Sera Je Buddhist Students Graduate

Bi-MonthlyB o d - K y i - Cha- Trin

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

Rs.5Vol. 01, Issue 24, 31 August 2010

Tibet Exihibition Protestwww.thetibetpost.com

First Tibetan National General Meet-ing Begins in South India

Bylakuppe: The First Tibetan National GeneralMeeting began in Bylakuppe's Tibetan settlement,Karnataka State, on Thursday (August 26). Around450 Tibetan delegates are attending, includingscholars, specialists, doctors, social activists,politicians and journalists. They represent aspectrum of instititutions - amongst them exiledgovernment bodies, independent bodies, fourregional schools, monasteries and non-governmentorganisations.The opening session began with a minute's silenceas a mark of respect for the people affected by therecent natural calamities in Tibet and other parts ofthe world.During the six-day meeting, delegates will discuss arange of issues such as politics, democracy, religion,culture, sustenance of settlements, education, health,the economy, welfare of Tibetans living in scatteredcommunities and the resolution of the Tibet issuethrough the middle-way approach.In his opening address, Mr Penpa Tsering, speakerof the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, said the attendeeswill be divided into eight groups to discuss largelypreordained topics. “This meeting will mainly focuson China-Tibet talks," he said. "However, thedelegates initially will have choice to join sub-groups[relevant to] their...field, responsibility andinterest...[so] various subjects such as educationand health will be discussed."This meeting will...be to discuss your support [of]the current policy of Tibetan government and itsdemocratic system and further development...I hope

Tibetan PM Inaugurates PrayerHalls At Sera Jey School

Thousands of people including guests and officialsgathered for the ceremony in Sera-je Monastery.

Photo: TPI

GlobalPopulation

Is Tiredof Violence

page 6.......

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Karmapa Rinpoche among the Tibetan officials, monks, nuns, and lay praying forvitims of natural disaster in Tibet, Pakistan and Russia, Dharamshala, India on 14th August 2010. Photo: TPI/Sangay

Philosophy Debate at Gyudmed School

Tibetans and Taiwanese supporters protesting Chineseexihibition about Tibet. Photo: TPI

By YC.Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

every parliament member, including officials,individuals and attendees...from far away, will usethe best of their skill and intelligence to make thisplatform fruitful."Mr Penpa added, "A unanimous resolution waspassed...at the seventh session of the TibetanParliament in-exile, [after] His Holiness the DalaiLama...called for an annual Tibetan general meeting

Tibetan prime minister, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, speaking media in Dharamshala, India: Photo: TPI/file

Bylakuppe: The Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister)of the Tibetan Parl iament-in-exile hasinaugurated two newly built prayer halls at theTibetan Secondary School, Sera Jey Monastery,Bylakuppe, south India.Kalon Tripa Professor Samdong Rinpoche onTuesday (August 24) told 700 assembledmonks, teachers and students, "In addition to

courses on social studies and science, theremust be facilities for the students to study keytexts of Buddhist studies."In Tibet, children in your age group do notget the opportunity for proper education. Evenif some of the children do have access toeducation, they are taught only modernsubjects through Chinese language as themedium of instruction and denied any

[at] the Special General Meeting on Tibet...in 2008."The Kalon Tripa Samdong Rinpoche (Tibetan primeminister) said in his address, “Under the leadershipand blessing of His Holiness the Dalai lama, theTibetan community-in-exile, unlike other refugeecommunities, has become one of [the] mostexemplary and successful establishments in terms ofsociety, education and health."However, the sustenance of the present conditionof Tibetans in exile will solely depend on the Tibetanpeople's collective merit and their way of thinkingand moral behaviour.”The Kalon Tripa continued that, since addressingthe problems of exile from 1959 to the 1970s, theTibetan community-in-exile has achieved good socialsustainability, but since the 1980s, and particularlyin the last two decades, this positive trend hasundergone great changes which should bediscussed during the general meeting.He concluded by emphasing the need for seriousdeliberation on strengthening efforts to achievespecialisation in the issues of education, populationgrowth, community self-reliance and the degenerationof ethical behaviour.The final recommendations of the meeting will bepresented in the presence of His Holiness the DalaiLama during the closing ceremony on August 31.

Bylakuppe: Over 100 Tibetan monks at Sera Jemonastery received their BA & MA diplomas inBuddhist philosophy on Saturday (August 28).The Venerable Tsering Phuntsok, Tibetan ministerof religion and culture, presented the degrees atthe 15th graduation ceremony in Bylakuppe,Karnataka state, South India.

Students and teachers having a group photo oportunityat Gyudmed School, Shouth India.

Photo: TPI

Interview: Geshe Ngagrampa Lobsang Dawa, actingdirector of the Snowland School of Tibetan Studies.Hunsur: From August 22-26, the Snowland Schoolof Tibetan Studies at Gyudmed monastery in SouthIndia held a series of teachings and debates onBuddhist Philosophy. The programme wasconducted by eleven teaching masters andattended by 114 students from seven schools,including the Tibetan Children's Village and theCentral School for Tibetans.The teachers included: Jangtse Choeje RinpocheGeshe Lobsang Tenzin, former abbot GesheLobsang Delek, present abbot Alak YoungzinRinpoche Tenpai Gyaltsen, vice-abbot Geshe TashiTsering and other Geshe masters.The Tibet Post International (TPI) met with theschool's acting director, Geshe Ngagrampa LobsangDawa, to discuss the school's activities.

opportunity to study Buddhist philosophy."The function began with a welcome addressby Khen Rinpoche Acharya Geshe LobsangPalden, and the inauguration of a statue ofBuddha and a portrait of His Holiness the DalaiLama.Sera Jey school has 40 faculty members and630 students. It was the first monasticallyadministered school to be recognised by theCentral Tibetan Schools Administration, andparticipates in the CBSE class ten boardexamination.The monastery is one of the three maininstitutes of the Gelug tradition, founded inTibet by Lama Tsong Khapain in the 15thcentury. It was reestablished at Bylakuppe inSouth India in 1970, following the occupationof Tibet by the People's Republic of China andthe subsequent destruction of monasteries andpersecution of monks.

Taipei - A group of Tibetans and Taiwaneseprotested at the National Palace Museum Sundayagainst an exhibit of Tibetan treasure.The demonstrators accused the museum ofendorsing China's territorial claim over Tibetbecause the exhibition does not mention themilitary takeover of the region in the 1950s.They demanded the museum display the DalaiLama's portrait and mention China's 'invasion' ofTibet at the exhibit.Museum spokesman Lin Chen-feng flatly rejectedboth demands.The exhibition Tibet - Treasures from the Roof ofthe World, focuses on Tibetan arts and Buddhism,but makes no mention of the Dalai Lama or China'soccupation of Tibet.

HimalayasBuddhism

in Photos:page 4......

