeep Marwah who has brought the world journalism to think about peace,” said Dr Lobsang Sangay, while inaugurating the 3rd Global Festival of Journalism at Noida Film City.

“It is the need of the hour; no country can prosper unless and until the people of the nation are at peace. It is necessary to spread peace and make sacrifices for it,” added Sangay.

‘Peace does not just an absence of war, violence cannot solve violence Sikyong said that gave a mathematical data of increasing terror acts over the years despite curbing it by forces. He said that ‘non-violence should be an antidote of violence.’

The media is a driving force for the justice for humanity, Sikyong said, adding that it should give equal focus on peaceful nonviolent struggle around the world. The Tibetan struggle which is consistently based on nonviolence for many decades is not getting the desired headlines.

Giving focus only on violent struggle Sikyong feels could leave an impression on the other oppressed and marginalised groups to resort to violence to attract media coverage.

The Sikyong stressed on the importance of journalism in the society, saying it creates awareness among the public. “Journalism is an important media and has made public awareness

Please contact us: E-mail: news@thetibetpost.com Mobile: 09418143289

By Yeshe Choesang: February 06, 2015

Dharamshala: - U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday praised the spiritual leader of Tibet for being an inspiration for freedom and compassion and he called His Holiness the Dalai Lama “a good friend,” despite strong objections from Chinese government in Beijing.

Every President since Dwight D. Eisenhower has attended the annual breakfast since it started in 1953, and today marked the President’s seventh appearance.The two leaders exchanged greetings but did not meet directly.

As the event commenced, President Obama, who made a speech about the importance of religious freedom, nodded and smiled at His Holiness the Dalai Lama, waving after “clasping his hands together in a bowing gesture towards the Tibetan spiritual leader.”

Speaking before an audience of 3,000 at the national prayer breakfast in Washington, Obama heaped praise on his fellow Nobel peace laureate His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

“I want to offer a special welcome to a good friend,” the president said. He described His Holiness the Dalai Lama as “a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion”.

His Holiness “inspires us to speak up for the freedom and dignity of all human beings,” the president said.

“I’ve been pleased to welcome him to the White House on many occasions, and we’re grateful that he’s able to join us here today,” Obama added.

The praise was a brief moment in the president’s

25-minute speech to National Prayer Breakfast, one of the most prominent religious events of Washington’s political calendar.

Senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett was seated at the table with the spiritual leader of Tibet, a sign of White House support for his presence.

Despite His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s insistence that he is only seeking a genuine autonomy for Tibet, China says the Tibetan leader is seeking independence from China and blindly condemns world leaders who meet with him.

Obama had said that he “acknowledges Tibet as part of the People’s Republic of China and does not support independence for the region,”during his visit to Beijing a couple of months ago.

“Mr Obama reaffirmed his support for Tibet’s unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions and human rights for Tibetans,’ the White House said in a statement after a meeting with His Holiness in 2014, lasted about an hour.

However, Obama “commended His Holiness “the Dalai Lama’s commitment to peace and nonviolence and expressed support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s ‘Middle Way’ approach”, for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the framework of the People’s Republic of China.

Obama has met His Holiness the Dalai Lama three times. But none of the meetings have been held in public. The breakfast is an annual Washington event that brings together lawmakers from both parties and leaders from a variety of religions.

China ranked amongst world’s lowest in 2015 World Press Freedom Index

By Yeshe Choesang: February 12, 2015

(L to R) Former Union Minister and Governor of Tamil Nadu, Sandeep Marwah President IJC, H.E. Dr Lobsang Sangay Prime Minister of Tibet, Dr Bisham Narayan Singh, Dr Rishi Raj Singh, Director NIESBUD, Ministry of Small & Medium Enterprises, Veteran Journalist Vikas Mohan. Photo: PRNewswire

and social messages reach the masses,” he said.

Sikyong praised India for its democracy and unity in diversity. “India is huge country having different cultures and its unity attracts all over the world. It is country of Mahatama Gandhi who preached non violence and respect for all religions,” he said.

“Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi are still valid in this age. Believe in him and things will progress towards prosperity,” said Dr. Bisham Narayan Singh, Former Union Minister and Governor of Tamil Nadu.

