The opinion piece below was sent to dorjeshugden.com for publication. We accept submissions from the public, please send in your articles to [email protected].
By: Ringzin Tsomo
NEW DELHI – The first quarter of 2018 has not been a pleasant one for the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA; Tibetan leadership based in Dharamsala). Not only have they been repeatedly confronted with the truth that they are nothing more than pawns in other people’s political games, but the world is starting to realize who the CTA really are – a self-serving administration who have manipulated everyone into thinking they are long-suffering refugees to gain free financial aid which has only gone to line the pockets of those at the very top.
And so when it comes to the CTA, theirs has been a two-fold decline in recent times. Internally, they have been beset by scandal after self-made scandal; externally, the world continues to refuse tangible support for the so-called Tibetan cause, preferring instead to strike up a relationship with China.
Most worryingly for them however, is that the Tibetans are starting to lose Indian support. For 60 years, India has been the exiled Tibetan community’s biggest supporter. Their generosity began on the very first day of the Tibetans’ lives in exile, when His Holiness the Dalai Lama set foot in India and gained the promise of then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for Tibetans to occupy 27 tracts of land throughout India. Not only did they receive this land rent-free, but the Tibetans are not required to pay taxes for any of the donations they receive, amounting into the hundreds of millions. And while other countries have remained silent, India has often chosen to forego a better relationship with China in order to uphold the supposed moral imperative of supporting the Dalai Lama and his administration.
To the dismay of the Tibetan leadership, this is no longer the case and in the last few months, India has shown greater interest in fostering a more positive Sino-Indian relationship. It began with the appointment of Mr Vijay Gokhale to the position of Indian Foreign Secretary. A former Indian ambassador to China, Mr Gokhale is an advocate of a more conciliatory approach with China, himself having played a vital role in the resolution of the 2017 Doklam crisis.
His appointment forms just one of many incidents in recent times signaling a decline in Indian support for the Tibetans. It is with this knowledge that the CTA planned their “Thank You India 2018” campaign, a badly-organized initiative launched to try and win back some local support for the Tibetan cause. At the commencement of this campaign however, it became painfully obvious that the CTA no longer enjoy unwavering, unquestioning support from Delhi. News of this campaign led Mr Gokhale to trigger a series of events, resulting in a memo issued to all Indian officials discouraging them from attending any Tibetan-hosted occasions. This memo has been the talk of the Internet, having seemingly emboldened more and more Indians to voice their discontent in relations to the Tibetans.
As a result, Indian leaders declined to join this event and also ordered Tibetan leaders not to have this event in Delhi, leading the Tibetans to cancel it. It has been a huge wakeup call to the Tibetans in India that their ‘poor me refugee’ charade will no longer be tolerated after a free ride in India for 60 years. Easy days for the Tibetans leeching off India, but not assimilating nor contributing to their generous host country, are ending. The cancelled “Thank You India 2018″ celebrations was nothing more than a cheap marketing effort by the childish Tibetan leaders to once again lavish empty lip service to Indians, but not doing anything tangible for India’s pressing needs as usual. The Indians saw through this and decided to decline their support for this event which the Dalai Lama was supposed to attend, showing even the Dalai Lama is losing his drawing power among the Indian government and elite.
Thus, from a grassroots level all the way up to the highest echelons of government in Delhi, it now seems that the Indians are no longer willing to be the CTA’s pseudo-landlords. Unhappy Indians have taken to the Internet to voice their dissatisfaction, pointing out that:
- Tibetans should stop relying on the USA for funds, and on India for rental-free land. Financially, the Tibetans have not contributed anything to the Indian economy by way of taxes, and all donations that the monasteries receive stay within the Tibetan communities. They do not filter out to the poor local Indian communities surrounding them.
- The Tibetan leadership should stop acting as a provocateur in Sino-Indian relations, and let India dictate their own foreign policy without Tibetan interference. India already has many foreign policy issues to contend with, without the CTA creating any more. When the Doklam standoff in Northern India was happening, the CTA remained silent much to the consternation of Indian observers. Meanwhile, Mr Gokhale worked to resolve the situation which the Dalai Lama had previously exacerbated by visiting Arunachal Pradesh just before the standoff took place. The ownership of Arunachal Pradesh is disputed by the Indians and Chinese and the Dalai Lama’s visit was perceived by the Chinese leadership as intending to provoke them. During the Doklam standoff itself, the Dalai Lama further exacerbated the situation by visiting Ladakh, again in Northern India.