By YC.Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

The Tibet Post2 TPI VIEWS AND ANALYSIS31 August, 2010 Dharamsala

Economy Buys the Value ofHuman Rights and Tibet

Dharamshala: It's a fact that, today,the developed nations are far moreadvanced technologically andeconomically than in previouscenturies, and their citizens lead a"better life". But it does not mean thatHuman Rights are better protected inthis new century. An honestexamination shows that the Chineseeconomy determines or buys thevalue of ‘Western’ Human Rights anddemocracy, particularly when itcomes to the most vulnerable aspectsof our world.Take the genocide of the culture andlanguage of the Tibetan people. It’sdifficult for a person without freedomto preserve ancient values and livein genuine social harmony. Tibetanstoday face not only the onslaught ofChinese culture and language, butthey are caught in a complex gamebetween China and its Westerncounterparts. A dirty war is beingplayed out between the shadoweconomy and Human Rights, thelatter being able to author HumanRights abuses.Why are the economy and HumanRights treated differently, by theWest, in the ‘special case’ of Tibet?The Uni ted Nat ions made anattempt to put Human Rights into abroader context, through decadesof f i r s t -hand exper ience wi thTibetan refugees worldwide. TheEuropeans and Africans Unionstreat the Tibetan similarly, even asthey play their economy gameswith China.Rather than simply killing the wholepopulations of prisoners from allparts of Tibet, the armed Chineseparamilitary forces are carrying outprograms of torture. Torture can beeither physical or psychological,and it aims at the "humiliation orannihilation of the dignity of aperson." Physical torture mightinclude mutilation, beatings, andelectric shocks to lips, gums, andgenitals. In psychological torture,de ta inees a re occas iona l lydeprived of food and water for longperiods, kept standing upright forhours , depr ived of s leep , o rtormented by high-level noise.China is forcing Tibetan politicalp r i soners to admi t to be ing‘extremists’, ‘separatists’ or ‘spiesof Western imperialism’, all of whichamounts to treason. Torture is useda l so as a means to ca r ry ou tin te r roga t ions and ex t rac t

A symbol of economy buying the values of the Human Rights and Tibet. Photo:Desidgned/file

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

confessions or information. Todayin Tibet, torture is increasingly usedas a means of suppressing politicaland ideological dissent , or forpunishing political opponents whodo no t share the i r ideo logy,sympath i se wi th T ibe tanindependence or havecommunica t ion wi th ex i ledTibetans.Tibetans made an urgent appeal tothe world for more freedom ofconscience and against cultural andlanguage extinction in Tibet. Thewor ld needs a comprehens ivedefinition of "Universal HumanRights", which should include theright to religion and culture for allcitizens on earth, the right to be freef rom ‘va lues ’ c rea ted byspeculators, the right to protectionof population and control of theirland, and the right to protect theirtraditional way of life.Why does the world treat HumanRights d i f fe ren t ly f rom theeconomy in industrialised China? Oflate it's been my experience that,everyone seems to be concernedabout suffering in Tibet or Sudan.But when the Western world sees agreat chance and exchange betweeni t s economy and the T ibe tanpeople , and witnesses Chinesehuman r igh t s v io la t ions wi thdisgust – they then fail to act. Chinahas killed over 1.3 million Tibetansand over 150,000 have been forcedto leave their country, includingthe i r sp i r i tua l l eader. Why dowestern nations treat the last andlargest communist regime, China, asthough it were unworthy of theirdignity and the values of mankind?The Western countries achieve ahea l thy economy and Chinapractices the worst Human Rightsviolations in the history of mankind.We say media is a strong tool fordemocracy, and this took form whenChina suppressed the uprising inTibet in 2008, taking more than 224lives. But the western governmentfai led to react to these HumanRights violations. I wonder if theyhave a heart that shows the samecompassion and solidarity towardsTibetans.The article is a personal opinionand it does not reflect the view ofThe Tibet Post International. If youhave any comment, you will be ableto reach the au thor a tthetibetpost@gmail.com

Tibet Exhibition Visits Hunsur

By Jiimy Halliday, The Tibet Post

Hunsur: The second leg of atravelling photographic exhibition

which looks at the life of Tibetansin exile was displayed in HunsurRabyel ing Tibetan Set t lement ,

Karnataka state, south India onAugust 28 and 29.Organised by The Tibet Museumand the Department of Informationand International Relations (DIIR),the exhibi t ion a ims to createawareness among the Tibetanpopulace about the effor ts toes tabl ish s t ructures such asschools, monasteries and hospitalsin the early stages of exile.According to a report by Tibet.net,the exhibition attracted over 1,500local Tibetan residents, includingmonks f rom the Gyumed andZongkar Choede Monastery, andstudents and teachers of the CentralSchool for Tibetans.The exhibition moves to Sera Lachiin Bylakuppe today (August 31) andwil l be on display there unt i lSeptember 2.

Have you heard of ‘Core Interests’? No,it has nothing to do with ‘organising’the CWG, IPL auctions, mining in tribalareas or OBC vote banks, though it istrue that in India ‘core’ issues often veeraround these subjects. 'Core interests’is the subject of a serious debateamongst the top leadership of thePeople’s Republic of China, both civilianand military. Traditionally, the ‘coreinterest’ of the Communist regime hasbeen the continuation of the party’s raj.For the past 60 years, the CommunistParty of China has ruled supreme overthe Middle Kingdom. Chinese rulers are,however, anguished about the future ofthe Communist dynasty. They are awarethat in the past, Heaven has withdrawnits Mandate from many dynasties,bringing disasters, famines, floods orearthquakes to different parts of theempire (it is happening right now)leading to the dethronement of theemperors. This is why, in June 2006 theState Council ordered an eight-episodeTV research entitled Preparing ForDanger in Times of Safety — HistoricLessons Learned from the Demise ofSoviet Communism. The project wasgiven to no less than the Academy ofSocial Sciences, the prime governmentthink-tank. Party members wererequested to carefully study and‘discuss’ the conclusions offered by theChinese president himself: “There aremultiple factors contributing to thedisintegration of the Soviet Union, a veryimportant one being Khrushchevthrowing away Stalin’s knife andGorbachev’s open betrayal of Marxism-Leninism.” Apart from the survival of theparty, the PCR has a few core issues,namely Taiwan and Tibet and Xinjiang(which symbolise the stability — orinstability — of the empire).During the last 60 years, China hasgrown bigger and more powerful. In2008, Beijing successfully organised theSummer Olympics; in 2010, the UniversalExhibition in Shanghai was anothershow; Beijing has maintained its rate ofgrowth despite the economic crisis andhas now become the No 2 worldeconomic power. Many in China believethat the time of the Middle Kingdom hascome and Beijing should actaccordingly. As Steve Tsang, a fellow at