The festival opened with a tribute to the most celebrated cartoonist R.K. Laxman. A book written by his brother Ramachandran featuring his cartoons and published by Research Centre

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When His Holiness the Dalai Lama was introduced at the 63rd annual National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama could be seen bowing and placing his palms together in a gesture of greeting. Photo: WhiteHouse.gov

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of Asian Academy of Film & Television was released in his honor.

“Good journalism and ethical reporting by media can transform the outlook of the world,” said Sandeep Marwah, President of Marwah Studios and International Journalism Centre, while conducting the program.

Sandeep Marwah is also the president of Asian Academy of Film & Television.

Dr. Rishi Raj Singh, Director NIESBUD, Ministry of Small & Medium Enterprises, Government of India, Veteran Journalist Vikas Mohan, Secretary General ICMEI Ashok Tyagi, Director ASMS Dr. A. K. Srivastava also spoke on the occasion.

Later, Sandeep Marwah honored Dr. Lobsang Sangay with the life membership of International Journalism Centre. A poster on ‘Global Peace’ was also released on the occasion.

Sandeep Marwah, Chairman, Marwah Studios conferred life membership of International Journalism Centre to the Sikyong.

The 3rd Global Festival of Journalism Noida 2015 is the leading journalism event in India.

It is an open invitation and an opportunity to network with the best from the world of journalism. Delegates from over 30 countries of the world and from all the states of India have made the festival most exclusive and one of its kind in the world.

Paris, France: - China ranked 176th out of 180 countries in the 2015 World Press Freedom Index, released Thursday (Feb 12) by the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The results all around aren’t looking great. The group said that press freedom suffered a “drastic decline” worldwide last year.

“Two-thirds of the 180 countries surveyed for the 2015 World Press Freedom Index performed less well than in the previous year,” the France-based watchdog said.

RSF attributed the decline largely to attacks on media as global conflicts proliferated throughout 2014. This includes not only repressive regimes, but also nonstate groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State, which “used fear and reprisals to silence journalists”.

The communist regime is trying by any means it can to keep Tibet in a state of isolation from the international media. Since 2012, the Chinese authorities in Tibet step up surveillance of all means of communication, particularly mobile phones and the Internet, in order to “maintain the public’s interests and national security”.

The blackout imposed by Chinese authorities on Tibet, preventing all media coverage of peaceful protest movements there. Not only are foreign media organizations prevented from covering these events, but the regime has also organized a veritable disinformation campaign, using progovernment media such as the Global Times, which play down the disturbances and accuse the international community of interfering.

Few selected media outlets are able to obtain first-hand information and fewer still manage to travel to the region concerned. Out of sight of the world, a major crisis is unfolding. Even North Korea has an international media presence, which is not the case in Tibet.

In 2013, China said, it aims to stamp out the voice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to prevent Tibetans listening to or watching programmes broadcast from

outside the country, or accessing any information about the spiritual leader and the exiled Tibetan government on the internet.

The report said that “the 2015 World Press Freedom Index highlights the worldwide deterioration in freedom of information in 2014. Beset by wars, the growing threat from non-state operatives, violence during demonstrations and the economic crisis, media freedom is in retreat on all five continents.”

Iran, China, Syria and North Korea were among the places ranked as having the worst levels of press freedom. China came in 176th, one step down from last year.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan ranked 61st place, Hong Kong ranked 70th and Taiwan 51st. Hong Kong dropped nine places from last year in the wake of the pro-democracy movement that gained huge momentum over the past few months of 2014. Around the world, France ranked 38th (up one place) the US 49th (down three places) and Russia 152nd (down four).

Here’s a list of the top 10 countries/territories from RSF’s latest report...

1. Finland 2. Norway 3. Denmark 4. Netherlands 5. Sweden 6. New Zealand 7. Austria 8. Canada 9. Jamaica 10. Estonia And the bottom 10 on the list: 170. Djibouti 171. Laos 172. Somalia 173. Iran 174. Sudan 175. Vietnam 176. China 177. Syria 178. Turkmenistan 179. North Korea 180. Eritrea

4

TPI NEWS

February 15, 2015

Like Chinese, Tibetans too love their culture: His Holiness The Dalai Lama

By Yeshe Choesang: February 12, 2015

Copenhagen: - “Just as the Chinese love their culture, we Tibetans love our culture,” the spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama Tuesday said when speaking to Tibetans and friends in Copenhagen.

