China tells its overseas organizations to oppose Tibet separatism
Phayul[Tuesday, April 28, 2009 13:46]
By Phurbu Thinley

Dharamsala, April 28: Overseas Chinese anti-secession organizations have been told by China to beef up efforts in promoting peaceful mainland-Taiwan relations and opposing Tibet separation attempts, state-run news agency Xinhua reported Saturday.

The report said that the overseas organizations were “told to strive to create a more favorable environment for the promotion of the peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan relations, and stand alert and oppose the ‘Tibet independence’ forces and their divisive activities.”

The report said the call was issued at the end of a three-day conference of China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification that concluded in Beijing on April 25. It said 122 overseas Chinese representatives from 68 countries and regions took part in the meeting.

On April 24, the report said, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and head of the council, met with the representatives.

The call was made at a time when the exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama began his ongoing tour of US, during which he is scheduled to give a series of public talks and, hold meetings with Chinese democratic activists and China experts.

The Dalai Lama is, however, not scheduled to visit Washington or meet with US officials during his two-week US tour. But ahead of the visit, China demanded that the United States cancel the visit by the Dalai Lama and warned President Barack Obama against any plan to meet with the Tibetan leader.

“We oppose the Dalai Lama going to any country to engage in splittist activities under any pretext,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular news conference in Beijing last week. Jiang further said her government had urged the US to “honor its commitments and not allow the Dalai to engage in separatist activities in the United States.”

The Buddhist religious leader, a recipient of the Nobel peace prize, who is respected around the world, says he is seeking only meaningful autonomy for his homeland, Tibet, and not independence as accused by China. China routinely vilifies him as a separatist and regularly warns countries and leaders who receive him.

Addressing a Tokyo news conference on a stopover before the speaking tour of the United States, Dalai Lama reportedly accused China of “acting like a child” in cracking down on Tibetans and other minorities, saying it lacked the moral authority of a genuine superpower.

The Dalai Lama said he saw China, “such a big nation, acting like a child”.

“We have sincerely committed to remain part of the PRC for our own interest, for our economic development, provided [we have] minimal autonomy to safeguard our culture, our spirituality and the environment,” AFP quoted Dalai Lama as saying during the conference.

Norwegian Parliament cancels reception for Chinese Delegation
Phayul[Monday, April 27, 2009 18:24]
Dharamsala, April 27 – A luncheon reception by Norwegian Parliament for a visiting Chinese delegation was canceled after the latter refused to be hosted by a Norwegian parliamentarian who heads the Norwegian Tibet Committee and all party parliamentarian group for Tibet.

Olav Gunnar Ballo, a member of Norwegian Parliament, was to host a luncheon reception for a Chinese delegation on April 20, according to a press release issued by the Norwegian Tibet Committee.

However, Olav also was appointed the chairman of the Norwegian Tibet Committee on March 28. The decision to let Olav host the luncheon reception drew strong objection from the Chinese side which demanded that the Norwegian parliament find another host for the luncheon reception threatening that they would not attend the reception otherwise. The Norwegian parliament did not change the host but cancelled the event. The Norwegian Tibet Committee hailed the decision of the Norwegian Parliament which “did not let itself be dictated by Chinese pressure”.

Olav Gunner Ballo was head of the Norwegian Parliamentary delegation to Tibet and China in November 2008.

Justice Denied for Tibetans
WSJ[Monday, April 27, 2009 10:06]
By WOESER | From today’s Wall Street Journal Asia

Before dawn on the morning of May 18, 2008, the authorities cut off all forms of communications in the small rural town — telephones, mobile phones, the Internet and even roads in and around the area. At around 6 a.m., more than 1,000 members of the People’s Liberation Army, People’s Armed Police and local and special police units prepared to make their assault on a small house. Around the same time, more than 4,000 soldiers and police divided up to surround and take control of two nearby nunneries.

