Tibetan Monks and Nuns Condemn China's Repression of Religion, by Phurbu Thinley, Phayul

Tibetan monks and nuns condemn China's prohibitive measures on Living Buddha's
By Phurbu Thinley, Phayul, September 21, 2007 (reprinted by permission)

Dharamsala, India -- Tibetan monasteries and Nunneries based in Dharamsala staged a reproving demonstration march from Tsuglag-Khang to lower Dharamsala condemning the so-called Order no. 5 of China's State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA) on Management Measures for the Reincarnation of 'Living Buddha's' in Tibetan Buddhism.

Hundreds of Tibetan monks and nuns joined by Tibetan people and supporters rallied down the street leading to lower Dharamsala displaying banners describing China's latest move to strangulate the ancient Tibetan Buddhist tradition as suppression of religious freedom.

One of the banners reads: "China says Religion is a Poison" Why interfere now?

"Atheist China turning Religious;  Believe it or not"  Says another banner.

A joint statement released by all the Tibetan Monasteries and Nunneries based in Dharamsala stated:  "Power to make decisions on any matter related to Tibetan Buddhism legitimately rests with the Tibetan people."

Today's protest march followed by candle light vigil later in the evening demanded China for immediate withdrawal of the repressive religious measures imposed on the Tibetan people.

Addressing the gathering at lower Dharamsala, Ven. Geshe T. Phelgye, member of exile Tibetan Parliament said:  " It (the Order) is a new tool deployed by the Chinese Government to undermine Tibetan Buddhism, and to insult and oppress the Tibetan people."

China's SARA on July 18 this year issued the controversial document called Order No. 5 containing 14 articles making selection of Tibetan reincarnate lamas subject to approval by the Communist State Government of China.

The order forbidding naming of any reincarnate lamas, called "Living Buddha's" in Chinese [Tib: Trulku], without prior approval from Chinese Communist State was put into effect on September 1. The new regulations, bans naming of any reincarnate lama solely by traditional Tibetan Buddhist procedures.

On September 2, marking the 47th anniversary of the Tibetan Democracy Day; the heads of all the religious schools of Tibetan Buddhism; the monks, nuns, mantra holders and other lay followers of the respective schools and the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration collectively issued a statement repudiating the religious bylaw.

The joint official statement was issued by the Kalon (Minister) for Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.

However, according to media report, China on Thursday defended its record on religious freedom, saying all Chinese can worship as they choose with no restrictions, and blasted a U.S. government report that said Beijing continues to harshly persecute some believers.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said a recent U.S. government report on religious freedom "flagrantly interfered in China's internal affairs" and "contained groundless accusations about China's religious and ethnic policies."

The U.S. State Department said last week in its annual report on religious freedom that China continued to repress Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, Muslim Uighurs and the Falun Gong spiritual group over the past year. It also criticized an apparent crackdown by authorities ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

                            ************NOTE TO READERS**********

The above news report/release has been reposted with the permission of the author.  As Reports like this come available, I will post them here on Gather for Gather members to read.  So many of these important reports on Freedom of Speech in China (including the Freedom to follow own Religious convictions) are lost in the current media mess; which seems more interested in Paris Hilton than anything substantial.

 Patrick Mahoney 

:-)

PS: To the Christians reading these articles:  The concept of reincarnation is kind of hard for us to embrace in the Western World.  In Tibetan Buddhism, Lamas of great learning (like Saints) re-appear in each generation to help others achieve understanding/learning in order to eliminate ignorance that results in suffering/pain/anger/&hurt for those who wouldn't have a chance to know otherwise.  In effect, their "Saints" forego heaven/nirvana for themselves in order to help others.  The Buddha, is said to do this for eons.....as he is the great teacher.

Like the Dalai Lama, the incarnated Buddha, young people are identified at an early age as possessing these "Saintly" attributes, and are nurtured/trained & educated intensely in order that they may be most efficient in their present 'incarnation.'   So it's not a real clear process where someone simply states:  "I am So and So, famous scholar/teacher, re-incarnated."  In fact, those that do that are considered lunatics.  It is the wise old monks that determine who is able to be whom.  The Chinese Govt. has been trying to subvert/undermine this process since the 1950's.....imprisoning the Panchen Lama, and naming their own stooge (an unfortunate child being manipulated by them).  The Panchen Lama is the 2nd most powerful Lama in Tibet (usually in charge of secular issues, while the Dalai Lama ....translated as: "the Ocean of Wisdom"......is the Spiritual leader of Tibet.  This has been this way since Genghis Khan & his sons ceded Tibet to the 3rd Dalai Lama.....to forever preserve their spiritually pure world; without outside influence to corrupt it/them.