St Antony’s College of Oxford Universityput it in an excellent paper Nationalismrisks felling China’s peaceful rise:'Chinese officials then saw that there wasscope to push the boundary'. Some inChina believe that the chance to grabthe South China Sea and the Yellow Seahas now arrived.Probably encouraged by PresidentObama’s wishy-washy approach duringhis first visit to Beijing in November lastyear and his vacillating attitude vis-à-vis the Dalai Lama and the sale of F-16jets to Taiwan, the hawks in Beijing haveawakened.Tsang says: “By declaring the SouthChina Sea a ‘core national interest’ andelevating it to the same status as Tibetand Taiwan, Beijing has marked anotherterritorial claim. If this is not challenged,it will gradually gain de facto internationalacceptance, as its claims over Tibet andTaiwan have in the last six decades.”The China Brief of the JamestownFoundation cites some PLA major-generals to explain Beijing’s newaggressive attitude. General Luo of theYuan Academy of Military Sciencesobjected in June to the joint US-SouthKorean exercises. The general put itvividly: “How can we let a stranger fallsound asleep just outside our bedroom?”On July 3, an article debating the strategybehind the US use of its aircraft carrierswas published in the China ReviewNews. According to the author therewere four reasons for the US to send itscarriers: (1) pushing China to buy moreUS bonds; (2) using war threats tohammer China’s development; (3)reducing US debt pressure; (4)confirming that China doesn’t dare tostart a war. The author believed thatAmericans manipulated all of the issuestroubling China (Taiwan, Tibet,Xinjiang, India, Vietnam, the SouthChina Sea, Mid-Asia, and Falun Gong).He argued that the right way to handlethe US carrier situation was to sink thecarriers having a joint naval exercisewith South Korea in the Yellow Sea.Another Chinese analyst, Real AdmiralYang Yi accused Washington of double-dealing exacerbating its time-honouredcontainment policy against China. OnAugust 13, Yang wrote in The PLA Daily:“On the one hand, (Washington) wantsChina to play a role in regional securityissues, on the other hand, it is engagingin an increasingly tight encirclement of

China and constantly challengingChina’s core interests.”General Yang added that Americanmilitary drills were a provocation aimedat creating “enmity and confrontationin the Asia-Pacific region — and thatthe Chinese must make a firmresponse”.One could ask, why are the generalsseemingly speaking out of turn or atleast in opposition to the official policypromoted by Hu Jintao of a peacefulrise of China. Major General XuGuangyu, a researcher at the China ArmsControl and Disarmament Association,explained that “it was natural for thePLA to speak out first on these issues.It’s the PLA’s sacred duty to defendChina’s territory and interests.”Many analysts believe that it isprobably an occasion for hardlinersamong the PLA and PLAN (ChineseNavy) ‘to lobby for more economic andpolitical resources to upgrade theirarsenal. Particularly in view of large-scale personnel changes scheduled forthe upcoming 18th CCP Congress.’Undoubtedly, jockeying has started forthe elevation of several generals to arevamped Central Military Commissionin 2012. President Hu probably needssome hawks to help him to keep hischairman’s cap after he resigns from histwo other posts — president of therepublic and party general secretary.However, several think-tanks andinfluential commentators do not agreewith the generals.On August 1, in an article published inXinhua, Han Xudong, a professor at theStrategy Department of the PLA NationalDefence University said it was currentlynot appropriate for China to explicitlystate what its ‘Core National Interests’are. He gave reasons why: China’smilitary capability is not as good asAmerica’s military capability in manyrespects. Publicly identifying China’score national interests will place thearmed forces in a passive position andChina does not have the power to protectall of its core national interests yet.The peaceful rise of China will probablycontinue to be the official motto forsome time, but many other forces are atplay. Let us not forget that China is nota monolithic empire, but a puzzle ofmany disparate forces. Only the futurewill tell who will prevail. By the way,what are India’s Core Interests?

China’s core interestsBy Claude Arpi, Indian Express, 28 August 2010.

Tibetans in Rabgyal Ling settlement visiting exhibition on 28 Auguts 2010. photo: Tibet Net

TPI H.H THE DALAI LAMAThe Tibet Post

His Holiness in Kullu: "We Shouldbe Non-Violent at Heart"

Dharamshala: His Holiness the DalaiLama this morning delivered a discourseentitled The Bodhisattva'sDevelopment of the Heart to around3,000 Buddhist followers at DhakpoShedrup Ling monastery in Kais,District Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.The teachings were attended bydevotees from the local community andaround the world. Dhakpo Rinpoche,the head of the monastery, madeofferings to His Holiness.In the afternoon, His Holiness visitedthe Tibetan Vocational Training Centre,a branch of Tibetan Children's VillageSchool, at Patlikul. He addressedstudents and teachers on the topics of

Reported by: YC. Dhardhowa, translated by Yangsham&Matthew, The Tibet Post International

His Holiness Speaks onReligious Conversion

Dharamshala: This morning, HisHoliness the Dalai Lama performed theHeruk (Tibetan: Dechok) initiation inGarshia, Lahoul and Spiti district, as hecontinued his teaching tour of HimachalPradesh, north India. Over 5,000 peopleattended the event, including Chineseand other foreign devotees.His Holiness spoke on religiousconversion, saying, I have heard manylocal people of Lahaul and Kullu used

to be Buddhist but have now convertedto Hinduism. "people who follow anyreligion, it is better to keep the ancestors'religion and follow it. Religiousconversion brings complications anddifficulties."Tomorrow, His Holiness will conductthe Avalokiteshvara empowermentritual, receive a ‘long-life' offering fromthe audience and attend a pressconference.

By YC. Dhardhowa, translated by Yangsham, The Tibet Post

the good characteristics of Tibetans,world peace and the importance ofeducation."Thanks to ancient Buddhism and itsculture, we Tibetans have pleasantcharacter, warm heart and smiling facein the eyes of others, includingChinese," His Holiness said. "These arereally helpful in our daily lives andessential for the harmony ofcommunity."Speaking on world peace and non-violence, His Holiness said, "It is notenough to just say, 'Stop violence!World needs peace!' Basically[we]should be non-violent at heart". Healso reiterated the Buddhist viewpoint

that "all living beings have been ourmothers in our countless past lives, andso stop harming others, includinginsects."His Holiness concluded his speech bypointing out the importance of moderneducation and urged students toengage with contemporary knowledge,saying, "Due to our lack of moderneducation, Chinese look down [on] usas backward and stupid. Therefore, it isvery important for us to gain modernknowledge with full attention."His Holiness will proceed to Jispa todeliver the Heruka initiation and willgive teachings from August 19-22.