Their target? Buramna Rinpoche, a 52-year-old Living Buddha and head of Pangri and Yatseg nunneries in Kardze, a Tibetan county of Sichuan province. The story of this religious leader, who operated a home for the elderly and took care of orphans and handicapped children, is symptomatic of Beijing’s heavy-handed treatment of Tibetans. It also explains why the so-called Tibet question is not going to disappear any time soon. The joint military-police unit easily forced its way into the house, where authorities say they discovered a rifle, a pistol and more than 100 rounds of ammunition hidden under a bed in the living room. The monk was arrested under charges of possessing illegal firearms and ammunition. He was also later charged with the illegal occupation of state land. The arrest more likely is connected to an incident that had occurred four days earlier, when 80 nuns from the Pangri and Yatseg nunneries took to the streets to carry out a peaceful protest against the Chinese government’s “patriotic education” campaign, which pressured Tibetans to denounce the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader who now lives in exile in India. These religious women peacefully handed out leaflets and shouted slogans criticizing the campaign, but according to an eyewitness with whom I’ve spoken several thousand military and police were mobilized to deal with the protest, in which many of the women were severely beaten and arrested. The authorities apparently believed that the nuns had acted upon the instructions of Mr. Buramna, as he is responsible for both nunneries. So from that day on, his every movement was monitored. Mr. Buramna was transferred after his arrest to the Luhuo County Detention Center. There, according to his lawyer, he was handcuffed to a railing for four days and kept awake day and night by two guards. During these four days, he says he was tortured and police threatened to arrest his wife and son if he did not sign a confession to possessing illegal weapons. Under such duress, Mr. Buramna signed and made a thumbprint on a confession admitting to the charges. He later recanted this “confession” in court.

An undated photo of Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche aka Buramna Rinpoche found on the website of Burongna/Buramna) Temple. The 52-year-old respected Tibetan lama and, head of Buramna Temple and Yatseg Nunnery, both in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi), a Tibetan county in Sichuan Province, went on trial in a Chinese court on April 21, 2009, on charges related to last year’s protests in Tibetan areas. No verdict was handed down at the end of the hearing, the court saying it would announce the sentence at another date. If convicted, Rinpoche will face a lengthy prison term, his lawyer said at the time of trial. (Phayul/Photo/file/burongna.net)

Mr. Buramna’s family hired two Chinese lawyers from Beijing to defend him. The two, Li Fangping and Jiang Tianyong, are well-known human rights defenders. Mr. Jiang was one of 21 Chinese lawyers who signed a public statement on April 1, 2008, offering to provide legal defense to Tibetans who were arrested in connection with protests that broke out in March 2008 in Tibetan areas throughout China. The government has threatened to close the law firms, or revoke individual lawyers’ licenses, if these lawyers involve themselves in the Tibet issue, Human Rights Watch has reported.

On the morning of April 21, the trial opened in Kangding County, a one- to two-day drive away, rather than Kardze County, Mr. Buramna’s hometown and scene of the alleged crime, apparently to prevent local Tibetan monks and lay people from protesting outside the courtroom. Mr. Buramna appeared in court wearing the bright yellow and crimson red robes of a Tibetan monk. Seven members of his family, including his wife and son, were in the court, some crying throughout the trial. Speaking in Chinese, Mr. Buramna denied the alleged crimes, arguing in particular that the weapons and ammunition found at his home had been planted there to frame him.

Mr. Buramna’s lawyers say they were allowed only limited access to their client before trial and they were not allowed to access all the court documents related to the case, which limited their ability to cross-examine witnesses. Even so, they noted at trial that the court did not investigate the source of the firearms and ammunition, and even failed to check for fingerprints. They argued that the monk’s living room was a public place that saw a large number of people coming and going, and that anyone could have hidden the weapons there. They stated further that an examination of documents related to the land used for the elderly people’s home, which the government said was occupied illegally, showed the site was not state-owned.

The lawyers repeated the monk’s assertion that he was tortured for four days and was forced to sign the confession under duress, which would make it invalid for use as a basis for conviction. No verdict was handed down at the end of the hearing, the court saying it would announce the sentence at another date. If convicted, Mr. Buramna will face a prison term of between five and 15 years.

Yet Beijing would be wrong to think that will be the end of the matter. The incident has led to widespread anger among Tibetans in the area. On the morning of Mr. Buramna’s arrest, a number of monks and ordinary people in Kardze held a demonstration demanding his release; they were surrounded by the police and beaten, according to the same witness who saw the nuns’ original protest. The elderly residents in his welfare institution also tried to protest, but according to the same source, their home was surrounded by the police. In June, there were more protests seeking his release, and several people were beaten and arrested.

