By Saavie Acker
Losar is the most important holiday for Tibetans and also widely celebrated by Tibetan Buddhists worldwide. Marking the turn of a new year, it is a day for Tibetans and Tibetan Buddhists alike to make offerings to the Gurus, Enlightened Beings and Dharma Protectors in appreciation for the year that has passed and for an auspicious year ahead.
Mr. Tsering Wangchuk
Mr Tsering Wangchuk, press officer for the Tibetan government in-exile, extended a new year greeting to the public on behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA):
Today is the first day of Tibetan New Year. As usual we invoke all the protecting deities particularly Dorje Shugden who is the official protecting deity of the Tibetan government earlier, now central Tibetan administration. So I wish everybody a happy new year,
~ Mr. Tsering Wangchuk, 2 March 2014
It is customary to invoke and consult the official Dharma Protector of the Tibetan government during this auspicious day. In 1998, H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama made a statement that Nechung should be consulted during the Losar celebrations. This year however, the CTA has seemingly decided to return to their roots by acknowledging Dorje Shugden as the official protector of the Tibetan government. Can this be true?
The auspiciousness of invoking and making offerings to Dharma Protectors during Losar is not only tradition for lay Tibetans, but a practice that even great Lamas participate in. A famous prayer to Dorje Shugden – Nyirtoe – was composed by none other than the great Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche during Losar in 1959, a prayer for abundance in the year ahead.
Dorje Shugden’s practice was mainstream particularly in the Gelug tradition and his oracular consultations were renowned for their accuracy until the 1970′s, when negative rumors began circulating at the behest of the CTA. What followed was decades of suppression and religious discrimination that has continued until today. Therefore, Mr. Tsering Wangchuk’s statement, although very welcome if true, comes as a surprise. The global citizens of today’s world know that separation of church and state is essential for any modern democracy to succeed, as proven in any number of historical examples, but are the Tibetans truly realizing this?
The golden question now is: What will be the CTA’s response to this unexpected turn of events? Looking back at the decades of suppression and ostracism against Shugden practitioners, one wonders if Mr. Wangchuk is a lone champion of truth, if he represents the CTA’s new found stance towards Dorje Shugden, if it was a karmic slip of the tongue, or something else altogether? What do you think? Please leave a comment below.
Happy Losar 2014!
Extracted from Yahoo! News
Tibetans-in-exile mark New Year by offering prayers in Dharamsala
Dharamsala, Mar 2 (ANI): Tibetans in-exile in Dharamsala celebrated ‘Losar’, the Tibetan New Year on Sunday, and pledged to uphold the cultural ethos and traditional values of humility, integrity and resilience.
Tibetan monks were seen playing musical instruments and praying to mark the New Year.
Press officer of Tibetan government in-exile, Tsering Wangchuk, extended best wishes to everyone on the occasion.
“Today is the first day of Tibetan New Year. As usual we invoke all the protecting deities particularly Dorje Shugden who is the official protecting deity of the Tibetan government earlier, now central Tibetan administration. So I wish everybody a happy new year,” said Wangchuk.
‘Losar’ is marked with ancient ceremonies that represent the struggle between good and evil. The occasion is marked by chanting hymns and passing fire torches through the crowds.
A foreign tourist, Maya, offered prayers and said they were ushering in the year of wood horse.
“Today is the prayer for Losar, so it’s the Tibetan New Year. They are ushering in the year of wood horse and the year of the snake has been ushered out,” said Maya.
People enjoy levity provided by events such as dance of the deer and amusing battles between the King and his various ministers. (ANI)
Screenshots of other newspapers and articles with the same news
Yahoo! News
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Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/tibetans-exile-mark-offering-prayers-dharamsala-103805988.html
ANI News
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Times Today
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Source: http://timestoday.in/tibetans-in-exile-mark-new-year-by-offering-prayers-in-dharamsala/
Business Standard
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Web India 123
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Source: http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20140302/2350157.html
Sify
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New Kerala
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Source: http://www.newkerala.com/news/2014/fullnews-19695.html#.UxT6k_mSyno
News Track India
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Truth Drive
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Inooz
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WN.com
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Source: http://article.wn.com/view/2014/03/02/Tibetansinexile_mark_New_Year_by_offering_prayers_in_Dharams/
Tsering Wangchuk on other topics
Tibet.net
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Source: http://tibet.net/2013/04/cta-refutes-chinas-findings-on-tibets-mining-disaster/
Tibetsun.com
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Source: http://www.tibetsun.com/opinions/2013/11/06/tibets-middle-way
Tibet.ca
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Source: http://tibet.ca/en/newsroom/wtn/12744
And the confusion continues…
Click here to read more: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/did-the-cta-make-a-mistake/
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