- The CTA and the Tibetans should show some interest in Indian domestic issues. For example, when Gorkhaland was an issue, the CTA remained silent although many Tibetan refugees live in the Darjeeling area where the unrest was taking place. Similarly, when there were anti-Tibetan protests in Arunachal Pradesh, the CTA cowardly remained quiet while Indian politicians dealt with the unrest.
- Related to Points #2 and #3, the CTA uses India to play politics, without any regard for Indian welfare. The Tibetans lack any sensitivity and interest for domestic issues faced by India, choosing always to act in a manner that benefits only themselves.
- The Dalai Lama himself has said he wants to go back to China, so why are the CTA constantly antagonizing China and making this wish less and less attainable? Even the Indians are realizing this and are saying that the CTA should do more to help the Dalai Lama go back! In fact, one commentator even notes that the Tibetans HAVE a home and it is called Tibet, and they should go back. Even the Dalai Lama has stopped calling for independence so the Indians are now asking, why are the Tibetans still in exile?
- When the Tibetan leadership issues statements that contradict India’s, Indian citizens begin to question how the CTA can logically expect India’s support on anything. For example, one commentator takes issue with the critical remarks the Dalai Lama made on intolerance in India. The Tibetan leadership has also previously dismissed India’s foreign relations issues like Doklam as being “not very serious”, although there were casualties and injuries as a result of the conflict.
- So not only do the Tibetan leadership stay silent when they should talk, but when they do talk, they create problems. The Dalai Lama, for example, triggered many Nepalis to be upset when he commented that “Buddha was born in India”. The resulting uproar damaged already-fraught relations between India and Nepal.
- The main focus now is economic prosperity and regional stability for both India and China. This is nothing personal against the Tibetans, but is based on facts and figures which show that economically, the Indian leadership has nothing to gain by aligning with Tibetans. Politically, the Tibetans are unpopular with all of India’s neighbors like Nepal and Bhutan. So on paper, it does not make sense to sacrifice the welfare of 1.2 billion people for the sake of 150,000 exiled Tibetans.
- Indians are recognizing that Tibetans lead a very good, very comfortable life compared to most Indians. While large swathes of the Indian population languish in poverty, the Tibetans have their big monasteries with golden altars, sponsored school buildings and such. The Indians now recognize that the Tibetans are not behaving like real refugees, and enjoy an unusual level of autonomy and self-governance thanks to the Indian leadership’s magnanimity.
- The Dalai Lama has expressed that if it came down to it, he would side with China over India. No doubt this statement would upset many Indians who see they have sided with the Tibetans for no benefit whatsoever; that is, when push comes to shove, the CTA are nothing but a bunch of turncoats who will run in the direction that serves them best.
- The Tibetan leadership’s treatment of India as a third-class option has filtered down to their Tibetan people, who rush to take up Western citizenship without any complaints, but are reluctant to become Indian citizens and will demand concession after concession from the Delhi government. To the Tibetans, there is nothing wrong with holding a Western passport but there is something wrong with becoming Indian; it is an option they will take up only when they have no other choice, even though for 60 years the Tibetans and their leadership have gotten fat off the kindness of the Indian government. How can any refugee stay in a country for 60 years and not become a citizen of that country? That is why after 60 years, Tibetans have failed to assimilate into Indian society purposely, preferring to stick to their own Tibetan schools, their own Tibetan hospitals, their own Tibetan shops and restaurants under the guise of cultural preservation. But they do not do the same ‘cultural preservation’ in Western countries they eagerly migrate to. What is worse is that the CTA aids and abets in this ungrateful attitude, even going so far as to sabotage the efforts of any Tibetan who wishes to take up Indian citizenship. At the end of the day, it is clear that to the Tibetans, India is nothing more than a stepping stone at best, and a halfway house at worst for exiled Tibetans hoping to go back to Tibet or travel onwards to the West. Tibetans show a subtle form of racism that India is not good enough for them to take up citizenship. India does not demand this of Tibetans unlike other countries Tibetans migrate to where they have to immediately assimilate and take up citizenship and pay taxes. Tibetans are not required to do this in India, again showing India’s incredible lenient generosity. It is only recently that the younger Tibetans wish to take up citizenship in India where their leadership discourages this.