Mr. Buramna’s trial is the first of a major religious leader to be held since last year’s disturbances in Tibetan areas. It’s a sad commentary on the situation that one can say that at least this trial is being held in public. But such trials will not bring stability to the area. The nuns whose protest seems to have sparked this case acted spontaneously, and their protest had nothing to do with Mr. Buramna. They, and all Tibetans, want justice in their region. Putting Mr. Buramna in jail will only increase that thirst.

Ms. Woeser, a Tibetan poet, writer and blogger, lives in Beijing. This article was translated from the Chinese by Paul Mooney.

The Dalai Lama serves hope to SF homeless
AP[Monday, April 27, 2009 10:15]
by EVELYN NIEVES - Associated Press Writer
Sun. April 26, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO — His Holiness the Dalai Lama was trying very hard on Sunday to make the homeless guests at Martin’s soup kitchen relax. He put on a red and yellow tie-dyed apron to serve up the first plates of pesto pasta. He cracked jokes about what a relief it was to be among rich people who hang on his every word. He broke bread with seven down-and-out men, telling stories and making fun of his English - or lack thereof. Finally, the head of Tibet’s government in exile and one of the most significant spiritual leaders in the world tried this: “You know,” he said, “I’m homeless too.” The Dalai Lama was on his second day of a weekend swing through the San Francisco Bay area to talk peace and call attention to the plight of the nation’s poor. His visit, arranged by The Forgotten International, a nonprofit that promotes helping the world’s poorest people, was two years in the making.

The Dalai Lama passes a plate of food while eating lunch at a San Francisco soup kitchen on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Addressing visitors at the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality, the Dalai Lama spoke of his position as Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader saying ‘Me too, homeless person.’ (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Tom Nazario, the founder of Forgotten International, blamed bureaucratic red tape. “He has wanted to do this for some time,” said Nazario, a professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law.

The Dalai Lama beamed and grinned impishly throughout his hour-long visit to Martin’s - formally, Martin de Porres House of Hospitality - rooted in the Catholic Worker movement.

“I’m really happy for the opportunity to visit,” he said, offering words of encouragement to the approximately 100 guests and volunteers at the Sunday lunch.

“Our lives depend on others,” said the Dalai Lama. “Me too. My life depends on others. You are still in human society, human community. Please feel happy and feel dignity.”

The guests included some of San Francisco’s most desperate, reviled citizens, men and women who carry their life’s possessions in shopping carts and sleep under bridges.

“I told him that everything I’m wearing - from the suit to the earrings - I found in the trash,” said Armando Martinez, 44, who wore a three-piece suit and beads.

Ambbeei Hall, a 59-year-old Vietnam veteran and practicing Buddhist, said the Dalai Lama tried hard to make everyone laugh.

“When he brought up George Bush,” Hall said, “I couldn’t hold it.”

As it happened, someone at the Dalai Lama’s lunch table asked whether he had met President Barack Obama. He said he would meet with him in October, then recalled President George W. Bush.

“I love him,” the Dalai Lama said of the ex-president. “But some of his policies….”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets Tibetans, Mongolians and Himalayan Buddhists
TibetNet[Sunday, April 26, 2009 23:20]

Berkeley, CA: His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed to the members of the Tibetan community as well as those from Mongolia and the Himalayan region in Berkeley, a city on the east shore of San Francisco in northern California, on Saturday. His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in San Francisco from Santa Barbara just before Saturday noon for his second leg of the tour of the United States. His Holiness was received by the Board of Directors of the Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC) at Berkeley Community Center. Following the performance of a welcome song in praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by the young children of the community, TANC President Dechen Tsering presented the one year report of the association. She informed His Holiness of a new Quilt Project to honor the contribution of those many Tibetans who died for the cause of Tibet. A quilt was displayed to His Holiness.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama applauds for speeches being given before his talk at the Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley. (Paul Chinn / The Chronicle)

In his remarks His Holiness talked about the commonality of the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Tibetans, the Mongols and the Himalayan people. He referred to the Tibetan Buddhist culture as a way of life saying that the Tibetan Muslims, who are not Buddhists, also shared this way of life. He talked of two levels of Buddhism, one at the popular ritualistic level and the other that of the study of the deeper Buddhist philosophy. He asked the people to study the Nalanda tradition from which Tibetan Buddhism originated.

His Holiness said that the Tibetan language was the best language to study this tradition of Buddhism and thus asked these communities to pay attention to the Tibetan language.