His Holiness met with members of the Tibetan community and friends in Copenhagen, Denmark on Tuesday February 10, 2015.

“We have been in exile for nearly 56 years,” he said, “which in the life of a people is not such a long time, but for one individual may seems long. The spirit of Tibetans in Tibet is still very strong.”

A Chinese friend reported to me how tough they have become. This is because of the hard-line policies they encounter. It is this narrow-minded hard line that stokes their sense of being separate from the Chinese.

“Just as the Chinese love their culture, we Tibetans love our culture and language and seek to preserve them. Some Chinese have told me that ‘although they also claim to follow the thought of Nagarjuna, they are unable to articulate it in the way it is clearly laid out in Tibetan.”

“The Chinese also follow the Nalanda tradition, but not as rigorously as we do. While young Chinese today can’t even read their classical Buddhist texts, we can elaborate the different philosophical points of view. This is something to be proud of.”

His Holiness also recalled seeing the place in Xi’an where the Lhasa Jowo came from. There was an empty space where it used to sit. His Holiness says ‘he saw too the place on the city wall that marked the point at which the Tibetan army stopped in 763CE when they occupied the city and installed their own Emperor.’

His Holiness observed that although ‘Tibetan military power declined and the country fragmented politically, from a religious point of view Tibetans remained united.’

The spiritual leader of Tibet said “things are changing in China. There will be an opportunity for us to return to our homeland. We have all worked hard and that day will dawn. Do not lose heart.”

His Holiness met with Buddhists, including monks, nuns and lay people from the Trondheim Buddhist Association in Trondeheim, Norway, where the association which brings together Buddhists from different countries included

Thailand, Burma and Vietnam.

“Here we are on the northern edge of Europe.

In Asia there are some Christians, but Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos and Cambodia, China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Tibet and Mongolia are traditionally Buddhist,” he said.

I make no effort to propagate Buddhism, but I’ve come across missionaries in places like Mongolia.

I told them it’s very good if you can help these people, but they are Buddhist and trying to convert them is inappropriate.

“Nevertheless, I always tell Buddhists I meet that we should try to be 21st century Buddhists.

Simply folding our hands and praying without understanding what the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha or the Four Noble Truths are isn’t much help,” His Holiness said.

“We need to know what cessation is and what the steps of the path are. We have no belief in a creator god, we are our own masters. But the Buddha cannot give us realization; he can only indicate the path by which we may pursue it ourselves,” he added.

His Holiness said “this is why I tell our Chinese brothers and sisters, as well as Tibetans, that praying to Amitabha or reciting Mani is not enough. We need to understand the Buddha’s teaching, so we have to study.”

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ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Your ideas can be put into action. In-laws or relatives may oppose your personal intentions. Keep your feet on the ground, if you can. Be discreet and don’t reveal any personal information. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Remember; talk to them, not at them. You may need a physical outlet that will help you relieve your tension.

Implement your ideas into your projects at work. Try to compromise rather than having an all out battle. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Invite friends over rather than spending money on lavish entertainment. You will have the stamina and the know how to raise your earning power. Visitors are likely to drop by and chances are, they may even stay a little longer than you want them to. Use your creative talent in order to accomplish your goals. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) You can make financial deals that will bring you extra cash.

Your stubbornness coupled with your mate’s jealousy don’t make for a favorable time. Set your goals and stick to your guns.Avoid conflicts with in-laws or other family members.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) There’s a good chance that they won’t come back.

Don’t let friends convince you that you should contribute to something you don’t believe in. Get involved in the activities of children. They will teach you far more than you expect. Feeling under the weather may be a result of overindulgence. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Don’t let other people meddle in your private affairs.

Your energetic nature and ability to initiate projects will add to your popularity. Relatives will not agree with the way you are dealing with your personal problems. You can expect opposition at work. Don’t let your competition be privy to information that could be in criminating. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Get back down to earth and to basics. You may attract attention if you get out socially. Consider making residential changes; either moves or renovations could payoff. You may be fortunate while traveling. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Your partner may be somewhat irritable this month.