These are just some of the many points of contention raised by Indians, who are becoming more vocal about their increasingly unwelcome guests. After six decades of unchecked abuse of their people, and unaccounted exploitation of the Indian government’s kindness, is this the long-awaited comeuppance for the Tibetan leadership? Not only have they taken the Indian government for granted, but on more than one occasion they have outright flouted and disregarded Indian law. Indian law for example, guarantees religious freedom for ALL residents of India. Yet, the CTA have somehow exempted themselves from this to launch a tirade of discrimination, violence and segregation against Dorje Shugden practitioners. Similarly, Indian law guarantees freedom of speech; yet the CTA continues to shut down and direct violence against publications who dare voice out any criticism about them. The fact Tibetans like Dhamchoe Nyima or Tenpa Yarphel are lauded and celebrated for their bravery in speaking out against the CTA, tells you a lot about the state of affairs for freedom of speech in the Tibetan community.
So it is clear that not only do they fail to show gratitude, but the Tibetan leadership are downright rude and disrespectful towards their host country’s initiatives to keep the peace for the safety and security of all citizens and residents. From the side of the Tibetan leadership, it has been misstep after political misstep, which has only served to reinforce the world’s increasing rejection of their cause.
Do revisit this article again as we will be updating it from time to time with more opinions from the growing voices of dissent, who are willing to speak the truth about everything that is wrong with the Tibetan leadership’s abuse of the Indian leadership’s kindness and generosity.
Indians tweeting about Tibetans
Below are some comments from Indians who are extremely unhappy with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans in exile. Many Indians are increasingly fed up with the Tibetan refugees who do nothing to repay the kindness of the country that has given them so much.
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Indians expressing their feelings about Tibetans
Students United Movement of All Arunachal (SUMAA) have been protesting against the state government of Arunachal Pradesh’s adoption of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy (TRP). They say Tibetans are infringing on the rights of the indigenous population. This is now an increasingly common complaint about the Tibetans – wherever they go in India, they receive preferential treatment from the Indian government, who should actually be exercising a greater duty of care towards their own citizens. Below are some screenshots of comments left by SUMAA protestors and their supporters.
Indians and Tibetans write about
the state of their relationship
Below are some articles that refer to Indians speaking up against the Tibetans and even the Dalai Lama himself. The situation in India is not getting any better for the Tibetans.
Related links:
- https://www.tibetsun.com/elsewhere/2017/07/25/why-is-the-dalai-lama-silent
- http://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/why-is-the-dalai-lama-silent-1500930385.html
- http://arunachalobserver.org/2017/10/11/sumaa-holds-protest-march-demands-trp-2014-rollback/
- http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=39650
- https://www.tibetsun.com/news/2017/10/05/tibetans-in-arunachal-pradesh-face-wrath-of-locals
- https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/dalai-lama-in-india-china-sikkim-stand-off
- http://tibetexpress.net/indian-parliamentarian-questions-dalai-lama-and-tibetans-silence-over-india-china-border-dispute/
[TIBET SUN] Why is the Dalai Lama silent?
[THE STATESMAN] The original article
from The Statesman
[ARUNACHAL OBSERVER] SUMAA holds
protest march, demands TRP- 2014 rollback
[PHAYUL] Withdraw Tibetan rehabilitation policy or face dire consequence: war cry of self styled outfit in Arunachal Pradesh
[TIBET SUN] Tibetans in Arunachal Pradesh
face wrath of locals
Ayana
August 9, 2018
Why doesn’t the United States and its allies end Refugee Status for the useless Tibetans? They have been refugees for 60 years now and don’t tell me they still cannot get their lives back in order?
Tibetans really know how to put on a good show and use people, take their money and do nothing in return.
Lhakpa Dhendup
August 10, 2018
What will the all the people around the world and in Tibet do now? Dalai Lama says he is happy that Tibet is a part of China and should remain a part of China. So many Tibetans self-immolated for Tibet to be independent and now Dalai Lama did a 360 degree turn and says he wants to go back to Tibet and China and Tibet should be a part of China. So unbelievable. So many are angry and disappointed.
d
August 12, 2018
Dear Dalai Lama,
Since you started the cruel ban against the 350 year Dorje Shugden practice, how has it benefit your Tibetan society and Buddhism in the world? Things have become worse and most educated Tibetans can see this. They don’t speak out not because they don’t see your ban as wrong, but you instill fear in them and not respect. It is like fear of a dictator. I am sorry to say so. Everyone is divided. There is no harmony. Before your ban there was more harmony and unity.