His Holiness: News Should Be Reported Truthfully

Dharamshala: His Holiness the DalaiLama this morning urged journaliststo be truthful and unbiased in theirreporting.Speaking in Jispa, Lahaul and Spitidistrict of Himachal Pradesh, northIndia, he said, "Like elephant's nose,journalists should be active enoughto see all the perspectives".His Holiness made his comments after

His Holioness the Dalai Lama giving teachings in Jispa, Lahour, HP india on 20 Auguts 2010.photo: TPI

Reported by YC. Dhardhowa, translated by Yangsham & Matthew,The Tibet Post

conducting the Avalokiteshvaraempowerment ritual. He proceeded todiscuss the lack of press freedom inChina, saying, "1.3 billion Chinesepeople have the right to know thefactual news taking place in thisworld."His Holiness advised local Buddhistfollowers to strive to understand themeaning of Buddhism, saying,

"Despite of man and woman from laysociety, it is very important to debateabout Buddhism and improve theunderstanding of it."He also praised the teaching ofTibetan language in the newlyestablished school near Ka-lacakratemple in Jispa, and promised to offerboth Tengyur and Tanjur (TheTibetan Buddhist canon) to the localmonastery.On the subject of animal sacrifice, HisHoliness urged fellow Buddhists totake refuge in Lord Buddha insteadof mountain deities, saying, “If youare a Buddhist, it is absolutely wrongto do animal sacrificing to the mountaindeities. Mountain deities, like us,haven’t overcome the afflictions,therefore shouldn’t be the object ofrefuge. Our true protector and objectof refuge is Lord Buddha”.He concluded the lecture by advisinglocal people not indulge in drinking orsmoking, for the sake of their health.Continuing his teaching tour, HisHoliness will speak on Gyalsey ThokmeSangpo's 37 Practices of A Boddhisattva(Tibetan: Laklen Sodunma) in Manali onAugust 22.Visit our news gallery for more aboutHis Holiness' teachings in Himachal.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visiting Dhakpo Shedrup Ling monastery in Kais, District Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: Tibetan spiritual leaderHis Holiness the Dalai Lama gaveteachings on the Diamond Sutra at themain Tibetan temple in Dharamshalafrom August 28-29.The teachings, held at the request of agroup of Korean Buddhists, were attended

by thousands of followers, includingTibetans, Japanese and Spanish.This morning (August 30), His Holinessleft for south India to attend the first TibetanNational General Meeting, therecommendations of which will bepresented at tomorrow's closing ceremony.

Teachings on DiamondSutra for Koreans

His Holiness in Jispa: “InnerPeace is Essential”

Dharamshala: His Holiness the DalaiLama yesterday reached Jispa, 133 kmfrom Manali, to continue his teachingtour of Himachal Pradesh, north India.He was welcomed by over 1,000 localpeople, including Dr Ram LalMarkandey - former member of theLegislative Assembly - and communityleaders, lamas and monks fromDrugchoe Kor monastery.His Holiness thanked the organizers ofthe teachings and described his journeythrough picturesque valleys to reachJispa. He also spoke about inner peaceand happiness, saying, "For the

comfort of physical body, externalmaterial development is necessary.Meanwhile, to be happy at heart andantidote challenges, inner peace isessential."It is more important to understand thephilosophy of Buddhism than justchanting Buddha Dharma in mouth."His Holiness conferred the Heruka(Tibetan: Dechok) inition this morningand will give teachings tomorrow,before heading back to Manali todeliver a religious discourse onGyalsey Thokme Sangpo's 37 Practicesof a Boddhisattva on August 22.

YC.Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post International

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Korean Buddhist leaders walking to Tibetan main templein Dharamshala, India on 28 August 2010. Photo: TPI

By YC. Dhardhowa, translated by Yangsham, The Tibet Post

331 August, 2010 Dharamsala

The Tibet Post4 31 August, 2010 Dharamsala TPI HIS HOLINESS IN MANALI & JISPA

The Tibet Post 531 August, 2010 DharamsalaTPI TIBETPolice Kill One, Injure 35, in Dege, Eastern Tibet

Dharamsala: One Tibetan has beenkilled and around 35 severely woundedafter Chinese security forces openedfire on demonstrators in Palyul County,Dege, eastern Tibet.The incident was reported to the TibetPost International by the VenerableDrime Gyaltsen. Mr Drime, whocurrently lives in south India, hails fromDege, from where an anonymouscontact relayed him the information inthis report.On August 18, protesters gathered

Chinese armed military personnels in Lithang County eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

outside a local government building inTromthar village, after village leaderTashi Sangpo wrote to the localauthorities requesting a halt to theenvironmentally detrimental expansionof gold mining in the area.Local Tibetans are concerned about theimpact of mining on their livelihoodsand have been demandingcompensation from the government.Over 100 people camped outside thegovernment headquarters waiting for aresponse from the Chinese authorities.Security forces responded by releasinga harmful gas. One Tibetan, Tashi

Sangpo, together with other locals, sawChinese officers moving unconsciousprotesters into a waiting truck, and beganto scuffle with them.The security forces reportedly then firedindiscriminately into the crowd, killingone Tibetan. At least five otherssustained bullet injuries, and severalprotesters were detained.No official statement has been made onthe incident, or the condition of thoseinjured and arrested. The Chineseauthorities have brought inreinforcements from neighbouringcounties, and the situation remains tense.

His Holiness's Special EnvoyMeets with US official

By Matthew, The Tibet Post

Washington: Tibetan spiritual andpolitical leader, His Holiness the14th Dalai Lama's Special EnvoyLodi Gyari met a senior StateDepar tment of f ic ia l here anddiscussed issues related to Tibetanrefugees, among others.The meeting with the AssistantSecretary of State for Population,Refugees and Migra t ion , Er icSchwartz, was held at the FoggyBottom headquarters of the StateDepar tment on Wednesdayaccording to Press Trust Of India."My brief is refugees, among otherhumanitarian issues. The United

Sta tes Government , providescons iderable suppor t andassistance through internationalorganisations."For Tibe tan refugees , whosecircumstances in the region areincreasingly difficult. I expect thatthat issue will occupy much of ourdiscuss ion ," Schwar tz to ldreporters before the meeting.He said this was not a first suchmeeting, and US officials have beenmeeting Gyari time and again."Gyari is a US citizen and has met anumber of US officials in the past,"he said in response to a question.

Special envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari (L) and envoy Kelsang Gyaltsenspeaking to Foreign, Indian and Tibetan journalists in Dharamshala, India on 2 February 2010. Photo: TPI

Tibet: Two-Year Jail Sen-tences for Two Student

Magazine Editors

Paris: Reporters Without Borderscondemns the two-year jail sentencesthat have been imposed on SonamRinchen and Sonam Dhondup, twostudents who helped to edit theTibetan student magazine Namchak.Two other editors of the magazine, whowere arrested at the same time as themin March, are still awaiting trial.Their conviction has coincided withother cases of repression. For example,the Tibetan writer Kalsang Tsultrim,also known by the pen-name ofGyitsang Takmig, was arrested on 7July in Dzoge, in Sichuan province.According to relatives cited by Tibetansources in the northern Indian city ofDharamsala, his arrest was promptedby his book “Miyul La Phul Ve Sempa”(Share My Heart’s Inner Thoughts)and recordings of his speeches voicinghis concerns for the Tibetans thathave been distributed on CDs.The lack of independent observers inTibet allows the Chinese authorities toarrest and convict Tibetan journalists,writers, bloggers andenvironmentalists without any form ofdue process. The governmentprevents the foreign media fromworking in Tibet so that there are nowitnesses.When the Foreign Correspondents’Club of China recently polled itsmembers, 98 per cent said it wasimpossible to cover the situation inTibet properly because of obstruction