You may want to make plans to take a vacation together. You will meet potential new mates through friends or relatives. Try looking into new ways to make extra money. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You are best to tuck your money away where no one will be able to touch it, including yourself. Try not to lose your cool, and make your point known.

Your versatile mind and common sense will allow you to come up with various solutions. There’ll be difficulties if you spend too much. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Lighten up your serious attitude Beware of someone who is trying to make you look bad. Creative educational pursuits will payoff. You need an outlet. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) This will not be the day to start new business ventures or make drastic changes in your career. Uncertainty regarding your mate may emerge; reevaluate what you see in each other. Small business ventures can earn you extra cash. Sentimental feelings may make it difficult to get much done at work. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Use your genuine warmth and compassion to win hearts. New love connections can be made through group associations. Don’t divulge secret information. Difficulties with female members of your family may result in estrangement’s. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

February 15, 2015 H.H THE DALAI LAMA 5 All religious traditions aim to create a happier world: His Holiness Protesters have tried to create mis-

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TPI NEWS

By Yeshe Choesang: February 05, 2015

Members of the audience listening to His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing the International Luncheon held in conjunction with the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, USA on February 4, 2015. Photo/Kaydor Aukatsang/Office of Tibet USA

Washington, DC: - While sharing his message of religious harmony, the spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained that all major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion, forgiveness, and tolerance to create better, happier human beings.

Congressman Jim Slattery introduced His Holiness to the gathering at the International Luncheon held annually in conjunction with the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton, on Thursday February 4, 2015. These events function as a forum for the political, social, and business elite to assemble and build relationships.

His Holiness said “we are all human beings; we are physically, mentally and emotionally the same.

We are all born the same way and we die the same way whether we are kings, queens or beggars.”

The spiritual leader added that “all 7 billion human beings want to lead a happy life and have a right to do so. If we were to think of each other in these terms there would be no basis for quarrels between us,” saying “all depend on others, therefore we

have to help each other.”

He pointed out that climate change has shown us we all share the same planet. And to illustrate our basic value to each other, he asked his listeners to think of someone struggling to survive alone in the desert. It would be very hard and if he then encountered someone else he would greet him simply as another human being with no regard for his nationality, faith, education or social status.

His Holiness said it is on such a basis that he thinks of himself as just another human being, not as someone special called His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

He said he sees himself as part of the human community, which is why he never feels lonely. As a human being his first commitment is to helping other human beings live a happy life. That’s a basis for friendship.

While sharing his thoughts on the message of all the world’s major religious traditions, His Holiness explained that all convey the same message of love, forgiveness and tolerance.

“Whether you accept religion or not is a matter of personal conscience, but if you do, you should take it seriously. Despite the philosophical differences there may be between them, the aim of all our religious traditions is to create better, happier human beings.”

“This is why there should be mutual respect and admiration between them. Their common aim is a basis for harmony,” the spiritual leader said, while sharing his admiration towards Mother Teresa and the way her followers today continue to dedicate themselves to helping the poor and needy.”

His Holiness acknowledged the continuing existence of a huge gap between rich and poor.

He said that prayer alone, while it may give us confidence, will not be sufficient to solve the problem. We need to act.

Turning to the question of Islam he stressed that the word jihad has been widely misunderstood. It is not about fighting other people but refers to battling our own destructive emotions. Likewise, Muslim friends have told him that one who sheds another’s blood is no longer a true Muslim. Rather than lapse into preconceptions we need instead to create a sense of harmony among our religious traditions.

His Holiness raised the question of whether we can say there is one truth and one true religion. His answer is that while in terms of one individual’s practice there may be but one truth and one true religion, in terms of community and the globalized world in which we live, there are clearly several truths and several true religions.

He also suggested that the existence of different points of view has the stimulating effect of a positive challenge, but that they need to be expressed in a mutually respectful way.

Following this talk, Congressman Wolf was invited to say a prayer to conclude the meeting.

He asked for blessings on the people of Tibet and His Holiness the Dalai Lama and prayed that freedom and liberty may yet fill Tibet.

