Tibetan Headlines
Jan 26: Nyingma Head
The Fourth Kathok Getse Rinpoche Gyurme Tenpa Gyaltsen has been appointed seventh head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism for a three-year term. He was appointed for a three-year term at the spiritual gathering of 29th Nyingma Monlam in Bodh Gaya. Rinpoche was born in 1954 and recognised as the reincarnation of the Third Kathok Getse, Gyurme Tenpa Namgyal (1886-1952). He came into exile in 1997.
Jan 24: Key Appointment
A mixed race Tibetan woman has been appointed as Provincial Secretary - a key position in the Chinese Communist Party and a first for any Tibetan. Cui Yuying, 59, has been appointed Secretary for the province of Fujian. She was born in Changle County, Shandong province; her Chinese father was a former officer in the People’s Liberation Army and married her Tibetan mother during a posting in Tibet.
Jan 23: Open Competition
The Tibet Museum has announced an open competition, The Tibetan People’s Memorial Project. Concept briefs and designs for a permanent installation from Tibetans and non-Tibetans should be submitted to the Museum by March 10 and the successful applicant will work with the Museum throughout 2018 to create the memorial in time for the new museum’s opening. The winner will receive INR 1 Lac (US$ 1,500 / £1,100).
Jan 22: Teaching for Chinese
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is giving a teaching specially for devotees from mainland China. After completing a chapter of the current public teachings in Bodh Gaya, His Holiness invited the disciples from mainland China to sit at the front of the teaching pavilion for his two-day teaching on the Diamond Cutter Sutra (Dorjee Chodpa).
Jan 22: Bomb Scare
Two bombs were found near the gate into the grounds of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya where His Holiness the Dalai Lama is teaching. A small explosion was heard – which turned out to be an exploded thermos in the kitchen – this prompted a search which located the bombs, each around 10kg. A bomb disposal unit was called to deal with them and security has been increased.
Jan 20: Free Medical Services
Free medical services are being provided for the thousands of pilgrims attending His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching in Bodh Gaya in Bihar this month. Dr Lodoe Phuntsok of the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Health said they had been treating over 150 people daily, of different nationalities, and the most common ailments are asthma, common cold, blood pressure, diabetes and skin disease.
Jan 19: Promise of Better Life
Thousands of people gathered at Ganden Choeling monastery in Tsoe county in Gansu province to commit themselves to leading more virtuous lives and abandon social ills. They promised to give up smoking, gambling and the consumption of alcohol. Tibetans, mostly lay people aged between 15 and 70, from 21 different communities. The group commitment was prompted by advice of a Tibetan lama, Alak Setsang Rinpoche.
Jan 19: EU Resolution
The European Parliament has passed a resolution to demand that China respect the provisions in its own constitution guaranteeing the rights of Tibetans to freedom of speech, religious belief, assembly and the right to criticise or protest against state policy. They called for the immediate release from prison of Tashi Wangchuk, a language advocate and the monk Choekyi, jailed in 2015 for celebrating HH the Dalai Lama’s birthday.
Jan 19: “Thank You India”
The “Thank You India 2018” campaign has been launched, marking the 60th year since HH the Dalai Lama arrived in India, fleeing from the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the Tibetan Government in Exile said, “The last 60 years of the Tibetan community in exile has been a story of success” thanks to the support of India and the international community.
Jan 18: Working Together
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives(LTWA) and the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) have initiated a new academic exchange programme. Prof Kuldip Chand Agnihotri, the Vice-Chancellor or CUHP said that CUHP plans to offer an MPhil course in Tibetan studies with students coming to the LTWA to do their research. He suggested LTWA publish more books in Hindi to spread awareness in the Indian community.
Jan 17: Dhondup Wangchen Honoured
Dhondup Wangchen, the filmmaker who was released from prison in Tibet last year and has now arrived in America has been publicly welcomed to San Francisco by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. She said, "I want to acknowledge […] Dhondup Wangchen. He has escaped from Tibet in a very courageous way […] he was in prison for a while […] and now he is with us in San Francisco."
Jan 16: Military Presence
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are increasing their military presence along the border to monitor Chinese incursion in Indian territory as well as Chinese construction activities and troop build-up. An air wing with helicopters will be used for reconnaissance along the 3,488 km border and will ferry troops, arms and ammunition. The ITBP was established in the wake of the Sino-Indian war of 1962.
Jan 16: Concessions to China
International companies operating in China including Delta Air Lines, high end accessories brand Bulgari, medical device-maker Medtronic and fashion brand Zara are apologising to China and removing mention of Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as separate countries in their literature. This follows last week’s call to boycott the Marriott chain in China for mentioning Tibet and Taiwan in a questionnaire to customers.
Jan 15: New Tibet Museum
A new Tibet Museum is currently under construction at the new Tibet Building on the site of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile at Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala. The new project was announced by the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) who said the Museum’s role is raising awareness about Tibet and presenting Tibet’s history – both of which are “pivotal to strengthening international support for the Tibet issue”.
Jan 12: Educating for Peace
HH the Dalai Lama addressed an audience of 6,000 Indian teachers at the second National Teachers’ Congress in Pune saying, “In order to create a peaceful century, first we need to promote compassionate minds through education”. His Holiness said India has a unique potential to combine modern technology and science with its ancient knowledge on the workings of the mind and emotions.