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Dalai Lama meets McCain
Republican presidential candidate John McCain planned to meet with the Dalai Lama today in a show of solidarity with the Tibetan spiritual leader and as a rebuke to China's treatment of the people he represents.
"I've been a great admirer of the Dalai Lama," McCain told reporters Thursday while campaigning in Ohio, calling the Dalai Lama "a transcendent international role model and hero."
McCain's remarks come two weeks before the start of the Beijing Olympics.
China in recent months has imprisoned hundreds of Tibetans who held marches for greater autonomy and freedoms. China took Tibet by force in 1951, burning hundreds of Buddhist temples and killing many priests.
The Dalai Lama, the head of the faith in Tibet, went into exile in 1959 and has waged a campaign for decades in the West to have China loosen its grip on his country. He remains an immensely popular figure among the Tibetan people.
The Dalai Lama is attending a symposium in Aspen, Colo., on his homeland's culture. His planned meeting there with McCain comes four months after the Dalai Lama sent him a letter thanking him for his "concern" over the Chinese military crackdown in Tibet.
Support for Tibet and opposition to China's stifling of dissent are two points of agreement on foreign policy between McCain and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Both have said if they were president they would boycott the Aug. 8 opening ceremonies in Beijing.
The White House announced July 3 that President Bush would attend the opening ceremonies. He said on July 6 that he has often talked about religious freedom and human rights with the Chinese, and "I don't need the Olympics to express my concerns."
Bush said a boycott would have been an "affront" that may have made it harder to "speak frankly with the Chinese leadership."
The Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in October in a ceremony attended by the president. China issued a statement lashing out at Bush for taking part in the honor.
Regarding America's policy with China, McCain has said he supports cooperation on "a wide variety of strategic, economic and diplomatic fronts," but that Chinese leaders need to understand that "in our modern world, how a nation treats its citizens is a legitimate subject of international concern."
Michael Green, former top Asia adviser in the Bush administration, said he doubted that McCain would use the meeting with the Dalai Lama to bash China.
Green, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the McCain meeting and Obama's comments should send a message to China that Tibet will be an important issue to the next president.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain planned to meet with the Dalai Lama today in a show of solidarity with the Tibetan spiri... more -
Buddhist Monks protest the Dalai Lama in Philadelphia
On Wedndesday July 16th, 2008, the Dalai Lama visited the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts to give a public talk. While many people were thrilled to see him speak, Shugden monks spoke out against the Dalai Lama, claming that he is a lying hyprocrite. On Wedndesday July 16th, 2008, the Dalai Lama visited the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts to give a public talk. While many peop... more
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The Dalai Lama's Buddhist Foes
It was not an object lesson in Buddhist dispassion. On Thursday afternoon, following a teaching by the Dalai Lama at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, a group of 500 or more audience members screamed at and spat at a mixed group of about 100 people, both Tibetan and Western, who had been protesting the teaching. There were no arrests, but the police felt it prudent to move in fast and herded the smaller group into buses for their own protection. The pro-Dalai Lama crowd had also flung money at their foes, an insult indicating that they had been bought (presumably by the high lama's enemies in Beijing). Said one of the anti-Dalai Lama protesters, Kelsan Norden, who is British, has a Tibetan name and is the spokeswoman for the Western Shugden Society, "If this is what the Dalai Lama's people do to us in America, can you imagine what they would have done somewhere else?" The combination of adrenaline, relief and the prospect of coverage left her sounding almost elated.
What had prompted the unnerving Buddhist-on-Buddhist confrontation was an intra- Tibetan problem that seems poised to go international. The protesters, devotees of a fierce "protector deity" called Dorje Shugden, claim that the spiritual leader of Tibet has curtailed their civil rights as part of a religious vendetta. For now, the allegations of the Shugdenpas (as they are known) are hard to prove or disprove. But even a brief investigation provides a vivid look into what experts call "the shadow side" of Tibetan Buddhism, contrasting the tolerance and rationalism that the Dalai Lama represents globally and the theological hardball over mystical principles that he seems to play on his home turf.