His Holiness gave everyone present a copy of one of his books, ‘The Good Heart’ which records what he said when he was invited to speak at the John Main Seminar and comment on selections from the New Testament, particularly the Sermon on the Mount.

His Holiness speaks of need for change based on common sense

By Oliver Arnoldi: February 13, 2015

Copenhagen: - The spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke of the need for “changing the way people think based on common sense, common experience and scientific understanding” at a press conference in Copenhagen, the Capital of Denmark on February 11.

Speaking to a room of Danish journalists before his public lecture – Strength Through Compassion and Connection – he talked at length about the relationship between human connection and mental well-being: “We are social animals, born from our mothers and receiving care and affection from her from a young age. Those who appreciate such affection have the potential to show affection to others. Affection, confidence and peace of mind are all interconnected.”

Responding to a question on the government’s reluctance to meet him during a visit to Denmark, His Holiness said it was “logical” since his retirement meant he had “nothing to ask” politicians.

“I think it’s quite logical. I have no political

Prisoners in Tibet ...

... continued from front page

“In all three areas the treatment of Tibetans has deteriorated substantially,” the group said while highlighting “death in detention, collective punishment, and restrictions on the right to freedom of assembly and association.”

“Tibetan prisoners are frequently subject to torture, beatings, and denial of medical care. In 2014, an increasing number of Tibetans died because of their treatment in detention,” Ms Tsomo said.

“The PRC expanded the scope of its punishment of Tibetans by announcing that entire families and villages would be punished if there was a self-immolation protest or a person attended religious festivals,” she said.

“Tibetans who protested against arbitrary arrests or illegal mining in Tibet faced violent reprisals for exercising their right to freedom of assembly,” she added.

The report also said that the “health care in Tibetan areas is worse than almost anywhere else in the PRC. Similarly, Tibetans receive less school and that schooling is generally ineffective and inefficient.”

Responding to the PRC’s claims that it has improved life in Tibet, the 206-page report stated that “education and heath care for Tibetan has fallen behind other parts of the PRC.” TCHRD is a non-governmental organisation based in Dharamshala. It says their annual reports address the violations of civil and political rights of Tibetans inside Tibet, including the right to economic social and cultural rights.

taken impression, particularly in Tibet

By Jane Cook: February 09, 2015

Basel, Switzerland: - Dolgyal “protesters have tried to create a mistaken impression, particularly in Tibet,” The spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “the issue has nothing to do with “religious freedom because it’s about spirit worship.”

Over 7500 people had gathered in Basel to listen to the teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama held on Saturday, according to media reports.

Meeting with members of the media, His Holiness told them that he is “one of the 7 billion human beings alive today.”

“We are social creatures and today everything is interdependent. Therefore, we have to consider the welfare of the whole of humanity and the health of the planet,” he added.

“You media people have an important role to play in keeping people informed of the importance of ecology,” he said. “Promoting awareness of the need to protect the environment is one of my own commitments.”

In the context of religious freedom, he was asked what he had to say to the proShugden protesters on the street outside.

He replied that the issue has nothing to do with religious freedom because it’s about spirit worship.

“The Buddha counselled his followers only to take refuge in and seek guidance from the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha,” he said.

His Holiness said that “the Shugden’s belief system was misguided, far from Buddha’s teachings. Instead, he said that Buddhism does not force its beliefs on anyone – similar to the freedom of opinion found in Switzerland,” according to a report by swissinfo.

He said ‘we should not seek refuge in spirits. The history of the controversy goes back to the time of the 5th Dalai Lama in 17th century. And the 5th Dalai Lama pronounced Dolgyal or Shugden an evil spirit. Many prominent Gelugpa masters concurred.’

His Holiness continued- “In 1951, at Yatung, due to a variety of circumstances I took up the practice. However, my Senior Tutor remained sceptical about it. In 1970, because I already harboured doubts about it I investigated further and discovered what the 5th Dalai Lama had written about this practice.”

“Realizing it was a mistake, I stopped and eventually word got out,” His Holiness said.