by the authorities.Arrested on 17 March, the four Tibetanstudents who edited Namchak werecharged with separatism and incitingseparatism in their writing. SonamRinchen, 19, and Sonam Dhondup, 18,were registered as students at theUniversity of Barkham (in Sichuanprovince), as were the other two, whohave been identified as Yargay andDakden.Kanyak Tsering, an exiled Tibetan monk,told Reporters Without Borders thatthey had published comments aboutChina’s policies towards minorities,including Tibetans.Tibetan writer Tragyal, also known bythe pen-name of Shogdung, hasmeanwhile been held in harshconditions since April in Xiningdetention centre, in Qinghai province,where his family has not yet beenallowed to see him. His lawyer says thepolice are dragging their feet and havenot passed the case to prosecutors. Ina book entitled “The Line betweenHeaven and Earth,” Tragyal called forpeaceful resistance by the Tibetanpeople. As a result, he has been accusedof inciting separatism.Before his arrest, Tragyal said: “I am, ofcourse, terrified by the idea that, oncethis essay is published, I will have toendure every kind of hell this planet hasto offer. I could lose my head becauseof my mouth, but this is the road I havechosen.”

Dharamshala: A Chinese court inBharkham, eastern Tibet, has sentencedtwo editors of the local school magazineNamchak on charges of incitement tosplit the country and encouragingstudents to participate in 'splittist'activities. Two other editors have beendetained on similar charges.Our source Kanyak Tsering, whocurrently lives in exile, named the four

young adults arrested on March 17 as:Sonam Rinchen (19), son of Rindor andTamdho from Dzoge District, Ngabacounty; Yargye and Dakden, both fromNgaba District of Ngaba region; andSonam Dhondup (18), son of Drugkharand Wotruk from Dzoge county.Sonam Rinchen and Yargye have bothreceived two-year prison sentences.Kanyak Tsering told the Tibet PostInternational that on March 17 the foureditors, who were students at Bharkham

Four Magazine EditorsDetained, Two Sentenced in Tibet

High School, commemorated the 2008pan-Tibet demonstrations, in which 224lives Tibetans lost their lives. They alsooccasionally used the school magazineto publish articles about China's Tibetpolicy, which included comparison of theequalities and rights afforded to 'minority'and 'mainstream' citizens in China.No official statement has been issuedby the Chinese authorities, and the theexact location of the four detaineesremains unknown.

Sonam Rincehn, Yargye, Sonam Dhondup and Dakden arrested on 17th March 2009 by Chinese authorities in Bharkham, eastern Tibet,two of them also sentenced for 2 years each, two other still detained. Photo: TPI

By YC. DhardhowaThe Tibet Post

By YC. DhardhowaThe Tibet Post

Reporters Without Borders

The Tibet Post6 31 August, 2010 Dharamsala TPI INTERVIEWHis Holiness in Manali:

Global Population Is Tired of Violence

His Holiness in Manali: 22 August PressConference Transcript

Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the14th Dalai Lama (HH): I have nothing tosay! Only I am very much happy, verymuch. Last few days [I have been]touring different places and met quite anumber of people - very faithful,devoted. So I have opportunity toexplain what is Buddhism. That I reallyfeel is important. Number of people claimto be Buddhist but without knowingwhat is Buddhism.

I jokingly asked one person, "What isthe difference between BuddhaShakyamuni and Jesus Christ?" He said, "Same." Of course, as a spiritualmaster, they are same. But in thephilosophical field, the teachings ofJesus Christ and the teachings ofBuddha, there are differences. Evenbetween Christianity and Islam there aredifferences. There is the Trinityaccording to Christians but, accordingto Islam, there is just one Allah. So thereare differences. So I had theopportunity to explain what isBuddhism. So I am very happy. Whetherthey understand fully or not, that I don'tknow!

Question: Your Holiness, what is yourvision of the world in the next fewyears?

HH: Oh, that is good question...Untilthe mid-part of the 20th century, theconcepts of 'my nation' and ‘othernation' were very strong...a cleardemarcation between ‘we' and ‘they'.That's the basis of violence and war.Now, in the later part of the 20th century,with global economy and alsoenvironmental issue, the demarcationbetween ‘we' and ‘they' reduced.

The whole world should be consideredjust one entity. Western economyentirely depends on East or Middle-east. Eastern economy needstechnology and therefore depends onthe West, and also depends on Arabs,because of the oil. And Africa same likethat. So the global economy factormakes us one entity. The environment,because of its fragility, also makes oneentity.

This is one thing. Second thing is thatpeople everywhere are really fed up withviolence. Of course, hateful people

Tromthok Rinpoche, the abbot of Namgyal Monastery and monks lead prayer service atTsuglagkhang for victims of devastating heavy rain and mudslides in Tibet's Drugchu.

Photo: Tibet Net/ Drubgyu Nyima

By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post

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always exist and in the future will alwaysremain but, [regarding the] wholepicture, judging by changes anddevelopment of a more civilized way ofthinking, there are big differencesbetween the early part and the later partof the 20th century.

Also between spirituality and science.In early part, people feel these are twodifferent things. In later part of 20thcentury, they made new findings, likequantum physics. And also nowadays,among the scientists - the top scientists- they are [investigating] more and moreabout the human mind, about the humanemotion.

For example, some of my friends - top,respected, well-known scientists - theyconsider my explanation about Buddhadharma as a science, not a religion. Soscience and spirituality become closerand closer. Now this is 21st century. Ofcourse, there are some unhappy eventshere and there, but the future is thecontinuation of the later part of the 20thcentury. So therefore, I believe that the21st century will certainly be a morepeaceful century. There's no doubt.

Question: And India will play a verymajor role in this?

HH: No question! In the 70 years sincethis country has got indepencence,compare living state. Despite millionsof Indians still not [being] veryeducated, democracy is deeply rootedin this country. And, moreover, Iconsider myself as a messenger of India.Two factors. Number one: a thousandyears in this country Ahimsa (theavoidance of violence). Is not newlyinvented - last 1,000 years, 2,000 years,3,000 years. That is still an importantIndian concept - Ahimsa.

Second - religious harmony. Today, Ithink all major world religions exist inthis country. In ancient times, I thinkmore than 1,000 years ago, besideshome-grown religion - Hinduism,Jainism, Buddhism and, later, Sikhism -came from outside Zoroastrianism fromIran (Parsi), then Christianity, then Islam,and Judaism in Cochin area and Kerala.So whole major religious traditions livetogether in this country.

Of course, in the philosophical field,there are some arguments,disagreements. For example, in

Hinduism and Buddhism. However,basically, they are like twin brothers,sisters. The religious harmony is partof India's tradition. Wherever I go, Ialways carry the message of Ahimsa andthe message of religious harmony. Sothese two things are very much relevanttoday.

The Shiite-Sunni conflict and Catholic-Protestant conflict - when I see thesekind of things, then I think India's realtradition [of] religious harmony is verymuch needed today. So India can takeimportant role. Now, I want to tell you,my Indian friends, you need more effort- hard working! Like the CommonwealthGames - it indicates we are not alwaysso efficient!

