China says OK!
Dear students and friends,
I came across this article a few days ago, and was pleasantly surprised to read it. China officially lifted a 17-year-old ban on allowing His Holiness the Dalai Lama photos be displayed in Gaden Monastery, in Lhasa, Tibet.
Gaden Monastery was founded by the head of the Gelug tradition, Lama Tsongkhapa, in 1409. Since then thousands of great scholars have graduated from the illustrious monastery. Many teachers were well-sought after by both sangha, laymen and royalty, including the great Emperors of China.
The Emperors of China deeply valued Buddhism, especially those within the Qing dynasty. They promoted Buddhism across the nation to unite their people…
Yong He Gong (雍和宫), a beautiful temple in Beijing, the capital city of China, was rebuilt in the 17th century. The 16-acre royal palace was transformed into a Tibetan monastery as envisioned by Emperor Qian Long. The design was based on Gelugpa monastic principles… and in the 2nd biggest hall of Yong He Gong, the Falun Hall, sits a 6-meter statue of Lama Tsongkhapa. Restoration works were recently done on the breath-taking statue last year.
Lifting this ban reflects how China is seeking to promote harmony within their country… I think that is the greatest gift a country can give their people, which is peace.
Tsem Rinpoche
China lifts 17-year ban on Dalai Lama photos at Tibet monastery: group
by Sui-Lee Wee
BEIJING Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:47 am EDT
(Reuters) – Chinese officials have lifted a ban on Tibetan monks displaying photographs of the Dalai Lama at a prominent monastery, a rights group said on Thursday, an unexpected policy shift which could ease tensions in the restive region.
The decision concerning the Gaden monastery in the Tibetan capital Lhasa – one of the most historically important religious establishments in Tibet – reversed a ban introduced in 1996, the Britain-based Free Tibet group told Reuters, citing sources with direct knowledge of the situation.
It was made as similar changes are being considered in other Tibetan regions of China, and may signal authorities are contemplating looser religious restrictions and a policy change over Tibet, three months after President Xi Jinping took office.
Chinese officials in western Qinghai province are also considering lifting a ban on Tibetans displaying pictures of the exiled spiritual leader, according to the International Campaign for Tibet, a U.S.-based advocacy group.
It said there were also draft proposals in the region to end the practice of forcing Tibetans to denounce the Dalai Lama, and to decrease the police presence at monasteries.
Officials in Lhasa and Qinghai could not immediately be reached for comment.
Such measures appear calculated to reduce tensions between the Tibetans and the government after a series of Tibetan self-immolation protests against Chinese rule.
Beijing considers the Dalai Lama, who fled China in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, a violent separatist. The Dalai Lama, who is based in India, says he is merely seeking greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland.
Since 2009, at least 120 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in China in protest against Beijing’s policies in Tibet and nearby regions with large Tibetan populations. Most were calling for the return of the Dalai Lama.
“Tibetans’ reverence for and loyalty to the Dalai Lama has almost no equal among the world’s communities and if this policy is extended beyond this individual monastery as other reports suggest, it will be very significant for the Tibetan people,” Free Tibet spokesman Alistair Currie said.
The new policy at the Gaden monastery and the discussions in Qinghai come after a scholar from the Central Party School published an essay questioning China’s policy on Tibet.
So far, President Xi has said very little publicly about Tibet. His late father, Xi Zhongxun, a liberal-minded former vice premier, was close to the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan leader once gave the elder Xi an expensive watch in the 1950s, a gift the senior party official still wore decades later.
“There’s increasingly a view that due to the critical nature of the situation of Tibet, a discussion of a change in some hardline policies is merited and there’s a need for the Dalai Lama to be involved in some way,” Kate Saunders, spokeswoman for the International Campaign for Tibet, told Reuters.
Saunders said the draft proposals in Qinghai were likely to be implemented either in August or September.
(Reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Pravin Char)
[Extracted from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/27/us-china-tibet-idUSBRE95Q07E20130627]
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Is this article above true or not? See the alternative article below:
China strongly denies lifting ban on the Dalai Lama’s portrait in Tibet
Phayul-Friday, June 28, 2013
DHARAMSHALA, June 28: The Chinese government has strongly denied reports of any relaxation in their decades old policy in Tibet of a blanket ban on the display of portraits of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
In a statement to the BBC on Friday, the Chinese state bureau for religious affairs said there had been “no policy change.”
The government maintained that China’s policy towards the Dalai Lama, considered by Beijing a “splittist,” was “consistent and clear”.
“If the Dalai Lama wants to improve his relationship with the Central Government, he must really give up his stance in favour of ‘Tibetan Independence’ or independence in any disguised forms,” the BBC cited the state bureau as saying.