Referring to the Mongol people, His Holiness said that they had suffered a lot in the 20th century but that they had achieved freedom and are now seeing the revival of their religion in their country. As for the communities in Nepal, His Holiness said that there was a renewed interest in Tibetan Buddhism. He said the Sherpas, the Tamangs and others are beginning to think about their ancestral heritage that came from Tibet. He said one important aspect of identity is the traditional faith.

His Holiness also emphasized the importance of modern education and how that had been a drawback in Tibet of the past. He asked the Tibetan people to uphold the good Tibetan character. He said the Tibetans have the additional responsibility to think about Tibet. He said that since the Tibetans had the truth there was no need to lie as we do not have any state secrets. However, the other side had to resort to likes and every violent suppression, which he said was a sign of weakness and not of strength. His Holiness said there was thus no need to be discouraged.

His Holiness said Tibetans should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. He said China was changing. Just as the Tibetans are passing through a desperate situation, the Chinese Communists are also passing through a desperate situation. He then referred to the demonstrations in Tibet last year and said that now another generation is taking over the responsibility of the Tibet movement. This, he said, showed that the Tibetan spirit has not died.

Following His Holiness’ speech, members of the Chaksampa troupe sang some excerpts from the Tibetan opera in praise of His Holiness. His Holiness then departed for his hotel.

Prior to meeting with members of the Tibetan, Mongolian and Himalayan Buddhist Communities, His Holiness attended a luncheon reception, which was hosted by the American Himalayan Foundation (AHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the people and ecology of the Himalaya.

Actress and member of the AHF Board of Director Sharon Stone welcomed the gathering and spoke about AHF’s projects in Tibet. She said in 1995 at the suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama AHF began developmental projects in Tibet and since then have build 33 schools, 24 bridges and helped orphans and elders. She said currently AHF had three urgent projects; building a school hostel, construction of a bridge that will benefit 3000 villagers, and establishing a drinking water system that will benefit 2000 Tibetans. She then introduced a video that detailed these and other AHF projects to help the Tibetan people.

AHF Chairman Richard C. Blum spoke next and gave a background to his personal involvement with the Tibetan people. He said 30 years ago at the invitation of his wife Dianne Feinstein (then mayor of San Francisco) and him, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had visited San Francisco (during his first ever visit to the United States). Since then he said AHF had been assisting the Tibetan people, including those in Nepal. Blum then invited His Holiness to make some remarks.

His Holiness began by expressing his deep appreciation for the very constructive work that AHF was undertaking throughout the Himalayan region. He said the people along the Himalayan region although they may be Indian or Nepalese citizens share the same Tibetan cultural and spiritual heritage. He said that today even though the Tibetans are homeless yet the many Tibetan monastic institutions in India are serving the monks and nuns of the entire Himalayan region. He said those Himalayan people who trace their ethnic origin to Tibet are today paying interest in finding their original root as well as in their spiritual heritage.

His Holiness said in the future if the situation in Tibet does not change Tibet may be finished but that the Tibetan spirit will continue as it was strong. He talked about the increasing support for the Tibetan people in the Chinese community. Since March 10 last year, he said there were over 400 articles in Chinese written by Chinese all of which were sympathetic to the Tibetan cause and critical of the Chinese Government’s policy.

His Holiness said that he had been telling the Himalayan people that it was their responsibility, too, to help in the survival of the Tibetan Buddhist culture as it was beneficial to them. He urged the AHF to continue its involvement in projects with these communities.

Referring to projects inside Tibet, His Holiness said that I always welcome any help in Tibet in the field of education and health. He said although in the bigger towns there were some facilities in these fields the remote areas of Tibet was being neglected. He said any help that can be rendered in these areas would be of immense benefit.

Following the luncheon, His Holiness departed for the University of California in Berkeley’s Greek Theatre to give a public talk on “Peace Through Compassion”, jointly organized by UC Berkeley’s Blum Centre for Developing Economies and the AHF. His Holiness was welcomed by Chancellor Robert Birgeneau on his arrival at the venue.

Report prepared by Bhuchung K Tsering of ICT

Court sentences 4 Tibetans to 2 years in jail
Phayul[Sunday, April 26, 2009 12:58]

Dharamsala, April 26 – China has sentenced 4 Tibetan monks of Lutsang monastery to two years’ imprisonment, according to Voice of Tibet radio service.

Citing a Tibetan monk named Khedup of Drepung monastery, the VOT said the Chinese authorities arrested 6 monks of Lutsang monastery around April 10, 2009.