By enacting the ban, you split the monasteries, split so many families, split regions in Tibet apart, split your disciples from you, split your own gurus from you, split Tibetan Buddhism apart. You have created so much disharmony.
It is not democratic what you have done to ban a religion within your community. You always talk of tolerance and acceptance and democracy and yet you do not accept and tolerate something different from your beliefs. When people practice Dorje Shugden you ostracize them, ban them from seeing you, ban them from using Tibetan facilities. You know you have done that. There are videos that capture your speech and prove this point. You even had people expelled from monasteries just because they practice Dorje Shugden. Some of the monks you expelled have been in the monastery for over 40 years. Many older monks shed tears because of this.
Many young educated Tibetans lost confidence in you as they saw the damage the Dorje Shugden ban created and they lose hope. Many have become free thinkers. They reject what you have done. So many people in the west left Buddhism because of the confusion you created with this ban against Dorje Shugden which is immoral.
You could of had millions of people who practice Dorje Shugden to support, love and follow you, but you scared them away. They are hurt and very disappointed. They loved you and respected you deeply before the ban. It has been 60 years and you have failed to get Tibet back. Your biggest failure is not getting Tibet back after 57 years in exile. Now you are begging China to allow you to return to Tibet to the disappointment of thousands of people who fought for a free Tibet believing in you. So many self-immolated for a free Tibet and now you want Tibet to be a part of China with no referendum from Tibetans. Just like a dictator, you decide on your own. It was your government and you that lost Tibet in the first place. Your policies and style of doing things do not benefit Tibet and Buddhism. You have been the sole ruler of Tibet your whole life and you still have not gotten our country of Tibet back for us. Our families and us are separated. Yet you create more pain by creating a ban to further divide people. Please have compassion.
No other Buddhist leader has banned or condemned any religion except for you. It looks very bad. You are a Nobel laureate and this is not fitting of a laureate. You should unite people and not separate them by religious differences.
You said Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi did not do right to the Rohingya people in Myanmar due to religious differences, but you are doing the same thing to the Shugden Buddhists within your own society. There is a parallel in this. You separate the Shugden Buddhists from the others in Tibetan society.
You have lost so many people who would have loved and supported you. You have lost so much support around the world. The Shugden Buddhists who love you number in the millions. When you are fast losing support from governments and private people, it will not do you well to lose more.
After you are passed away in the future, the rift you created between the Dorje Shugden and non-Dorje Shugden people will remain for a while and that will be your legacy. Disharmony. You will be remembered for this. Not as a hero but a disharmony creator.
Dorje Shugden will spread and further grow, but you will be no more as you are a human. No one wishes you bad and in fact we hope you have a long and healthy life, but we have lost so much hope and have so much despair because of you. All the hundreds of Dorje Shugden lamas, tulkus and geshes are maturing and there are hundreds of Dorje Shugden monasteries in Tibet who will not give up Dorje Shugden. You have made a mistake. These hundreds of teachers and teachers to be will spread Dorje Shugden further in the future.
The gurus that gave us Dorje Shugden as a spiritual practice and you have called these holy gurus wrong and they are mistaken in giving us Dorje Shugden. How can you insult our gurus whom we respect so much? If they can be wrong, then you can be wrong. Then all gurus can be wrong. So no one needs to listen to any guru? You have created this trend. It is not healthy. Your own gurus practiced Dorje Shugden their whole lives. Your own gurus were exemplary and highly learned.
Dalai Lama you have created so much pain with this ban against so many people due to religion. You are ageing fast. Are you going to do anything about it or stay stubborn, hard and un-moving. You show a smile and preach peace and harmony wherever you go. But will you do the same to your own people? Please rectify the wrong you have done. Please before it is too late. You can create harmony again or you can pass away in the future with this legacy of peace. May you live long and think carefully and admit what was a mistake in having this unethical ban against Dorje Shugden religion.
Ojas
August 14, 2018
Supreme Court of India JUSTICE Mr. MARKANDEY KATJU (RETD) writes that Tibet is much better under the Chinese than it was under the lamas who only wanted to make the populace slaves. It was feudal and it will never return to the backwardness again.