He explained that these protestors have tried to create a mistaken impression, particularly in

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting members of the media at the start of their meeting in Basel, Switzerland on February 7, 2015. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

Tibet, that the Dalai Lama opposes this practice because he’s pandering to the Nyingmapas. He said ‘this is nonsense.’

They accuse him of lying, but he asserts that he is not, while they just don’t know the reality of the situation. His advice, he said, is to investigate the matter more thoroughly.

“I haven’t banned it, but it’s my duty to make clear what’s true. These people are still free to exercise freedom of choice,” His Holiness said on Sunday.

His Holiness concluded that ‘the protestors are clearly able to exercise their freedom of expression, which is good. Nevertheless, it remains his duty also to share what he knows.

That’s all he’s done.’

The Tibetan spiritual leader also told reporters that ‘wars in the name of religion are hard to tolerate and that the younger generation is lacking in empathy.’

He added that ‘young children should learn moral and ethical qualities instead of religion and emphasised the danger of blindly following religion without questioning its tenets.

Responding to allegations against His Holiness, accusing him of religious persecution, Buddhist scholars say that His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s call is in fact simply advice, aimed at protecting Tibetan Buddhism from the sectarian influence of this Deity’s practice.

His Holiness repeatedly said he “strongly discourages Tibetan Buddhists from propitiating the fierce spirit known as Dolgyal, following long and careful investigations.”

His Holiness also said he “strongly urged his followers to consider carefully the problems of Dolgyal practice” and to “act accordingly.”

The spiritual leader last visited Switzerland in 2013, when His Holiness went to Bern. About 6500 Tibetans live in Switzerland, making it the largest population in Europe.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama among World’s 10 Most Admired Persons

By Cameron Hickert: February 06, 2015 His Holiness meeting with reporters in Copenhagen, on Feb. 11, 2015. Photo/Olivier Adam

responsibility so even if I met some political leaders I have nothing to ask,” the exiled spiritual leader -- who retired from politics in 2011 -- said at the press conference.

Despite stepping down as the political head of Tibet in 2011 – when the country established a democratic state leadership – he discussed his spiritual responsibilities as a Buddhist monk: “I have a responsibility to work for harmony among our various religious traditions. We share common aims and common practices. While violence in the struggle for national interest or political power is just about understandable, killing in the name of religion is unthinkable.

It is only ever a case of ignorant religious extremists manipulating others.”

He asserted the media’s responsibility to “help educate others about the values of peace of mind and the need for inter-religious harmony” but with the caveat that “it is essential [to be] truthful about it”.

When asked about whether the attempts of political leaders to maintain relations with China are in the best interests of the international community, His Holiness the Dalai Lama remained positive, if a little restrained: “China is the world’s most populous state, an ancient and important nation. China wants to join the international mainstream and it is up to the free world to lead her towards democracy.”

Yet positive sentiment has not prevailed so far; China remains a closed and controlled society for 1.35 billion people, ruled by autocracy and inhibited by censorship. For Tibetans living

within occupied territory, elements of this regime have been felt since the invasion of the People’s Liberation Army in 1950.

The declining ability to freely practice Buddhism in Tibet is lamented by the Dalai Lama: “in 1959 there were between 7000 and 8000 monks studying in Drepung Monastery. Today, there are reports of fewer than 100 with no proper teachers and no serious study.”

Destruction, of religious practices, cultural history and human liberty, is an ongoing and intensifying problem.

His Holiness added: “If we look back on the 20th century, it’s estimated 200 million died in violence [including, according to French historian Stéphane Courtois, 65 million in communist China]. To change the world for the better, complaining is not enough, prayer is not enough; we need a long-term vision implemented in a systematic way.”

The Tibetan spiritual leader’s vision is rooted in the desire to reinstate lost moral principles into the education system, specifically by utilising a secular approach that – like India’s example – is respectful of all religious traditions without bias.

“Scientists are also finding evidence that small children respond more positively to helping than hindering others, which reveals that basic human nature is to be affectionate. Love brings us together, anger pushes us apart.”

“It will take time, but if we start to make an attempt now, it may be possible to create a better world by the end of the century.”

Dharamshala: - The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is the seventh-most admired man in the world, according to a new poll conducted by YouGov, an international Internet-based market research firm.