However, Khedup said charges put against the four are not clear. He said the exact dates of the trial and court’s verdicts are not known.

Khedup said that the sentences were passed by Mangra County court on Kalsang Gyatso; 21, Soepa Gyatso; 24, Lungtok Gyatso; 22, and Soepa Gyatso;19. The other two were released, according to Khedup.

The four were among the 109 monks of Lutsang monastery who carried out a peaceful protest march from Lamo Yongzin Phodrang (spelled as pronounced) to the Mangra county government headquarters on the first day of the Tibetan new year (Losar). All 109 were arrested and given severe patriotic reeducation, say Tibetan rights groups. On March 20, 103 were released and 6 continued to be held in detention. The 6 were released earlier this month.
 

In another incident, two other monks of Lutsang monastery, Thabkhay Gyatso and Kunchok Gyatso, were arrested by the police few days ago. They are said to be currently held at Mangra County.

Tibetan exiles seek whereabouts of 11th Panchen Lama
Phayul[Saturday, April 25, 2009 19:38]
By Phurbu Thinley

Dharamsala, April 25: The 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima turned 20 on Saturday, but nothing solid of his whereabouts and well being have surfaced since he and his parents were abducted by the Chinese authorities way back in 1995. Panchen Lama is revered as the second highest ranking tulku lineage in the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the most influential spiritual leaders of Tibet. Born on April 25, 1989, in Lhari County, Tibet, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama on 14 May 1995 at the age of six. Three days later, on 17 May, he along with his parents went missing. On 15 May, 1996, the Chinese government admitted to holding the 11th Panchen Lama and his parents in their “protective custody”. Tibetan Government-in-Exile claims that he and his family continue to be political prisoners, and have called him the “youngest Political prisoner in the world”. Others have referred to him as “Tibet’s Stolen Child”. Traditionally, the Panchen Lama bears part of the responsibility for finding the incarnation of the Dalai Lama and vice versa.

Gendhun Choekyi Nyima’s photo taken in 1995, when he was six years old, remains the only proving clue available of him outside China. (File photo)

In Dharamsala, the seat of Tibet’s Government in exile in northern India, Tibetan exiles led by prominent activist groups organized events marking his 20th birthday to call on China to confirm his safety and whereabouts.

Activists staged a street play showing a young Panchen Lama under Chinese captivity. The activist groups also conducted a signature campaign seeking Panchen Lama’s release and, distributed “Release Panchen Lama” head gears and head bands.

The organizers have also planned a candle light vigil in the evening and will screen, after the peaceful rally culminates at the Main Tibetan Temple (Tsuglagkhang) here, a documentary film- The Kingdom of a Lost Boy. Over the years, there have been conflicting reports about the whereabouts and well being of the Panchen Lama, ranging from rumours of his death towards the late 1999 to a set of photos that Chinese officials displayed briefly, but did not hand over to European human rights officials. The photos reportedly showed the young Gedhun Choekyi Nyima playing table-tennis and writing Chinese characters on a blackboard. In 2001, the International Campaign for Tibet obtained a new photo purporting to be of 12 year old Gendhun Choekyi Nyima. However, nothing is known of the photos authenticity. Critics believe that it could have been faked by the Chinese authorities as a way to address growing international pressure for information on the safety and condition of the Panchen Lama. Chinese Government of lately claimed that he is attending school and leading a normal life somewhere in China, and that his whereabouts are kept undisclosed to protect him, but all requests for access to Gendhun Choekyi Nyima have been repeatedly refused so far.

Activists stage a street play showing Panchen Lama in Chinese custody in Dharamsala, India, Saturday, April 25, 2009 (Photo: Marin Lee/SFT)

As of now, there is no any reliable evidence of what has become of the Gendhun Choekyi Nyima and, only one photo taken when he was six years old remains the only proving clue available outside China.

Tibetan exiles and supporters have regularly initiated numerous campaigns for the last 14 years asking China to provide verifiable information on the well being and whereabouts of the young Panchen Lama. “Despite repeated calls from UN bodies to allow independent fact-finding delegations to assess his health and general wellbeing, Chinese authorities continue to turn deaf ears, and have not confirmed the safety and whereabouts of Panchen Lama,” the campaigning groups united under Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement (TPUM) said in a joint statement today.

