Support Tibet: Tibet Lobby Day March 18 – 19, 2013

98 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009 in protest of the Chinese government’s political and military crack down. Just recently, a seven teen year old boy, Jigjey Kyab, ingested poison and then set himself on fire. He swallowed the poison to ensure that he would die and not fall in the hands of the Chinese police. According to phayul.com, “In earlier instances, surviving Tibetan self-immolators have suffered amputations of all limbs, verbal abuse, interrogations, and maltreatment by doctors and Chinese officials at the hospitals. The condition of more than a dozen Tibetan self-immolators remains unknown.”

On March 18 and 19, 2013, Tibetan-Americans and friends of Tibet are invited to Washington, DC for the Fifth Annual Tibet Lobby Day.  This is an important opportunity for Tibet supporters to explain the current situation to our Congressmen. For more information, please contact your local Tibet group or contact ICT advocacy team at lobbyday@savetibet.org or ICT at (202) 785-1515. Details and registration are online.

In memory of the 98 Tibetans who took their own lives and for their surviving families and all the people in Tibet, please do your part.

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Ticket Sales Soar But What About Tibet?

Tickets for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s speaking engagements in the U.S. have sold out very quickly, often within minutes or hours of when they went on sale. Clearly, Americans are interested in His Holiness’ teachings on love and compassion.

It is truly wonderful that Americans have abundant opportunities to see His Holiness. In contrast, Tibetans in Tibet are burning themselves to death. Tibetans can be imprisoned for owning a small photo of His Holiness and, of course, they cannot receive teachings from him in Tibet.

While Tibetan Buddhist groups seem to be popping up on every street corner in the US,  interest in the Buddhist community about the preservation of Tibet’s culture and religious freedom does not seem to be increasing. I recently attended several pro Tibet events in Washington D.C., and there were very few non-Tibetans.

China definitely pays attention to who attends these events. Chinese spies estimate the size of the crowds. Rumor has it that being photographed at a protest gets your name on the black list for travel to Tibet. A suspicious Chinese individual was spotted at an event with the Gaden monks that was sponsored by the Guhyasamaja Center.

Over 50 TIbetans have self immolated since February 2009. Imagine that out of desperation, you burn yourself to death, and no one cares. Mainstream media has paid little attention to the burnings. Similarly, the American Buddhist community has paid little attention to the burnings.

As Buddhists who are followers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, it is our responsibility and moral obligation to do all we can to help stop the cultural genocide in Tibet, to protect the Tibetan people, and to preserve the Buddha’s teachings for everyone to share.

This is putting the teachings into practice. After all, we want a Fifteenth Dalai Lama, don’t we?

Lend a hand:

http://savetibet.org/

https://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/

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Solidarity March for Tibet: Washington DC Sept 2 2012

Please show your support for Tibet!

( source: http://savetibet.org/action-center/events )

Torch Relay across North America to Highlight Crisis in Tibet Flame of Truth Relay
September 2 to December 10, 2012

WHO: Tibetan-Americans and Tibet supporters

WHAT: Solidarity March for Tibet

WHEN: September 2, 2012 (1pm – 4pm)

WHY: The worldwide Flame of Truth Relay was launched by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, based in Dharamsala, India, on July 6, 2012, the birthday of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, and carries the message of the people in Tibet to the world – including the tragedy of 49 Tibetan self-immolations since February 2009 – to urge an appropriate response from the United Nations to the current crisis situation.

DETAILS:
12:00 Noon: Assemble at Dupont Circle

1:00 pm: Procession to start towards Freedom Plaza, via Connecticut Ave, turning south on 17th, through closed off portion of Pennsylvania, to Freedom Plaza.

1:40 pm: Arrive Freedom Plaza – Speakers include,

• T Kumar, Amnesty International
• Harry Wu, Laogai Foundation
• Rebiya Kadeer, Uyghur World Congress
• Lobsang Nyandak, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• Tashi Namgyal, Member of Tibetan Parliament

2:30 pm: Procession to continue east towards 13th st, turning to Pennsylvania till it meets Constitution, turning right on Constitution to Washington Monument Grounds.

3:00 pm: Arrive Washington Monument Grounds – Program begins after National Anthems. Disperse at 4pm.
Contact: Mr. Karma Zurkhang, President, Capital Area Tibetan Association :: (703) 554-4956

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Celebrate His Holiness’s Birthday with the Capital Area Tibetan Association

JULY 7 – 5:30pm / Fairfax, VA
DALAI LAMA BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

The Capital Area Tibetan Association invites you and your family to celebrate the 77th birthday anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

When: Saturday, July 7 from 5:30pm onwards

Where: Kena Shrine | 9001 Arlington Blvd, Fairfax VA 22031

Program: The program will consist of a Long Life Prayer dedication along with other presentations. There will also be a dinner buffet with refreshments.

Admission: $10.00 (adult), $7.00 student (18 and under) — Tickets can be purchased at the door.

JULY 22 – 7pm / American University
CANCELLED Techung IN CONCERT

When: Sunday, July 22 from 7:00pm

Where: Kreeger Building Auditorium | American University, 4400 Mass. Ave, NW

Contact: (510) 550-5862

Techung is a Tibetan singer currently serving as Artist in Residence at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He received his training at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in Dharamsala. Techung and his band combine traditional and contemporary music to convey the message of peace, freedom and courage. They tour internationally and in 2009 performed along with with Philip Glass, Patti Smith and others at Carnegie Hall in New York City. His albums have met with critical acclaim and his music has been featured in films such as IMAX “Everest”, the “Dalai Lama Renaissance”, “A Good Day to Die” and many more.