Dorje Shugden is one one of hundreds of "protector deities" that distinguish Tibetan Buddhism from more purely philosophical varieties. Historically, the god is associated with the maintaining, sometimes violently, the purity of Dalai Lama's own lineage of teachers and gurus, called the Gelugpa. Indeed the high Lama himself prayed to Shugden for years; but the sect's purist and exclusionary emphases contradicted his own outreach to other Tibetan lineages, and in 1996 he began demanding that monastic abbots renounce the deity. It was not an object lesson in Buddhist dispassion. On Thursday afternoon, following a teaching by the Dalai Lama at New York City's ... more -
Dalai Lama: Bush has lack of understanding of reality
The Dalai Lama, in a lecture in Philadelphia yesterday, told a group of about 2,000,
Things are not black and white. Things are relative. Things are interdependent. When we look at a situation we have to consider all the factors.
Many world disasters, including war, including the Iraq war, are due to lack of this holistic nature (looking at all the factors). Like Saddam Hussein -- ending things for him. Reality is not that simple.
Of course, I have great respect for, in fact, I love President Bush, because he is very frank, very straightforward. His intentions are good, but some of his policy in spite of his sincere motivation and right goal, and some of his method becomes unrealistic because of lack of understanding about reality.
He went on to explain,
"You cannot look in one direction. In order to see reality, (you) have to see in three or four or seven dimensions" and that this applies in the economical field, political field and international relations."
The Philadelphia talk was sponsored by the Mongolian Kalmyk Buddhist order, which his holiness, the Dalai Lama, said was very close, teachings-wise, to Tibetan Buddhism and to the challenge of maintaining its culture, having left its homeland.
The main message the Dalai Lama presented was the idea of aiming for world peace through inner and outer disarmament. He explained that to reach a point where nations would outwardly disarm, people must first inwardly disarm, by becoming compassionate, not just with friends, but with all people, including those perceived as enemies.
About 2000 people attended the event at the Kimmel center. Upon finishing his talk, he was presented with a large birthday cake which was shared with all the attendees-- a Dalai Lama cake. The Dalai Lama, in a lecture in Philadelphia yesterday, told a group of about 2,000, ... more -
China urges Dalai Lama to back Olympics
"China urged the Dalai Lama again on Monday to show support for the Beijing Olympics, in an apparent effort to link the demand more closely with continued talks.
The statement from a Chinese spokesman to the official Xinhua News Agency included other previously issued conditions for talks: that the spiritual leader renounce support for Tibetan independence and that he curb the "violent terrorist" activities of the Tibetan Youth Congress and other "criminal" groups.
Though the basic demands are old, Chinese media have recently been portraying them as a new, concessionary approach. Xinhua's report, which appeared aimed at stating China's position more clearly and publicly, also gave the list of demands a new label, calling them the "four not-supports" ..."
By Henry Sanderson, Associated Press
"China urged the Dalai Lama again on Monday to show support for the Beijing Olympics, in an apparent effort to link the demand more cl... more -
"Islam is a Peaceful Religion" - Dalai Lama
'The Dalai Lama said Sunday that "it's totally wrong, unfair" to call Islam a violent religion.
The Tibetan spiritual leader, appearing at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, offered a defense of Islam in response to a question about the rise of violent religious fundamentalism. He added that he has made a point of reaching out to Muslims since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
The Dalai Lama arrived at Lehigh on Thursday for a series of talks on a 600-year-old Buddhist text. He took a break Sunday to lecture on "Generating a Good Heart," and afterward took questions from Lehigh President Alice P. Gast that had been submitted in advance by the public.
Asked why so many Americans are depressed and anxious, he joked: "I'm the wrong person to ask. You should ask Americans." Then he answered that U.S. society is too competitive and that people always want "something more, something more, something more."
The Dalai Lama, who attracted a capacity crowd of about 5,000, did not mention next month's Beijing Olympics. The Chinese government has demanded that the Dalai Lama express support for the Olympics and repudiate efforts to disrupt them as a condition for continued talks.
China has governed Tibet since the 1950s. The Dalai Lama, who fled to India amid a failed uprising in 1959, has said he wants some form of autonomy that would allow Tibetans to freely practice their culture, language and religion.