China’s abject denial comes after reports of isolated cases of relaxation in the portrait-ban, as “experimental” measures, came out of Tibet over the past few days.
The London based Free Tibet on Thursday reported that monks at the Gaden monastery, one of Tibet’s oldest and largest institutions of learning, in Tibet’s capital Lhasa have been informed that they can now display picture of the Tibetan spiritual leader, who was forced to flee into exile in 1959.
Reports on similar “experimental” changes in the policy have also come out of two isolated regions in eastern Tibet.
However, Free Tibet added that it would be unwise to speculate on the implications regarding China’s policies in the restive region as the group hasn’t been able to confirm reports on whether the lift on the ban is an isolated case and extends beyond the Gaden monastery.
The BBC noted that they have been unable to confirm this news, despite repeated phone calls to monasteries in Lhasa and in other regions of eastern Tibet.
“Several monks admitted they had heard of possible changes to the government’s long-standing policy, but said they had not witnessed any relaxation in policy themselves,” BBC’s China correspondent Celia Hatton reported.
“Portraits of the Tibetan spiritual leader are still banned, the monks explained. Only officially sanctioned images of the Buddha are permitted to be displayed,” Hatton cited an unnamed monk in Lhasa as saying.
Since 2009, as many as 119 Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.
Scores of Tibetans have been arrested and disappeared for keeping portraits of the Dalai Lama in their phones or at homes, and singing songs or writing about the Tibetan spiritual leader who relinquished all his political authorities to the elected Tibetan leadership in 2011.
For more than three decades now, the Dalai Lama has been calling for autonomy for his people as guaranteed by the constitution of the People’s Republic of China.
Just last month, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tibet is “an inalienable part of China” and called the Tibetan Nobel peace laureate “a political exile who has long been engaged in anti-China separatist activities in the name of religion.”
[Extracted from: http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=33668&article=China+strongly+denies+lifting+ban+on+the+Dalai+Lama%e2%80%99s+portrait+in+Tibet]
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I hope this news is true, and i sincerely hope the Dalai Lama would make an announcement to lift this ban as soon as possible. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this good news.?
It is a great news that China is lifting the ban on Dalai Lama which reflects that China is a country that provide freedom of choice and support human rights. CTA is just contrary, although they believed to be a democratic country but they ban the practise on Dorje Shugden. It is really strange that in this day and age, a democratic country restrict choice of religion which is the fundamental human rights. I hope the ban of Dorje Shugden will be lifted when more people understand, be aware and help fight the injustice against the practitioners.
China practiced religious freedom and allow true human rights for the people to choose their faith without fear of repurcussion. It is a relief to learn that the Tibetans in China can continue to practice Dorje Shugden contrary to the Tibetans in India who have to denounce the practice and break their samaya with their Guru. Thank you for this article.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this article. I could not find any confirmed news from any reliable sources that the ban is lifted.
However, I do hope that this news is true. From this move, I can see that China is changing in its policy and showing more respect and freedom to Tibetans. CTA and Dalai Lama should consider this and do the same to the unjustified Dorje Shugden Ban. When the Dalai Lama is being treated unfairly, many Tibetans will jump out and make noise and some even gave up their life for him. But why when it comes to Dorje Shugden, they are willing to treat their own fellow Tibetans harshly physically and verbally.
I pray that the Shugden Ban will be lifted as soon as possible.
Humbly,
Chris
I find it very strange that all the comments here focused on the Reuters report and ignored the ALTERNATIVE and CONTRADICTORY Phayul report posted after that : “China strongly denies lifting ban on the Dalai Lama’s portrait in Tibet” Phayul ( Friday, June 28, 2013 ). I wonder why, since similar things have been going on for sometime ? Are we in denial ?
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the great news about lifting the 17-year ban of H.H Dalai Lama photos in Gaden Monastery. I am wish that Tibet and China can rebuild a peaceful relationship which Tibetan Buddhism can spread all the world .
I’ve went on the net to search about this news, but I seen most of the articles are showing negative, news from BBC, CTA, London news, Bangladeshi news.. etc. Although there are news about lifting the ban, there are also news denied lifting the ban, always, there are 2 side of info about something, Some times there may not have very solid proof of info, but in this case, of course I do hope that the news about lifting the ban is true.
For someone like Dalai Lama who is having such huge influence to the public, if the ban towards him is lifted, it gives him more space and freedom to promote Dharma and to benefit more people, what we want for our country is where everyone is living healthily and happily, so if allowing Dalai Lama to freely travel to our country, isn’t it the best gift to our citizen? The best way to gain Happiness is through Dharma, because any other happiness will not last if it’s without Dharma.