Question: Your Holiness, on yourTwitter site you have recently said thatyour middle-way policy has beensomewhat criticised by your owncommunity, especially by the TibetanYouth Congress. So what do you see inthe future, after you? Do you see theTibetans denouncing the middle-waypath?

HH: The middle path - of course thereare critical views, but the majority fullysupport it. From time to time, you askthe public for their opinions andsuggestions, but always the majorityfully support it. And as far as non-violence is concerned, even the youthorganisation is fully committed to non-violence. One or two individuals...that'sa different thing.

Question: We are making adocumentary about the influence ofglobalisation in Ladakh. We've foundout that, due to globalisation, there is aloss of religious values and social valuesin the people. So how can we joinglobalization and religious values in thefuture?

HH: Good question. I'm often tellingpeople - the Buddhist community - notonly Tibetan but also Chinese,Japanese, Korean - all Buddhistbrothers and sisters - that now weshould be 21st century Buddhists. Thatmeans use all the...modern facilities andbe a modern person - full of knowledgeabout modern science [but] in themeantime preserve our own traditionalreligion - Buddhism.

A number of scientists, includingmedical scientists, are seeking methodsto prevent illness and recover morequickly, and to make betterconcentration. They are seeking forsome Buddhist methods. They are notBuddhists but they recognizeBuddhism...as a science of the mind. AsI mentioned before, if Buddhists carryBuddhism as a ritual or some kind ofceremony, it won't remain and thesuperstition...will not remain.

But if you know what is Buddhism - it'sutilising our human intelligence in themaximum way and transformation ouremotions. There are two kinds ofemotion. One category of emotions isspontaneous, without reason - likeanger, hatred...fear, attachment, pride.Then another emotion - genuinecompassion, genuine altruism. Theseemotions do not spontaneously come,but through training, throughreasoning.

So in order to develop a calmer mind,these positive emotions are a veryimportant factor - not thinking aboutnext life or Buddhahood [but] simply inorder to become a happier person, andhappier family, happier community,happier humanity. I think this trainingof mind, which comes from Hinduismand Buddhism...is very relevant today.

If the people - for example, Ladakhis -just practice without knowing what isBuddhism, then it goes away. I noticedin the early '60s, in Ladakh, thosemodern educated people's attitudetowards the monasteries was quitecritical. Now, it has changed, becauseI've asked them to study Buddhism. Youmust have full knowledge about Buddhadharma. So now these educated people,including government officials,whenever they find the time,organize...the class for Buddhiststudies.

So...for the last 40 years, at least 5,000to 6,000 monk students come fromLadakh to Arunachal. They carry outstudies in our monastic institutions.These people who study thoroughly for15 or 20 years, when they return to theirown monastery - much improved. In the'60s...a lot of monks often drunk! Nowthat's gone. Discipline improved,knowledge improved. As a result,respect from educated people has nowdeveloped - sufficient.

Education usually brings scepticism. InBuddhist studies, scepticism is very,very important. Why? Sceptical attitudebrings question. Question bringsinvestigation. Investigation bringsanswer. That's the general Buddhisttradition and particularly the Nalandatradition.

[There are] two cultural aspects. One:cultural heritage. For example, the Tibetanreligious community - right from thebeginning we make distinctions. Thereshould be two categories of culturalheritage - one due to social system and acertain way of life. That part of culturalheritage will go. It cannot be preserved -it has no use to be preserved. Then thereis another category of cultural heritage,which is really based on Buddhistthinking. That is very much relevant inour daily life, particularly when we arefacing some problem. That part of culturalheritage will remain and we will want topreserve.

Therefore, modernisation, globalisation,is necessary. Nobody can escape and infact it is very useful. Because of moderntechnology, within one week I had the

opportunity to visit this large area.Without modern technology, we wouldhave used mules or horses! That's terrible!So I don't think the material developmentand genuine spiritual development can'tgo together. No problem.

Question: Can Buddhism help fix theproblem of loss of altruism in the socialcommunity?

HH: Like any other major religion,Buddhism has the same sort of advice -practice of love, compassion, altruism.Then differences: Buddhists, in order topromote these things, use ourintelligence. So those scientist non-believers like [the] Buddhist approach.They find it difficult to believe [in a]creator...According to Buddhism, oneselfis the creator.

I think all major religions can make aneffective, significant contribution for abetter world, if we sincerely practice. LikeChristian brothers and sisters - they saythe true teachings of Jesus Christ, ifimplemented in daily life, are very helpfulto bring inner peace, harmony in thefamily, in the society. Islam also.Sometimes we get a different impression,but actually those Islam practitioners whogenuinely practice, they extend love to allcreatures. Same like Buddhists.

The problem is, like in many other fields -economy, business, politics - the religiousfield also carries some hypocrisy - sayingnice things but not being concerned withreal life. That's the problem. So that's whyreligion itself sometimes becomesinstrument for additional problems forsociety. Not properly follow religion - justuse the name of religion for one's owninterest.

Question: Yesterday, our Foreign MinisterKrishna said you are an esteemed guestof India but you should refrain frommaking any political statements, and thatTibet is an integral part of China. Do youthink this is a statement of a helpless friendor is India going for a double standing?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet: No,no, no. In 1951, we developed directcontact with Chinese government.Meantime we also appealed to the UnitedNations. Then India suggested that, sincedirect talks with China have continuedsince 1951, it is not necessary to raise theissue at the UN. Then in 1954, theagreement between the Chinesegovernment and the Indian governmentclearly mentioned Tibet as anautonomous region. Since then,continuous - same, same. But Indiangovernment supports.

Matthew Singh-Toor UKYe-Rinne Park FranceJimmy Halliday Australia

Contributors for this edition

The Tibet Post 731 August, 2010 DharamsalaTPI TIBET WORLD

Chinese Group Visit NewYork's Office of Tibet

YC.Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

A Chinese group visiting New York Tibet Office Photo: Tibet New

New York: A delegation of Chinese peopleresident in the USA met with Tibetanofficials at the Office of Tibet in New Yorkon August 17.Coordinated by Mr Tang Yun Jung,president of a US-based Chinese pro-democracy organisation, the meetingprovided an opportunity to exchangeviews and learn more about the Tibetissue.