The Dalai Lama, who turned 73 on July 6, said Sunday that he's looking forward to "complete retirement." He joked that he's now considered a "senior most respected adviser" to Tibet's government in exile.
He is scheduled to speak at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia on Wednesday.' 'The Dalai Lama said Sunday that "it's totally wrong, unfair" to call Islam a violent religion. ... more -
Dalai Lama defends Islam as peaceful
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Dalai Lama said Sunday that "it's totally wrong, unfair" to call Islam a violent religion.
The Tibetan spiritual leader, appearing at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, offered a defense of Islam in response to a question about the rise of violent religious fundamentalism. He added that he has made a point of reaching out to Muslims since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
The Dalai Lama arrived at Lehigh on Thursday for a series of talks on a 600-year-old Buddhist text. He took a break Sunday to lecture on "Generating a Good Heart," and afterward took questions from Lehigh President Alice P. Gast that had been submitted in advance by the public.
Asked why so many Americans are depressed and anxious, he joked: "I'm the wrong person to ask. You should ask Americans." Then he answered that U.S. society is too competitive and that people always want "something more, something more, something more."
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Dalai Lama said Sunday that "it's totally wrong, unfair" to call Islam a violent religion. ... more -
The Karmapa Controversy, Who is the real Karmapa?
The Karmapa lineage is the most ancient tulku lineage in Tibetan Buddhism, pre-dating the Dalai Lama lineage by more than two centuries. The lineage is an important one as the Karmapa is traditionally the head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Unfortunately the recognition of the 17th Karmapa has become mired in controversy. Since the death of the 16th Karmapa in 1981 two different candidates have come forward, neither of which has gained universal recognition as the true Karmapa.
From: wikipedia.org
In 1981, the 16th Karmapa—leading lama of the Karma Kagyu branch of Tibetan Buddhism—died. In a highly biased but fascinating account, first-time author Curren describes the controversy over the Karmapa's succession that still rages today. After the 16th Karmapa's death, two different factions arose, each naming a different boy the 17th Karmapa: Ogyen Trinley, supported by several Karma Kagyu leaders and the Dalai Lama, and Trinley Thaye, whom the second-ranking Kama Kagyu lama, Shamar Rinpoche, believes to be the true Karmapa. While most previous accounts of the controversy have favored Ogyen Trinley, Curren—who acknowledges early on that he is a student of Shamar Rinpoche—believes Ogyen Trinley to be a fraud. The Karmapa lineage is the most ancient tulku lineage in Tibetan Buddhism, pre-dating the Dalai Lama lineage by more than two centurie... more -
He was taken into Chinese custody in 1995
He was called the world's youngest political prisoner when, as a six-year-old, he was taken into Chinese custody in 1995. He has not been seen or heard of since. He was called the world's youngest political prisoner when, as a six-year-old, he was taken into Chinese custody in 1995. He has not b... more
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He was called the world's youngest political prisoner
He was called the world's youngest political prisoner when, as a six-year-old, he was taken into Chinese custody in 1995. He has not been seen or heard of since.
Indeed, the only image the world has of the Tibetan-anointed Panchen Lama, who turns 19 this month, is of a ruddy-cheeked infant staring apprehensively ahead. And apprehensive he may well have been. He was called the world's youngest political prisoner when, as a six-year-old, he was taken into Chinese custody in 1995. He has not b... more -
French Prez warned not to meet with Dalai Lama
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is expected to announce he will attend the opening ceremony of Beijing's summer Olympic Games, was warned by China Tuesday not to meet with the Dalai Lama in France in August, reported The New York Times.
China's ambassador to France, Kong Quan, told reporters there would be "serious consequences" for Sino-French bilateral relations if Sarkozy meets the Dalai Lama, saying that it "would be contrary to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs."
Sarkozy has been vague on whether he will meet personally with the Dalai Lama, regarded by Beijing and many Chinese as a separatist who has advocated resistance to China's sovereignty. Dalai Lama and his subordinates have been engaging in instigating violent anti-China riots in Lhasa three months ago and encouraging a boycott of the Beijing Olympics. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is expected to announce he will attend the opening ceremony of Beijing's summer Olympic Games, w... more -
Happy Bday Dalai Lama!