The poll, ‘World’s Most Admired 2015’, conducted in December 2014, gathered information from panelists across 34 countries. The questionnaire simply asked, “Thinking about people alive in the world today, which [man or woman] do you most admire?”

These nominations were then used to compile a list of the 25 men and 25 women who received the most nominations and were nominated in at least 2 countries.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has figured prominently in the list of admired people in all the countries polled except China and Nigeria. He was ranked exceptionally high in most of the European countries including France and Sweden, where he came top. His Holiness was ranked second in Norway and Germany, and third in Denmark.

The list for the most admired man was led

by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, known for donating millions of his wealth towards humanitarian causes like education and

poverty eradication.

Others featuring in the list of most admired men include US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Mr Xi Jinping, actor Jackie Chan, Indian Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi, Pope Francis, Physicist Stephen Hawking and billionaire Jack Ma. Among the women, the most admired was Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, who is also a noted humanitarian. Her role as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has become particularly visible lately, as the star penned an opinion article for the New York Times on the subject of refugee welfare. Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, Hilary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, Michelle Obama and Ang San Su Kyi were also featured.

All of the surveys were conducted online, and in many countries internet availability is low. The survey therefore can only be said to be representative of the online population, YouGov has explained on its official website.

“The countries where only the online population is polled are China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Singapore. In the remaining countries the surveys can be considered nationally representative,” it has stated.

6 TPI NEWS Back Page Focus We should be 21st century Buddhists: His Holiness February 15, 2015

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with Dr Guy Morin the President of Basel City Canton in Basel, Switzerland on February 7, 2015. Photo/Olivier Adam

By Yeshe Choesang: February 09, 2015

Basel, Switzerland: - The spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that “it is extremely important that those of us who follow the Buddha should have faith based on knowledge of his teaching” to be a 21st century Buddhist.

Over 400 Tibetans, including representatives of Tibet organizations gave him a rousing welcome upon his arrival in Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday February 6, 2015 with traditional music, song and dance, the waving of flags and beaming smiles.

“Today, we should be 21st century Buddhists, who know what the Nalanda tradition is. When we recite the verse taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, we need to understand what

and who the Buddha is,” His Holiness said at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel where he spoke to an audience of nearly 8,000 people on Saturday.

“If we understand the causes and conditions that result in a Buddha, we’ll understand what the word ‘Buddha’ signifies. Likewise, the Dharma indicates the path to liberation and the Sangha those who embody it,” he added.

His Holiness remarked that the dull-witted simply have faith. The sharp witted, however, research and investigate the teachings.

He cited what he had written in the colophon to the praise ‘Illuminating the Threefold Faith’ that invokes the qualities of the 17 Nalanda Masters.

“At the present time, when in the ordinary world there is great advancement in the fields of science

and technology we are distracted by the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, it is extremely important that those of us who follow the Buddha should have faith based on knowledge of his teaching. “ Therefore, His Holiness said “we should examine the reasons for it with an unbiased and inquisitive mind, analyzing it closely.... the foremost sages of the Holy Land of India have composed numerous excellent and meaningful texts that can open the eyes of those possessing fine discriminative awareness.”

“During this time more than two thousand five hundred years have passed, but still those teachings (dealing with) hearing, contemplation and meditation survive undiminished,” he further added.

After morning teaching session, His Holiness met with the members of the local City-Canton Government by its President, Dr Guy Morin. The President welcomed him to Basel and told him there are currently about 600 Tibetan residents in the city. He said Basel’s connection with Tibetans is so long that he can remember having a Tibetan classmate at school 40 years ago.

His Holiness presented Dr Guy Morin, with a gift during his meeting with members of the local CityCanton Government. This is the second time His Holiness has visited Basel, the ancient European city.

His Holiness also held a short meeting with about 200 elderly and frail Tibetans. He told them that since they had spent their lives trying not to harm others and trying to develop the awakening mind of bodhichitta, as he himself does every day, they should relax and feel at ease.

His Holiness commented that Tibetans have a special connection with Avalokiteshvara.

He added that although Tibetans tended to squabble among themselves when Tibet was free, now the difficulties they face have brought about a firm unity.

The Tibet Post International