“Since the kidnapping and incarceration of the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995, Tibetans and their supporters have been adamant in seeking his release, and the worldwide campaigns will continue to highlight the predicament of the Panchen Lama and the political prisoners in Tibet,” it added.

“TPUM will step up its efforts in its relentless pursuit of its goal; to ensure the safe return of Panchen Lama to his rightful abode (Tashi Lhunpo Monastery) and to see the complete restoration of His freedom and His political and religious rights,” the statement said.

Tashi Lhunpo in Shigatse, Tibet, is the traditional seat of the successive Panchen Lamas and is one of the most prominent monasteries in Tibet.

A branch of the monastery now based in South India has also issued a statement today calling on China to provide details of the exact whereabouts and well-being of Gedun Choekyi Nyima. It also asked China to allow official enthronement of the 11th Panchen Lama at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery without any conditions and permit him to receive the traditional Buddhist education.

Dalai Lama speaks to sold-out UCSB crowds
Daily Sound[Saturday, April 25, 2009 14:03]
By ERIC LINDBERG

Tibet’s political and spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, brought his message of peace and compassion to the Santa Barbara area yesterday, speaking to thousands of students and community members during two sold-out lectures at UC Santa Barbara.

In outlining his vision for the path to a peaceful society, the 73-year-old Buddhist monk emphasized the need for a sense of global responsibility and equality. “The concept of ‘we and they’ is no longer relevant,” he said. “We must look at the world as one entity, just we.” Wearing a traditional monk robe, the Dalai Lama stepped onto the stage at UCSB’s events center to a silent, standing audience of approximately 5,000 people for his afternoon lecture on “Ethics for Our Time.” After clasping his hands together and bowing, the spiritual leader gestured for the audience to sit, which served more as a cue for thunderous applause. “Dear brothers and sisters,” he began. “And when I say brothers and sisters, I really feel like that. At this moment, we really need that spirit.” The world is facing strife in many forms, from global warming to religious conflicts, the Dalai Lama said, describing many of those problems as created by people who are thinking only of themselves. Too many people are caught up in materialism, he said, the focus on possessions or power.

Victor Maccharoli- The Dalai Lama gave two sold-out lectures Friday at UCSB’s event center.

“We pay much less attention to our internal values, our mind,” he said.

That brought him to the central point of his discussion, what he termed the “universal value.” During any event or encounter in his life the Dalai Lama said he emphasizes the importance of the universal value, compassion, as a source of self-confidence and healing.

“The more self-confidence, less fear, less stress,” he said. “That opens our mind so we can reach out to other people, build a healthy society.”

At the time of his birth — to a farming family in a small town in northeastern Tibet in July 1935 — Nazis were rising to power in Germany. Violent conflicts ensued later in his life in nearby Korea and Vietnam.

As a teenager, the Dalai Lama was called upon to become Tibet’s political leader after China’s invasion of the region. Despite peace talks with Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, he was forced to seek exile in northern India after Chinese troops brutally suppressed a nationalist uprising in Tibet’s capital, Lhasa.

“All my life, I witness too much violence and also some violence in the name of revolution,” the Dalai Lama said.

Losing his freedom at 16, then his country at 24 brought a great deal of sadness and heartache, he acknowledged, not to mention the impact of violence taking place across the world.

Money failed to bring him consolation. Pets did not bring him inner peace. Possessions could not give him inner comfort.

“The only thing which brings inner peace is my own inner value, compassion and spirit of forgiveness,” he told the audience.

That is the approach the Dalai Lama hopes world leaders and society in general will start to embrace, rather than violence.

“We have to find long-term methods to change our society, to change our thinking,” he said. “…The only way to tackle or to face this problem is through dialogue. That is the only way.”

In addition to the societal benefits he sees from a life lived with compassion, the Dalai Lama said inner peace has a positive impact on his health.

Last year, while have surgery to remove his gall bladder, the spiritual leader was told by a doctor that he had a young body, one that looks 60 rather than 73.

“That shows my mental peace,” he said.

However, the Dalai Lama shrugged off suggestions that he has healing powers, noting that if he did indeed have those skills, he wouldn’t need gall bladder surgery.

“I’m nothing special,” he told the crowd. “I’m just another human being, just like you. We all have the same potential.”

If people view him as someone special, he explained, they will feel that they can’t follow his experience and live as he does. If they view him as just another person, however, “Then we can communicate and, from my experience, you may get some benefit,” he said.