"Despite their concern for the issue ofTibet, our Chinese friends have no meansto learn clearly about the issue in China,"said Mr Kunga Tashi, China analyst atthe Office of Tibet. Mr Tashi briefed thevisitors on the middle-way approach andthe activities of the Tibet office in NewYork.Mr Tsewang Phuntso, member of the TaskForce On Sino-Tibetan negotiations,

China Stages Confer-ences on Tibetan Securityand Monastic Activities

Dharamshala: The People's Republic ofChina has staged two conferences thismonth to discuss public security in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)and the activities of Tibetan religiousinstitutions.According to Chinatibetnews.com, fromAugust 18-19 the Public Security Ministryheld a meeting of the public security bureausof ethnic Tibetan areas, covering TAR andthe four provinces, to assess theirexperiences of "upholding public security,the struggle against the current separatistmovement, and [identifying] currentchallenges facing stability in Tibetan areas."During the meeting, action plans weredevised to "step up the fight againstseparatists, create bodies to protect socialsecurity, increase border security, andimprove the communication infrastructure,uniform and skills of public securitybureaus."From August 14-15, the Communist Party

of China's United Front Work Departmentsummoned to Shigatse the heads ofmonastic institutions and United Front leadsfrom TAR and the four provinces, to addressthe tightening of religious institutions'activities.The two conferences are follow-ups toJanuary's Fifth Work Forum on Tibet whichimplemented measures to bring a 'restive'Tibet under control.In the wake of the spring 2008 pan-Tibetprotests, the Chinese government hasdrastically curtailed the flow of Tibetansbetween Tibetan areas. Further, ordinanceshave been passed in Lhasa that requirepilgrims, businessmen and visitors to beaccompanied by guarantors when applyingfor short-stay permits at the Public SecurityBureau. Visitors who fail to register face arrestduring security checks.'Strike hard' campaigns have also beenlaunched to identify political activists, withanyone suspected of participating inpolitical activities being interrogated andeither placed under surveillance or detained.

By Matthew, The Tibet Post

US Government Encourages Substantive Talks on Tibet

Dharamshala: The US State Departmenthas submitted its annual report on Tibetnegotiations to Congress, encouragingsubstantive dialogue between HisHoliness the Dalai Lama and theChinese government.The 2009-2010 report outlines US

ETC is a biennial assembly of all Tibetan Communities in Europe. Photo: TPI

By YC.Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

policy on Tibet, and covers the "stepstaken by the President and Secretaryof State to encourage the governmentof the People's Republic of China (PRC)to enter into a dialogue with the DalaiLama or his representatives, leading toa negotiated agreement on Tibet."

The report states that, "The USgovernment believes the Dalai Lamacan be a constructive partner for Chinaas it deals with the difficult challengeof continuing tensions in Tibetan areas.His views are widely reflected withinTibetan society, and he commands therespect of the vast majority of Tibetans.His consistent advocacy of non-violence is an important principle formaking progress toward a lastingsolution."China's engagement with the DalaiLama or his representatives to resolveproblems facing Tibetans is in theinterests of both the Chinesegovernment and the Tibetan people.Failure to address these problems willlead to greater tensions inside Chinaand will be an impediment to China'ssocial and economic development."The report also reiterates the USgovernment's call for China to respectthe unique religious, lingustic, andcultural heritage of the Tibetan people,together with their human rights andcivil liberties.

comes due to [its] own condition."Einstein noticed that Buddhism is alittle different from other religions.Therefore, Buddhist concept is, I think,more suitable to non-believers,like...David [Barnhill], WysconsinUniversity's professor. Gradually we[have] developed close contact,dialogue, discussion about modernscience, then Buddhist science, [and] Iexplain Buddhist philosophy."So these people gradually developmore enthusiasm [for] Buddhistexplanations about reality - particularlyhow to develop inner peace withoutbelieving in God or a creator. Simply, you[come to] realise human intelligence.That is one of the unique [things]Buddhism can contribute."You [local people] already have somemonasteries here. Monasteries must [be]learning centres - not just requiring puja.There's so many things to learn. So thesemonasteries should be education centresfor Buddhist studies. And then, ofcourse, we can provide teachers forBuddhist studies [and] philosophy."As I mentioned earlier, no creator, noGod [in Buddhism]. Oneself [is the]essence, [the] full master. Buddha is ourteacher. He shows us, he [didn't createthe] essence.

The World Needs Spiritual DialogueSays His Holiness

Jispa: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lamagave a press conference on Friday(August 20) at which he said the worldneeds to develop a spiritual dialogue tofind the right way to address conflict andviolence.Speaking in Jispa, as part of his teachingtour of Himachal Pradesh, north India,His Holiness made the following speech:"Buddhism and all other religions verymuch emphasise the practice of love,compassion and forgiveness. These are[the] bases of dialogue, of reconciliation.Therefore, the world now needs spiritualdialogue."When we face differences...that causesconflict and violence. We must find theproper way to deal with this problem:that's dialogue. So more dialogues, notout of fear but [voluntarily], with self-confidence, with truthfulness."Buddhism, as any other religion, canrefund human compassion, humanbrotherhood, sisterhood. That's onething. Then, [what's] unique [about]Buddhism - there's Buddhist ideology,philosophy."Now, there's a big difference betweendifferent traditions - between Christianityand Islam, between Hindus and Jains.[But] in [science] and in Buddhism, noidea of creator. Everything happens or

His Holiness the Dalai lama giving a special public for Tibetans in Manali, H.P India on 22August 2010. Photo: TPI

By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post

"Study Buddha dharma, in Tibetantranslation from the Sanskrit written bythose masters like Nagarjuna. Altogether[there are] 300 points - commentary 200points. Whenever I have time, I teachsome of these points, and study. So learnBuddha dharma, including Buddhistlogic."Those masters always use[explanations] not relying on Buddhistquotations. Because, in Buddha's ownwords, there are different philosophies.If we totally rely on Buddha's own words,then how can define all [of Buddha's]concepts [using the same] words?"Buddha's followers [understood thingson] different levels - there are manydifferent explanations. Therefore hetaught according [to] different people'swisdom and understanding levels."..Certain Buddhist [thought] bringscontradiction in reasoning logicalapproach. So in Buddhist philosophywe have the liberty to investigateBuddha's own words. Therefore thereare lots of commentaries. We must studyBuddha's teachings and commentarieswritten by Buddhist masters. Plus fullknowledge about modernity. That's thedefinition of [the] critical stances ofBuddhism."Buddha himself didn't makediscrimination between male and female.We find [a] rank issue [concerning monksand nuns]. [That came from] a differenttradition of monastery system, eight ornine centuries [ago] I think. 40 years ago,I introduced to nunneries in Dharamshalathe serious studies, like for monks. So nowmany [nuns] learn through debate. Thatshould be known."Many years ago, a women's magazineasked me if in the future [my] reincarnationcan be a female. I said yes. Because,among Tibetan high reincarnation, I think[in the] last 800 years, female reincarnationalready happened. Yes, we accept it. Thepurpose of the reincarnation is to servepeople. If female born is more useful, thenwhy not?"Please visit our news gallery for picturesof this event.

The meeting or confeence underway Photo: Tibet CN

The Tibet Post8 31 August, 2010 Dharamsala TPI CULTURE AND BUDDHISM

His Holiness Begins TeachingTour of Himachal

Report by YC. Dhardhowa, translated by Yangsham&Matthew,, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lamabegan his teaching tour of HimachalPradesh this afternoon, with an address tothousands of devotees at Dhakpo ShedrupLing monastery in Kais, District Kullu.He was welcomed by around 3,000followers, including the Dhakpo Rinpoche,Tibetan monks and lay people, anddevotees from France, Singapore,Indonesia, Holland, Malaysia and India.The 75-year-old Nobel laureate greeted thecrowd with "Tashi delek" and commendedDhakpo Rinpoche's work on themonastery's development, together withits patrons' generous donations. He alsourged Dhakpo's monks to work hard attheir studies and practices, saying, "At thisplight, if we Tibetans don't love and studyTibetan Buddhism and culture first, it isfundamental wrong."

