The Importance of Living as a 21st Century Buddhist
By Rebecca Dumas / May 20, 2015
Thousands of individuals made their way to the Gyuto Tantric Monastery in Sidhbari on May 10 to attend the four-day teaching given by his Holiness the Dalai Lama. The teachings were based on texts which included The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, The Concise Stages of the Path and read more →
TWA Plans for the Future
By Tenzin Samten / May 19, 2015
117 Tibetan women leaders from 26 regional chapters of the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) assembled at the college of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, to participate in TWA’s 11th General Body meeting. The meeting lasted for 6 days from May 8 – 13 and was inaugurated by the elected leader of read more →
Authenticating Tibet
By Prachi Joshi / May 11, 2015
The Tibetan version of the book Authenticating Tibet: Answers to China’s 100 Questions was launched on May 6 at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamshala. The book, originally published in French in 2002, by Anne-Marie Blondeau and Katia Buffetrille was a response to a booklet published by read more →
EU Parliament Members Demand Tibetan Rights Dialogue
By Sam Ferguson / May 11, 2015
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Federica Mogherini, this month visited the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on her first official visit to Asia. During the talks she drew attention to the importance of the bilateral Human Rights Dialogue, this is in line with the European Parliament resolution of June 2012 read more →
The Karmapa Tours America
By Tsering Wangdue / May 8, 2015
His Holiness the Karmapa left India in March for a two months tour of the United Sates of America. He visited universities across the country and reconnected with many Buddhist communities which are under his guidance as the head of Karma Kagyu Lineage. His Holiness arrived at San Francisco airport read more →
Tibetans Caught in the Nepal Earthquake Devastation
By Mary Trewartha / May 6, 2015
A devastating earthquake of 7.9 on the Richter scale hit Central Nepal, together with neighbouring areas of Tibet and northern India, on April 25. At the time Contact goes to press, the estimated death toll is 10,000 with over 10,000 injured and many Tibetans are among those affected. Nepal is read more →
China Violates Tibetans’ Freedom of Movement
By Sam Ferguson / May 6, 2015
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) this month expressed concern over restrictions placed upon Tibetan’s rights in relation to international travel. Since 2012, Tibetans from the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) have faced universal passport confiscations. In April 2012, “guiding opinions” were published by the Chinese government relating read more →
A Poignant Birthday for the Panchen Lama
By Wendhe Choetsoe / May 4, 2015
The missing Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, turned 26 on April 27 and his birthday was celebrated by Tibetans and supporters. This year also marks 20 years since his enforced disappearance. The Panchen Lama is considered one of the highest religious heads of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism, next only to read more →
Looking for Joy
By Sam Ferguson / May 2, 2015
South African apartheid activist and Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu visited Dharamasala this month to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. He arrived for his week-long visit at Kangra airport on April 18 where he was greeted by both the Dalai Lama and the elected head of the read more →
India’s Vulnerability at its Borders with Tibet
By Rohini Kejriwal / May 2, 2015
In a telling reminder of India’s poor road infrastructure, a report for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by the Parliamentary Standing Committee expressed serious concerns on national security. It stated that in the event of a war, the Indian Army would take more than 24 hours to reach the crucial read more →