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France 24
17 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Auspicious signs: how the Dalai Lama is identified
China says Tibet is an integral part of the country, and many exiled Tibetans fear Beijing will name a rival successor, bolstering control over a land it poured troops into in 1950. The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born to a farming family in 1935 and has spent most of his life in exile in India. He has said that if there is a successor, they will come from the "free world" outside China's control. Here is how previous reincarnations were identified -- and what the current Dalai Lama says will happen. Oracles With the Dalai Lama turning 90 on July 6, he has said he will consult Tibetan religious traditions and the Tibetan public to see "if there is a consensus that the Dalai Lama institution should continue". He has said he will "leave clear written instructions" for the future. But he has alternatively suggested his successor could be a girl, or an insect, or that his spirit could transfer or "emanate" to an adult. Responsibility for the recognition lies with the India-based Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The search and recognition of another leader must be "in accordance with past Tibetan Buddhist tradition", he said. That includes consulting a protector deity, Palden Lhamo, and the oracle of Dorje Drakden, also known as Nechung, who communicates through a medium in a trance. Reincarnation recognition Tibetan Buddhists believe in all reincarnations of the "Bodhisattva of Compassion", an enlightened being who serves humanity by delaying salvation through another rebirth. All so far have been men or boys, often identified as toddlers and taking up the role only as teenagers. The last identification process was held in 1937. The current Dalai Lama, then aged two, was identified when he passed a test posed by monks by correctly pointing to objects that had belonged to his predecessor. - Auspicious signs - Others were revealed by special signs. The year the eighth Dalai Lama was born, in 1758, was marked by bumper harvests and a rainbow that seemingly touched his mother. He was finally identified after trying to sit in a lotus meditation position as a toddler. "Most ordinary beings forget their past lives," the Dalai Lama wrote in 2011. "We need to use evidence-based logic to prove past and future rebirths to them." Golden urn and dough balls Divination, including picking names written on paper, has also been used to confirm a candidate is correct. One method conceals the paper inside balls of dough. Another time, the name was plucked from a golden urn. That urn is now held by Beijing, and the current Dalai Lama has warned that, when used dishonestly, it lacks "any spiritual quality". Tibet and abroad Dalai Lamas have come from noble families and nomadic herders. Most were born in central Tibetan regions, one came from Mongolia, and another was born in India. The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, was born in 1682 in Tawang, in India's northeastern Arunachal Pradesh region. - Secrecy and disguise - Past decisions have also been kept secret for years. The Fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso, was born in 1617 and recognised as a toddler. But his discovery was kept hidden for more than two decades due to a "turbulent political situation", the Dalai Lama's office says. And, when he died, he told monks to say he was simply on a "long retreat". When visitors came, an old monk would pose in his place, wearing a "hat and eyeshadow to conceal the fact that he lacked the Dalai Lama's piercing eyes". It would take 15 years before his successor was announced.
Wall Street Journal
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Fiction: ‘The Red Wind Howls' by Tsering Döndrup
Censored in China, Tsering Döndrup's vivid and excoriating 'The Red Wind Howls' recounts the decadeslong Communist clampdown in Amdo, a multiethnic region of northeastern Tibet roughly the size of France. The story begins in the late 1950s, immediately after the civilian massacres perpetrated by the People's Liberation Army during what has come to be known as the Amdo uprising but which the characters in this novel call simply the Harrowing Day. It ends with the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, by which time Tibetan society has not been transformed so much as nearly eliminated. Mr. Döndrup, who writes in Tibetan, divides the novel into two parts. The first follows the 10-year sentence being served by the lama Alak Drong at a brutal re-education camp alongside other so-called class enemies from the clans of nomadic Tibetan Buddhists. The second part chronicles the fate of the camp's survivors during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), when all traditional customs are violently proscribed and the people are brought to starvation by the government requirement that they plant crops that cannot grow in Amdo's mountainous altitude. In an acid-etched translation by Christopher Peacock, the whole book is memorable, but it is the first section that makes 'The Red Wind Howls' a contemporary world-literature classic. With the vigorous anger and precise detail that calls to mind Varlam Shalamov's remembrances of life in the Siberian Gulag, Mr. Döndrup depicts the horrors of the Chinese prison camp: the struggle sessions, the culture of 'backstabbing and informing,' the ritualized torture and the many other daily punishments and deprivations that turn even the strongest prisoners into mindless 'labor machines.' As in all totalitarian regimes, the rules imposed by the party cadres are Kafkaesque in their absurdity. For instance, suicide is commonplace among the prisoners, but because it is outlawed in Buddhism the nomads succumb to it far less. This fact is marshaled as evidence of their lingering religious faith, and for the crime of not killing themselves they are re-educated even more harshly.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Panchen Lama– Tibetans urge China to release spiritual leader 30 years after abduction