“The goal For the Peace In Tibet Tour is to find a channel to heal the community through music, especially given the recent tragic lost of 40 Tibetans who burnt themselves for Tibetan freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet”.

A portion of proceeds from the concert will be donated to Students For a Free Tibet.

For more information please visit http://www.techung.com.

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Tamding Thar’s Last Words

Tamding That, a father of three sons, self-immolated on June 15 in Amdo, Eastern Tibet. His last words were:

“I take refuge in the Three Jewels – Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
With the hope that peace prevails on earth,
With the yearning for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his land,
For Tibet to be ruled by Tibetans, I set my body on fire as an offering of light.”

(source: Phayul.com)

In addition, two more Tibetans Ngawang Norphel, 22 and Tenzin Khedup, 24 self-immolated this week in Kham.  According to Phayul.com, with Tenzin Khedup and Ngawang Norphel’s self-immolation protests today, as many as 42 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009, demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet.

(source:  http://phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Breaking%3a+Two+Tibetans+self-immolate+calling+for+Tibet’s+independence&id=31621)

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What is Engaged Buddhism?

Here’s the link to my article in the Washington Post On Faith section with some thoughts about what it means to be an engaged Buddhist in the 21st century. Or really, what does it mean to be Buddhist? Can you call yourself Buddhist if you are not out there serving your community?

Please feel free to share your comments.

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Local press coverage: Gaden Jangtse Monks

As the Gaden monks emphasized, cultural exchange is the best way to support world peace. “World peace is something we need to do,” said Wangchuk. “Education is very useful, share your culture, then suddenly there will be peace. ~ Montie Martin, Arlington Connection newspaper”

There is a nice article in the Arlington Connection newspaper that captures the reasons why the Gaden Jangtse monks are touring the U.S. The reporter, Montie Martin, attended the monks’ performance on April 9th at the Unitarian Church, Arlington.

Tibetan Monks Share Their Culture.

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Prayer Vigil April 6: Freedom is the basis for happiness of all living beings

“What I want to convey here is the concern of the six million Tibetans. At a time when we are making our final move toward our goal – if you have money, it is the time to spend it; if you are educated it is the time to produce results; if you have control over your life, I think the day has come to sacrifice your life. The fact that Tibetan people are setting themselves on fire in this 21st century is to let the world know about their suffering, and to tell the world about the denial of basic human rights. If you have any empathy, stand up for the Tibetan people.”

Jamphel Yeshi self-immolated on March 26 and passed away March 28 in New Delhi, India

“Jamphel Yeshi’s sacrifice was an act of the highest order of service to one’s country and people. He knew exactly what he wanted to tell us Tibetans and the world that freedom is the basis of happiness for all living beings”.  Dhondup Lhadar, vice-president of Tibetan Youth Congress. (source: Phayul.com)

Join us at the Prayer Vigil for Tibet, Friday, April 6 at the International Campaign for Tibet, 1825 Jefferson Place, NW, Washington D.C.  The Gaden Jangtse monks led by Geshe Dorji Wangchuk will offer the Lama Chopa puja beginning at 6:30 pm, this will be followed by a procession to Lafayette Park. Co-sponsors: ICT, American University – Students for Tibet, Capital Area Tibetan Association, Guhyasamaja Center.

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10 Days for Tibet: American University Students for Tibet: March 31 – April 9

By an uncanny coincidence, Students for Tibet-American University planned an exciting week of events the same week that the Gaden Jangtse monks will be in town. Call that karma!

Events include a screening of the film “Tibet in Song” and Q&A with film maker Ngawang Choepel, a presentation about the self-immolations in Tibet by a former president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, and “Development on the Tibetan Plateau” with Losang Rabgey, the co-founder of NGO, Machik.

The Gaden Jangtse monks event at AU on March 31 (Kay Spiritual Chapel, 10 am – 12:30 pm) and the April 6th Prayer Vigil for Tibet (International Campaign for Tibet, 6:30 – 9:30 pm) are included in the 10 Days for Tibet series.

For the latest information, please visit their facebook site and download their flyer: 10 days for tibet_calendar events_FINAL

It’s really inspiring to see a group of young American college students take the time out of their busy schedules to help Tibet.

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Lama Soepa: Self-Immolation as an Offering of Light

Lama Soepa Rinpoche recorded a statement that in many ways encapsulates all of the Buddha’s teachings and explains why he took his own life.  His voice is calm and matter of fact. The silence that follows the end of the recording is chilling. A short excerpt:

I am giving away my body as an offering of light to chase away the darkness, to free all beings from suffering, and to lead them – each of whom has been our mother in the past and yet has been led by ignorance to commit immoral acts – to the Amitabha, the Buddha of infinite light. My offering of light is for all living beings, even as insignificant as lice and nits, to dispel their pain and to guide them to the state of enlightenment. I offer this sacrifice as a token of long-life offering to our root guru His Holiness the Dalai Lama and all other spiritual teachers and lamas….(prayers)… I am taking this action neither for myself nor to fulfill a personal desire nor to earn an honor. I am sacrificing my body with the firm conviction and a pure heart just as the Buddha bravely gave his body to a hungry tigress (to stop her from eating her cubs).

Link to the full English translation of his teaching and the audio recording on the Students for a Free Tibet website. Please do what you can to stop the killing in Tibet: support Senate Resolution 356 affirming US support for Tibet.

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