Demonstrations and Arrests in Tibet

More Tibetans arrested as demonstrations and tensions rise

Repeated protests by Tibetans in Kardze in eastern Tibet reinforce the Tibetans’ indomitable courage and deep yearning for freedom and return of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

March 10, 2011

Leaving CNN Center

Walking Down Peachtree Street

Tsepak-la reads HHDL's statement

Geshe Yeshe-la reads from HHDL's statement

Today the Atlanta Tibetan Community held a march through Atlanta to show our support for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people throughout the world.  It was a great day and walking with the Drepung Loseling Monks was a great experience.  The reading of His Holiness's March 10 statement was particularly moving.  Thanks to the organizers for the opportunity to show our support for the Tibetan people.  FREE TIBET!!!!

Book Review: Escape from the Land of Snows

Stephan Talty has created a mesmerizing account of the events around the escape of His Holiness from the Chinese Occupation of Tibet.  It expertly traces the background and decision making process of the Tibetan hierarchy that lead led to the eventual evacuation of the Norbulingka Palace and Lhasa.  He wraps us in the stories of several individual's narratives from Athar Norbu, a Khampa guerilla turned CIA operative responsible for keeping the US informed of events in Tibet to Ngawang Thondup Markyid, a monk that served as a high official on the Council of Lhasa.  The insights into the various aspects was wonderful,  you feel there devotion, fear, and uncertainty as the events unfold around them.  Talty describes the role of the international press in creating then destructing the myths about Tibet.  He narrates  the trek through the mountains and its effects on the life of His Holiness resulting in his policy of interviewing every refuge that arrives in Dharamsala.   The book is a vivid account of this brief but turbulent and time in Tibetan history.  The events it describes have been retold in various form but I found this to be one of the most insightful and open interpretations of the Chinese Occupation.  A must read for anyone interested in the Tibetan culture and people.

The escape also force the Dalai Lama to think beyond Buddhism.  "His exile was huge in his life," says Paul Jeffrey Hopkins, a Tibet scholar and former interpreter for His Holiness.  "Without it, it would be very difficult for him to develop a message that is applicable to the entire world.  Instead of becoming someone who's trying to drive Buddhism forward,  he's attempting to call to everybody in society and thus address their need for kindness and compassion.  There would be no way for that to develop had he remained in Tibet."

Tibetan Monks on the Run

Running for over a year in the Mountains and Hills of Tibet and Nepal.  These monks finally escape the Chinese.  It is becoming more dangerous for Tibetans to escape as the Chinese have brutally cracked down on refugees crossing the borders and put incredible pressure on Nepal to do the same.  I know this isn't a new issue but reminding everyone that it is still occuring EVERY DAY never hurts the cause.

Happy Independence Day

Today, while we in the US enjoy the benefits of our free democracy, let us not fail to remember those whose basic civil and human rights are violated every day. 34 percent of the world population lives in countries that are not free as defined by Freedom House in 2009, that number represents the population of 42 countries.  Another 62 were categorized as partly free.  Tibet, Burma, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan all have no enjoyment of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, instead they face government control of daily life, political suppression, and freedom of speech and press is a myth long dreamed for. Remember them in your thoughts today.