Vardaniya
August 20, 2018
The cracks in Tibetan society are starting to show, and it is now coming to the attention of local Indians who have all but identified the Tibetan leadership as the source of the divisions. According to this author, disunity amongst the Tibetans is now creating problems for Indian law enforcement agencies, and this disunity may culminate in young Tibetans holding silent grudges against their host country. It is incredible that after six decades of generosity from India, Indians are now facing the very real possibility Tibetans can be ungrateful towards India. The Tibetan leadership totally failed to impart positive values upon their exiled community, like gratitude for those kindest to them and the need to repay these kindnesses with real, tangible results. It’s also very unlikely that the Tibetan leadership will now start to do this, after six decades of failing to do so. Indians need to realise this, and see that there is no benefit for their nation to align themselves with the Tibetan leadership, and there never will be.
Maya
August 24, 2018
Although the Dalai Lama has offered an apology, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) still expressed their disappointment over his controversial comment on Nehru, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). Dalai Lama called Nehru self-centred.
The Congress said Dalai Lama being a foreigner should shun and refrain from interfering in the internal as well as external affairs of India.
Tashi Wangdi
September 20, 2018
When compared to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala that does not take any responsibility for their people like any proper government normally would, China is radically different and liberal for allowing sex abuse victims to express themselves on social media, despite its heavy censorship of the Internet.
For people like Luo Xixi, whose online postings on sex abuse has garnered millions of views on Chinese social media, said that the government is gradually opening up to the #MeToo movement, a hashtag catch-phrase movement that encourages and empowers sex abuse victims to stand up against sex abuse. In China, those who are convicted of sexual abuse are severely dealt with by the law and laid off from work. The Central Tibetan Administration should take heed of how such cases are dealt with in China and not allow sex abuse perpetrators, especially Tibetan lamas to continue committing their crimes unchecked and without consequence.
Thupten Lungrig
September 20, 2018
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s speeches create headlines nowadays not because they bring wisdom and enlightening thoughts, but rather unpleasant feelings and disapprovals. From the sexist quip in 2015, his gaffe on Nehru, and his recent comment about Europe that caused him to be labelled as White Supremacist, there is now one more to add onto the list. In order to be congenial and consistent with the image of a Nobel Peace Laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been issuing statements, especially about Islam, such as redefining Jihad as an interior struggle.
More and more people are expressing their doubt, with some even directly pointing out the mistakes in the Dalai Lama’s speech. This pattern of speech of strong statements that ends up in denial or apology seems consistent with his advice concerning the practice of Dorje Shugden. With the reasons behind the ban shifted so much over time, perhaps there really was never any validity behind the ban at all.
Ngawang Jigme
October 2, 2018
The fact that rangzen activists aim for the goal of Tibetan independence is at odds with the Dalai Lama’s goal for Tibet’s autonomy. This is nothing new but it is an undeniable fact that the Dalai Lama is the most recognisable Tibetan face and representative for the Tibetan Cause. However, for years now there has been a deficit of trust between China and the Dalai Lama, which leaves the future of Tibetan refugees in limbo.
Recently, the Dalai Lama tried to take conciliatory steps towards China by acknowledging that development in the Tibet Autonomous Region is beneficial and expressed his desire to return to China. He even said he wants to go on pilgrimage to Mount Wutai, China’s most famous Buddhist site. The fact that the Rangzen people are still protesting against China however shows their true colour. They are against the Dalai Lama and want to make sure that his efforts to help Tibetans are unsuccessful.
Bijaya
October 23, 2018
Tibetans have stayed in India for 60 years now and they are still refugees. They had been given free land, resources, government aids, and even funds for their Tibetan Cause. However, with all those aids and donations, they still remained as refugees. Their government still have not been able to establish a dialogue with China.
How is it possible for that much of resources and help went into the Tibetan cause but no result after 60 years? Im starting to think CTA purposely did not make any effort just to prolong the situation to maximize the amount of donation that they will get.
No wonder young Tibetans had chosen to leave for western countries or assimilate into India’s society. There is no hope for them to stay as a Tibetan because it will only lead them to nowhere, just like the Tibetan Cause.
Tracy
November 12, 2018
Just put yourself in Indian’s shoes. Imagine, you have a big house with a lot of people staying in it. One day, a group of people just appear in front of the door and ask to stay in your house temporarily. This temporarily becomes 60 years.