His Holiness spoke on TibetanBuddhism's ancient lineage, from NalandaUniversity in India, and outlined the threevehicles of Buddhist teachings: theHinayana, Maha-ya-na and Vajraya-na."The custom of Buddhist studies andpractices, [as it] flourished in Tibet, is oneof the best," he said.Tomorrow, His Holiness will deliver adiscourse on the development of the heartat the monastery then visit the handicraftcentre of Tibetan Children's Village inPatlikuhl. His next stop will be Manali and,on August 19, he will confer the Heruka(Tibetan: Dechok) initiation in Jispa, Lahauland Spiti district, with teachings thefollowing day. He will then return to Manalito teach on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo's 37Practices of A Boddhisatva (Tibetan:Laklen Sodunma) on August 22.

Global Population IsTired of Violence

His Holiness in Manali: His Holinessthe Dalai Lama on Saturday (August22) gave a press conference in Manalito mark the end of his teaching tour ofHimachal Pradesh, north India.In answer to questions from journalists,he explained his beliefs that the worldshould be viewed as one entity,consisting of interdependent factions,that the global population is now tiredof violence and war, and that India,because of its history of religiousdiversity and harmony, will have animportant role to play in the 21stcentury.

His Holines the Dalai Lama in Manala H.P Indian on 22 August 2010. Photo: TPI

By YC.Dhardhowa, translated by Yangsham and Matthew, The Tibet Post

Interview: Geshe Ngagrampa LobsangDawa, acting director of the SnowlandSchool of Tibetan StudiesHunsur: From August 22-26, theSnowland School of Tibetan Studies atGyudmed monastery in South India helda series of teachings and debates onBuddhist Philosophy. The programmewas conducted by eleven teachingmasters and attended by 114 studentsfrom seven schools, including theTibetan Children's Village and the CentralSchool for Tibetans.The teachers included: Jangtse ChoejeRinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tenzin, formerabbot Geshe Lobsang Delek, presentabbot Alak Youngzin Rinpoche TenpaiGyaltsen, vice-abbot Geshe TashiTsering and other Geshe masters.The Tibet Post International (TPI) metwith the school's acting director, GesheNgagrampa Lobsang Dawa, to discussthe school's activities.TPI: What is the aim of this school?Geshe Ngagrampa Lobsang Dawa:There were two main reasons for startingthe school. First, many people ofdifferent nationalities from around theworld wanted to learn and practiceBuddhism, and Tibetan tradition, history,culture and language. Secondly, our newschool is committed to working toalleviate the suffering, violence andconflict plaguing our world. Througheducation and compassion, we work tocreate peaceful minds and a peacefulworld.What is the aim of the Buddhistphilosophical debates?Geshe Ngagrampa Lobsang Dawa: Themain aim of our debate programme is tointroduce Buddhist debate to students,not in the traditional style taught inmonasteries, but in a modern classroomstyle - demonstrating the usefulness ofthis uniquely Tibetan educational tool.Young students today learn manysubjects, including science. Ourprogramme shows the parallels betweenscience and the ancient wisdom andscience of Buddhism, whilst alsoteaching valuable lessons in ethics,morality and how to live peaceful andhappy lives.Education and science based on ethicsand morality provide new generationswith the tools they need to create a worldfree of violence, hatred and suffering.Buddhists believe that 'inner' sciences

By Lobsang Thupten, TPI

"The religious harmony is part of India'stradition," he said. "Wherever I go, Ialways carry the message of Ahimsa(the avoidance of violence) and themessage of religious harmony."On the issue of his advocacy of the'middle-way' approach to Tibetanautonomy, His Holiness said that thereare always disagreements withing theTibetan community, but that themajority of Tibetans support his stance.He also said that, for Buddhism toremain relevant in the modern world,Buddhists need to learn about andquestion their religion, rather thansimply enacting Buddhist rituals.

New Tibetan School in South IndiaDiscusses Buddhist Philosophy

have a much greater ability to changethe world than 'outer' science. When welearn about ourselves we can growbeyond the troubles we cause to theworld and find lasting peace andhappiness for ourselves and futuregenerations. Students learn the value ofbeing a person of character and findingthe respect and valued friendships thatcome from it.TPI: What was the inspiration behindyour new school?Geshe Ngagrampa Lobsang Dawa: InJanuary 2007, His Holiness the DalaiLama visited and advised us to begin anew institution which anyone,irrespective of caste, creed, gender ornationality, could attend. Constructionwas started in October 2007 andcompleted in April 2010. His Holinessgave his blessing, and the name Schoolof Snowland Tibetan Studies.

In April 2010, teachings began after abrief Rabney ceremony. For three daysgreat Buddhist masters - GesheNgarampa Tenzin Sangay, GesheNgarampa Tsering Tashi and GesheNgarampa Yeshi Wangzin - taught 170students from Bylakuppe and Gurupuraschools and 85 lay people fromRabgayling settlement.In May 2010, a month-long Buddhismand Tibetan-language teaching wasgiven to Central School for Tibetans andGurupura students, with prizes awardedto rank holders. In June 2010, lay peoplefrom local settlements attended teachingsin two groups - each group representingsix villages. In July and August 2010,classes where held for local lay peopleevery Sunday.The interview article and photos sent byThupten Lobsang from South India on27 August 2010.

Dhakpo Shedrup Ling monastery in Kais, Kulu district of Himachel Pradesh. Photo: TPI

Newly established Gyudmed Tantric School in Hunsur, Mysore, SOuth India Photo: TPI

Bylakuppe: Over 100 Tibetan monksat Sera Je monastery received their BA& MA diplomas in Buddhistphilosophy on Saturday (August 28).The Venerable Tsering Phuntsok,

Tibetan minister of religion and culture,presented the degrees at the 15thgraduation ceremony in Bylakuppe,Karnataka state, South India.Sera Je is one of the largest Tibetan

Sera-Jey Buddhist Students Graduateuniversities to offer BA & MA (Tibetan:Uma and Pharshin) philosophy courses.The graduating class have studied therefor 14 years, focusing on theMadhyamike and Prajñaparamita.Around 3,500 people, including topofficials of the Central TibetanAdministration, Jangtse CheojeLosang Tenzin Rinpoche,representatives of schools of TibetanBuddhism and students, attended theconvocation.Addressing the gathering, Kalon Tripasaid remembering the monasticcommunity's poor living conditions atBuxa Duar brings poignant memories,but we feel happy to see the changesof progress taking place now.He said the main objective of learningMadhyamika and Prajna Paramitastudies is to achieve a standardlearning of the major treatises of theBuddhist teachings.