DHARAMSHALA, India (AFP) — Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama marked his 73rd birthday Sunday with a small function, but with the mood dampened by a lack of progress in talks with China.
Officials said the usual cultural performances were not held this year in Dharamshala, a northern Indian hill town and home to the exiled Tibetan government, due to the unrest in Tibet earlier this year.
There was a small temple gathering attended by the prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche, while the Dalai Lama held a low-key function for relatives and Tibetan officials at his home, aides said.
Rinpoche said the Tibetan exile community was disappointed by the lack of any progress during talks between the Dalai Lama's envoys and China earlier in the week.
"The seventh round of talks has not produced any tangible results. The Chinese selfish attitude is only adding to the existing doubts about their insincerity for future talks," Rinpoche said.
He also voiced regret that China had repeated allegations that the Dalai Lama incited the riots in Tibet in March in order to sabotage the Beijing Olympics.
"The Dalai Lama is a messenger of peace and non-violence. He follows a middle path policy, which does not seek separation of Tibet from China and does support the Beijing Olympics," Rinpoche said.
He also used the function to call for China to stop the alleged arrests and torture of Tibetans and the "re-education and getting forced confessions" from Buddhist monks.
The Dalai Lama, who has said he opposes Tibetan independence, has called for "real and meaningful autonomy" for the region and an end to what he has said are widespread human rights violations against his people.
Rinpoche said the next talks with Beijing were scheduled for October.
Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama of fomenting unrest in the Tibetan region that erupted on March 14 after four days of peaceful protests against Chinese rule.
The Tibetan government-in-exile says 203 Tibetans were killed and about 1,000 hurt in China's crackdown.
Beijing insists that only one Tibetan was killed, and has in turn accused the "rioters" of killing 21 people.
China has ruled Tibet since 1951, a year after sending troops in to "liberate" the region.
- AFP DHARAMSHALA, India (AFP) — Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama marked his 73rd birthday Sunday with a small function, but w... more -
Tibet on the way to prosperity
Nepali daily reports:
"Great changes have taken place in Tibet since the abolition of feudal serfdom in the 1950s, and China's sovereignty over Tibet is indisputable, according to an article published by Nepal's official English language daily The Rising Nepal on Sunday.
"After the fleeing of the Dalai Lama and his groups from Tibet in 1959, great changes have taken place in the city of Lhasa. Tibet, with no highway at all in the past, now has a highway network of thousands of kilometers with Lhasa at its center," said the article entitled "Tibet on the way to prosperity."
However, some people have long looked at Tibetans' development through tainted glasses, commented the article. "They intentionally distorted facts and denied that Tibet is experiencing its best era of development and stability and Tibetans are enjoying the broadest human rights ever."
This is mainly talking abot the history of Tibet an how much it has prospered over many years. Nepali daily reports: ... more -
Unbelievable! How Chinese controle world wide media: FREE TIBET!?
You can see on that picture (taken with a satellite photo.) how chineses suceeded to controle the world wide media by claiming that tibetans are violent, make the mess etc.
You can check you that:
The chinese army (strangely all have a short haircut like tibetans) has just received their 'package', which strangely looks like the tibetans's , ready to wear it... going in the streets and doing what they have to do... without forgetting the cameramen!
Afterward videos will travel in all over the world and broadcast something absolutely wrong... Made in china
JUST UNBELIEVABLE !!!
If you want people to open their mind up,
Please forward this picture which will perfectly illustrate the real chinese mentality
PEACE You can see on that picture (taken with a satellite photo.) how chineses suceeded to controle the world wide media by claiming that ti... more -
China vows to smash Dalai Lama
If this were an Olympic event, China would certainly win another gold.
The Olympic torch relay has finished in Tibet with Government officials vowing to smash the Dalai Lama. "Tibet's sky will never change and the red flag with five stars will forever flutter high above it. We will certainly be able to totally smash the splittist schemes of the Dalai Lama clique." Tibet's hardline Communist Party Secretary General Zhang Qing Li said at the relay ceremony.