ANI photo Tibetans and human rights organisations are once again demanding the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima , the 11th Panchen Lama , on the 30th anniversary of his disappearance. He was taken by Chinese authorities in May 1995, shortly after the Dalai Lama officially recognised him as the second-highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), based in India, said his abduction is one of the clearest examples of China's human rights violations . 'Kidnapped by Chinese authorities at the age of six, his abduction is one of the clearest examples of China's severe human rights abuses,' said CTA spokesperson Tenzin Lekshay. US and international human rights officials also condemn China's actions. 'China vanished a six-year-old boy because he symbolised freedom for Tibetan Buddhists enduring severe oppression,' said Asif Mahmood of the US commission on international religious freedom. The Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet called on governments worldwide to pressure China to reveal the Panchen Lama's location and condition. China has not shared any public information about his status, which has raised ongoing concerns about transparency and religious freedom in Tibet. The situation reflects Beijing's strong involvement in Tibetan religious matters and its efforts to manage leadership roles within the region. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Gendun Choki Nyima Has Not Been Seen in 30 Years Who is Panchen Lama? The Panchen Lama is the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism, after the Dalai Lama. He plays a key role in identifying the next Dalai Lama, and the two have traditionally recognised each other's reincarnations. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was declared the 11th Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama in May 1995. Just days later, he and his family were taken by Chinese authorities. In his place, China installed another boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, whom many Tibetans do not recognise. The Panchen Lama's disappearance remains a deeply emotional and political issue for Tibetans worldwide.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Time of India
Beyond the clouds: Exploring Spiti's mystical Key Monastery
Far from the madding crowd lies a beautiful ancient monastery known as Key Monastery , set at an altitude of 13,500 ft. The monastery, also known as Ki or Kee Monastery, is among the most iconic sites to visit in Spiti. The place is all about ancient murals and Tibetan architecture. Now over 1000 years old, this monastery invites history lovers, offbeat travelers, and excursionists into a world of serene mysticism and Himalayan wonder. This monastery is also a spiritual center for monks from across the globe, and it continues to preserve Buddhist teachings and practices. On this note, let's have a closer look at this fascinating monastery: History This monastery was founded in the 11th century, and the location was chosen for its spiritual significance and silent ambinece. However, fate had planned something different; during the 17th century, this monastery was invaded by the Mongols. Then ravaged by fire during the 18th century, invaders from Ladakh also tried to attack this monastery. But despite these challenges, this monastery has been rebuilt and restored time and again. Key Monastery is considered a fortified monastery and serves as a religious training center for lamas of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 10 Mysterious Photos That Cannot Be Explained True Edition Undo Location Its strategic location on a hilltop above the Spiti River at an altitude of 4,166 m offers both natural defense and spiritual significance. The rough landscape that surrounded the monastery formed a natural fort, allowing it to weather centuries of tests. Also, its distant location in the barren Spiti Valley provided monks with an environment in which to remain isolated and practice meditation and spirituality. Traditionally, the monastery also existed as a cultural melting pot for the exchange of goods and ideas between India, Tibet, and Central Asia, which added to its position as a center of Buddhist teaching and scholarship. Architecture This monastery has a unique architecture, which is a multi-tiered structure built on top of each other. It is home to more than 300 monks and serves as an important learning center. Inside the walls of this temple, it houses some of the rarest Thangka paintings and weapons, and all of them are covered with beautiful ancient murals. Festival The monastery celebrates the Cham Dance Festival every year which is a significant event for Tibetan Buddhists. It takes place in July at the monastery and features traditional masked dances, depicting good versus evil, and celebrates the triumph of Buddhism. The 14th Dalai Lama has visited and conducted teachings at the monastery, making it a significant spiritual site for Tibetan Buddhists. How to reach Although remote, Key Monastery is road-accessible from Kaza, the capital of Spiti, some 12 km away. The drive itself is breathtaking, with twisting roads lined by towering mountains, desolate landscapes, and riverbeds, and is a favorite among adventure travelers, bikers, and seekers of spirituality. Despite its remote location and difficulties, the monastery attracts curious travellers and spirituality seekers from all over the world. Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
NDTV
21-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Dedicated Himself To The Service Of Others": Dalai Lama Mourns Pope Francis
India: Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama praised Pope Francis on Monday, offering Buddhist prayers and writing to the papal envoy to "express his sadness" at his death. "Pope Francis dedicated himself to the service of others... consistently revealing by his own actions how to live a simple, but meaningful life," the Buddhist leader said in a statement from his base in exile in India. "The best tribute we can pay to him is to be a warm-hearted person, serving others wherever and in whatever way we can". Buddhist monks in the main Tibetan temple in India's northern hill town of Dharamsala -- the base of the Dalai Lama -- were to hold a memorial service, a statement added. The death of the pope aged 88 has particular resonance for Buddhist followers. Many see the Dalai Lama -- who will celebrate his 90th birthday in July -- as akin to a "papal institution" not just for Tibetan Buddhists, but also for Himalayan regions of India, Bhutan and Nepal, as well as Mongolia and some Russian republics. The Dalai Lama stepped down as his people's political head in 2011, passing the baton of secular power to a government chosen democratically by Tibetans around the world. But as the Dalai Lama approaches his landmark birthday, many exiled Tibetans fear that when he passes, China will name a successor to bolster control over a land it poured troops into in 1950. China calls the India-based Tibetan administration a "puppet government". Penpa Tsering, the sikyong or head of that government, said that Pope Francis had "embodied the true spirit of compassion and universal brotherhood". Tsering, also based in northern India, offered "heartfelt condolences" to the Catholic faithful. "In these difficult times, we stand in solidarity with the global Catholic community in mourning this profound loss", he said in a statement. "May Pope Francis's vision of a more compassionate and just world continue to guide us all." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