During these 60 years, you are very kind to give them their own rooms, you allow them to have their own space. At the same time, you pay for their expenses and sometimes you give them money. But for the people who have lived in the house before, they have to go out to work and give you money to pay for the expenses. Do you think it is fair?
This is what is happening now in India. The Tibetans are given so much by the Indian government but the local Indians are neglected. The Tibetans have not given back anything to India for the 60 years of kindness. This is why many Indians are very upset and angry at the Tibetans.
Bijaya
November 16, 2018
Bijaya
November 16, 2018
Kelsang
November 16, 2018
This is exactly what it is. The Tibetans are overextending their period in India and somehow the Indians are paying the price of it. The Tibetans are supposed to fight for their country and return to Tibet as soon as possible. However, 60 years had passed but there is no progress on their mission.
Now that the president of CTA, Mr Lobsang Sangay had announced that they are expecting another 50 years to accomplish their goal which is independence for Tibet. The whole situation became even more ridiculous now. The Indians are too kind to the Tibetans and that is why Tibetans keep taking advantage of India. Many Indians has been expressing their frustration towards the Tibetans on social media platforms.
India government had given the Tibetans so much privilege but they are not grateful as usual. India had made the process of Tibetans to become an Indian citizen easier but instead of trying to get their people to do that, they purposely made the process on their side harder for fellow Tibetans. Clearly, they do not view India as a good place to be in the future despite all the kindness that they get from India. If that is the case, why are they still in India? They should have left and stop taking India for granted.
Thaimonk
December 3, 2018
TIBETANS SHOULD NOT HAVE MONKS AS LEADERS, THAT IS A BIG MISTAKE
Note what Namdol Lhagyari said is progressive and unlike the usual Tibetan rhetoric:
“The problem I see right now is how reliant we are on one individual,” Namdol Lhagyari, 32, the youngest member of Tibet’s exile parliament, said. “I understand that every freedom movement requires one role model, one leader, who would push everyone in the right direction, bring everyone to one goal. But he has reached an age where we will have to prepare ourselves for a post-Dalai Lama.”
Source: https://themediaproject.org/news/2018/12/3/as-the-dalai-lama-ages-tibetan-exiles-turn-to-secular-unity-over-sacred
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These are important points to remember:
1. Tibetan lamas and monks SHOULD not enter politics. They should not hold positions of power, leadership and political roles. It will demean the Dharma. They are not trained, nor qualified nor have the credentials to be in government. They also do much damage to religion as people start to respect them less. The lines between respecting them as spiritual beings (sangha) and speaking against them when they are in government and make wrong decisions become blurred.
2. Monks and nuns should not get involved with the running of the country but should stick to education. Giving good education to the public about ethics, morality and in some cases Buddhism. No one wants to see a political monk or nun. Because it contradicts the very reason they renounced the worldly life in order to enter a life of contemplation, learning, meditation and gaining enlightenment.
3. Look at other countries where Buddhism is strong where sangha is sangha and never get involved with government or being public officials. In Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Sri Lanka etc where there are tens of thousands of sangha, you don’t see them in the government at all. Local or national governments both do not have sangha. Even in Christian countries you don’t see priests in government. That is Tibet’s big mistake to place monks/high lamas in so many government positions and as public officials. Very dangerous for the country as it has proven with Tibet and Tibetans.
4. Monks, nuns and high lamas should do dharma practice, produce books, videos, give teachings, guide the public, do funerals, blessings, be a nurturer, study dharma, build real temples, keep existing temples spiritual, animal shelters, environmentalists, be mediators, help with orphanages, shelters, the poor, half way houses, poor houses, and basically all sorts of charities that benefit the mind and body of sentient beings that is NOT GOVERNMENT BASED. If sangha gives good education, they can produce kind and good leaders to run the country.
Tibetans should never never never allow Sangha (monks, nuns and spiritual personages) to be involved with government, politics and rule of law because it ends up in disaster. That is how Tibet lost it’s country and will never get it back. There are too many monks in the Tibetan Parliament and as leaders remember Samdhong Rinpoche as the prime minister of exiles. That was very bad. The King of Tibet currently is a monk. How does that look? Very political.
Tibet made that huge mistake and Tibet will never recover from it.
Forum: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=6226.0