Check out more at the associated link. If this were an Olympic event, China would certainly win another gold. ... more -
700 Tibetans detained by Chinese police in Nepal protest
Anti-Chinese activists in Nepal have been arrested on the grounds of disturbing the law and order of the 'Chinese Province of Nepal'. Activists continue to dispute China's right to lay dominion over their country. These protests are part of a rising Anti-Chinese sentiment growing in Nepal because of China's Imperialistic attitudes, and anti-Dalai laws. In other news, The Dalai Lama contiues his exile in India, and denounces both the Chinese government, as well as the brash actions of these protesters. Anti-Chinese activists in Nepal have been arrested on the grounds of disturbing the law and order of the 'Chinese Province of Nepal'. ... more
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Sul "Festival della Pace" scoppia un festival di polemiche
Una dura critica sia nel metodo che nel merito della faccenda. A Forza Italia il "Festival della Pace" che l'Amministrazione Gaspari sta progettando per celebrare la Liberazione di San Benedetto dal nazifascismo proprio non và giù. Nella mattinata di lunedì 16 giugno il Direttivo Comunale azzurro ha tenuto una conferenza stampa per illustrare i particolari del ‘rifiuto'. Una dura critica sia nel metodo che nel merito della faccenda. A Forza Italia il "Festival della Pace" che l'Amministrazione Gaspari s... more
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Dalai Lama meets Australia's acting leader
The Dalai Lama has held talks with Australia's acting leader, drawing a rebuke from Beijing, which accuses the Tibetan spiritual leader of trying to split Tibet from China.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his No. 2 Julia Gillard were both out of the country on Friday. That left Sen. Chris Evans, the upper house of Parliament leader and acting prime minister, the most senior government official available to meet with the Dalai Lama.
The two held brief talks and a photo opportunity on Friday morning in a hotel near where the Dalai Lama is delivering a series of Buddhist lectures in Sydney.
A statement from Evans' office said the senator had welcomed the Dalai Lama to Australia and the two had open and informative talks. The Dalai Lama has held talks with Australia's acting leader, drawing a rebuke from Beijing, which accuses the Tibetan spiritual leade... more -
Dalai Lama it's wrong to tag Muslims as terrorists
In an anti-terrorism conference organised by the non-profit Jama Masjid United Forum (JMUF), New Delhi on June 1 (Sunday), Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness – the Dalai Lama – said that it was wrong to tag all Muslims as terrorists.
This comes a day after the leading Muslims anti-terrorism organisation issued ’fatwa’ against terrorism. His Holiness said that the anti-terrorist campaign led by Muslim clerics set a model for the entire world.
The Dalai Lama also made a historic trip to the Capital’s Jama Masjid (Mosque), where he joined others for a special prayer, held for the world-peace. Syed Yahya Bukhari, the historic Jama Masjid’s cleric secretariat, said:
“We condemn all forms of terrorism. Let us make no distinction and terrorism should not be associated with any religion.”
The confrence urged the root causes of terrorism to be tackled.
In an anti-terrorism conference organised by the non-profit Jama Masjid United Forum (JMUF), New Delhi on June 1 (Sunday), Tibetan spi... more -
Dalai Lama Tells Nottingham: 'Chinese Propaganda Portrays Me As Devil'
The Dalai Lama has said he is saddened that Beijing's state "propaganda" has left many Chinese considering him to be a "devil with horns".
On the first of five days of talks and teachings in Nottingham, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said Beijing's control over information left millions thinking he was a "demon".
Emotional human values were lacking in modern China, he added.
"Millions of innocent Chinese will have no other way to get information except government propaganda," he told his audience at the city's arena.
"If millions feel that the Dalai Lama is a demon, then I feel very sad.
"This is no help to solve the problems.
"A final solution must be found between Chinese and Tibetans, that's all." The Dalai Lama has said he is saddened that Beijing's state "propaganda" has left many Chinese considering him to be a "devil with hor... more
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Dalai Lama