I do think China is doing a real good move by allowing the Dalai Lama’s picture in the monasteries. It is really getting out of control the way things are happening in TIbet with all the immolations. I look forward to China to opening up to bring peace and stability in Tibet.
It is great to know that china had lifted the ban. The really did the best thing to bring peace, harmony, ect to the country and people.
This is a really good news from the Chinese government, it’s not easy to lift up a 17 year-old ban, something must have happened internally. But no matter what the reason was, it shows that the government cares about the country and people( although they denied it).Awesome article to read! I hope that everything will go back to normal soon.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the good news about lifting the 17-year ban of HHDL’s photos in Gaden Monastery. May HHDL return to his homeland Tibet and pray that China and Tibet can build a peaceful relationship to enable Tibetan Buddhism to grow more.
It’s really great to see this possibility of a reconciliation happening soon between China and Tibet. The main goal is to continue to turn the wheel of Dharma in China, Tibet and all parts of the world, in order for all to benefit !
Such good news to hear. I hope that HHDL will be allowed to visit his home soon. I would be happy to hear that news.
This is such great news! Even if this may or may not be true, which i really hope it is, only spreads more awareness to hopefully one day allowing H.H.Dalai Lama returning back to Tibet to spread the dharma. Many great sangha’s have given up their lives for H.H.Dalai Lama, I really hope to see change in China’s government views on this matter. It is good to see some relaxation on allowing H.H.Dalai Lama’s photos to be displayed. I can’t wait to see one day H.H.Dalai Lama returning back to Tibet, that would be a truly glorious day for all Buddhist in Tibet. Thank you for sharing this Rinpoche.
Wonderful news from Reuters on the 17-year lift of the ban on the display of the Dalai Lama’s photo in Tibet monastery.
Banning the display of HH Dalai Lama photos in Gaden Monastry in Lhasa, Tibet, is not a big issue, nor would it make any difference to Buddhists’ minds. Yes, its impossible to erase the image of Dalai Lama’s face from peoples’ minds, who worship Tibetan Buddhism with or without HH The Dalai Lama’s photos being displayed. Like Rinpoche said, “Many teachers were well sought by both sanghas, laymen and royalty too, including the great emperors of China. Buddhism is used to promote Unity for the chinese all the World over. As said, “lifting the ban reflects how China is seeking to promote harmony within the country….. that’s the greatest gift a country can give their people, which is PEACE.” Who in this World does not need peace?
The fact that such news can be broadcasted, is a good sign especially when there is a new leadership in China.
No controversial news can get out of China, unless it is intended. It would be great if China would permit the revival of Buddhism as spirituality is greatly needed in this country if it is to be a world leader in time to come.
This is really good news, may peace spread all over the world.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this piece of good news. Even if it is just Gaden Monastery and other isolated places which have been allowed to display pictures again of HH Dalai Lama, this is stll great news. A beginning has been made to the lifting of the 17 year old ban on the display of the Dalai Lama’s pictures in Tibet.
At least China is willing to experiment with different ways of addressing the concern over the 120 cases of self-immolations among Tibetans. It shows China’s willingness to even play the game the Tibetan way.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.I certainly hope that the Chinese Government would allowed the citizen of China and Tibet to have the freedom to practice religion as they wish without any restriction or agenda.The time has come as China is more liberal now in many areas.
May HHDL achieve his rights to return to his rightful homeland in Tibet.
Wow thats the awesome news, it show that Karma always around us…
When we do positive acts sure the positive results will come in the right timing…
Such a good news, it may also mean His Holiness will be able to go back to Tibet one day and His middle way strategy is working. After all, spreading Dharma is still the priority in his life. His Holiness has brought Buddhism and Dharma to the west, time for him to bring this precious Jewel back to China and Tibet.
I agree with you that if HH is allowed to visit or return to Tibet, it will be a fantastic news. However, to me I don’t think that is the main agenda for HH. HH is a boddhisatva, HH is not attached to place, time, and etc. For HH, I feel like all the high attained lamas, the main priority is a place where they can spread dharma far & wide.
But, I agree it is a good news from China. And will be interesting to read their next step
这个善因造下了，希望趕快开花结果，让曾经发展煇煌的佛教再度在中国大地重新復兴！
It’s really a good news to heard from the Chinese government. Hopefully they will allow H.H Dalai Lama go back to his hometown-Tibet in future as this is the hopes from the
majority people especially those tibetan.
It is a super great news to know! I really hope HHDL can visit his home soon! Pray for that!