Yesterday’s visit to UCSB marked the fourth time the 14th Dalai Lama has visited the seaside campus, with previous visits coming in 1984, 1991 and 1997.

It’s also the first visit since the university established a chair of Tibetan Buddhism and cultural studies named after the Dalai Lama. Professor Jose Cabezon, who holds the chair, acted as an official translator for the spiritual leader several decades ago and invited the Dalai Lama to visit.

“Because of his connection to the university and his status as a world figure and exponent of religious tolerance, this visit is extremely important,” Cabezon said.

He is hopeful the lectures and buzz surrounding the event will give local residents more exposure to Tibetan culture in general. A series of lectures on the history of the Dalai Lamas and Tibet, as well as Buddhism, preceded the visit.

An exhibit of sacred Tibetan fabric paintings, known as thangkas, is also on display at the University Art Museum until mid-June, and a group of monks have been creating a sand mandala at the museum in recent days to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s visit.

In addition, the university selected the Dalai Lama’s book, “Ethics for a New Millenium,” as its choice for the UCSB Reads program. Thousands of students, faculty and staff will read the book this winter and spring, as well as hold discussions and campus-wide forums on the concepts it contains.

Naples man meeting Dalai Lama
NBC2 NEWS [Saturday, April 25, 2009 13:26]
by Anne Imanuel

NAPLES: A Naples man is one of only a handful in the entire world who will meet His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama face-to-face. The meeting is on Sunday and the man is preparing to ask the Tibetan leader just one question.

When tragedy strikes, Rick Ritchason lines up to help.

“We should take care of each other,” he said.

He worked for American Airlines as a flight attendant and as a relief worker. He was the guy who would be there to comfort the families of crash victims.

But 9-11 took on a new meaning for him. He was scheduled to be on Flight 11 - the plane that struck the north tower. All 11 of the crew members were his friends.

“I was supposed to be on that flight too. I could have been on that flight. Why wasn’t I? Why am I alive? Why were they on the flight? You wonder why you’re still alive, what’s your purpose?” he said.

The event inspired him to do even more. He spent weeks as a relief worker in Louisiana after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

He pulled bodies from the water and gave food and money to those left behind.

“We were just doing whatever we could,” said Ritchason.

It’s that selfless compassion that now has him travelling again.

But this time, he’s going to California to receive an award from the Dalai Lama - one of Ritchason’s biggest heroes.

“His life is based on compassion - based on caring,” he said.

Ritchason will get a few short minutes of one-on-one time with the Tibetan spiritual leader and he can ask one question.

He says he hopes he can learn from the Dalai Lama and use the once in a lifetime opportunity as a lesson.

“Please give me something that I can take and carry your message on. What is that?” Ritchason said, as he described what he might ask His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Then, he says, he can continue his charity work a little more enlightened.

Group raise concern over safety of detained Tibetan journalists
Phayul[Friday, April 24, 2009 19:30]
Reporters Without Borders has expressed concern that detained Tibetan magazine editor Dokru Tsuilrim is being tortured

Dharamsala, April 24: A Paris-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press has expressed concern about the physical safety of journalists and website editors who have been arrested in the past few months in Tibet.

The latest to be arrested is Dokru Tsuilrim, a monk who edited the magazine Khawai Tsesok (Soul of the Snow), Reporters Without Borders/ Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), said in a press release today.

“We are very worried by the reports of Chinese police torturing detained Tibetans, including a lama defended by lawyer Li Fangping,” RSF said in the statement. “They increase our concern that the six journalists detained in Tibet are being mistreated. All those held because of the views they expressed must be released without delay,” it added.

Chinese police arrested Dokru Tsuilrim from his room in Ngaba Gomang monastery (in Sichuan province) at the start of April for publishing articles that allegedly support the “separatist forces of the Dalai Lama.” The authorities have suspended publication of his magazine.

The authorities have meanwhile stepped up controls in Machu County in Gansu province, RSF said. Chinese officials threatened reprisals against residents who continue to listen to international radio stations or visit websites such as the Radio Free Asia one, the statement said citing a researcher at Norbu Lingka Institute in India.

According to the source, the local authorities have installed dozens of satellite dishes while confiscating those belonging to private individuals.
RSF said another monk identified as Thuksam, based in Nurma monastery, has been held since March 11 for allegedly sending reports about human rights violations to organisations abroad. It is not known where he is being held, it said, citing reports by Tibetan NGOs.