The Dalai Lama’s Change of Tune

[dsnowlion]

Have you seen this new opinion piece?

58 years of what has become known as the Tibetan Cause seems to be coming to an end. While the Tibetan community has long been privy to the Dalai Lama’s wish for Tibetan autonomy under Chinese rule, external observers beginning with The Economic Times (23rd November 2017) are now witnessing what they see as the Dalai Lama’s reversal in his stance and attitude towards China.

No longer is China couched as the Tibetan people’s Enemy No. 1 that has to be opposed vehemently. Instead on November 23 this year, in speaking to The Hindustani Times, the Dalai Lama stated that China and Tibet have always been close although there were ‘occasional fights’.

China now is presented in the Dalai Lama’s new narrative as a partner who can bring ‘more development’ and progress into Tibetan lives, as opposed to the hostile destroyer of the Tibetan people’s culture, religion and way of life. In addressing the Sino-Tibetan conflict that began in 1950 and culminated in the Dalai Lama’s escape into exile in 1959, the Dalai Lama was heard saying,

The past is the past.

After over half a century of rousing Tibetan and global support against China, the Dalai Lama’s turnaround is not without some serious implications and repercussions.

The most immediate intimation is that 151 Tibetans who self-immolated for a ‘free Tibet’ literally wasted their lives. Those who self-immolated did not set themselves alight so that ultimately, the Dalai Lama would accede to China’s sovereignty and acknowledge China as an ally who can bring progress to the Tibetan people.
 
Not only does the Dalai Lama’s renewed push for autonomy invalidate these self-immolations, but the Tibetan leadership’s silence on these self-immolations, knowing how their intent does not match the Dalai Lama’s wishes, is shocking. The Dalai Lama and Central Tibetan Administration (CTA; Tibetan leadership in Dharamsala) must now take a stance against all future self-immolations and outlaw the act as unpatriotic because it now goes against the foreign policy goals of the Tibetan government.

The Dalai Lama and CTA should henceforth cease all anti-China rhetoric and should in no way participate in anything that is subversive to China’s stature and reputation. Instead, the Dalai Lama and CTA should openly acknowledge that China has brought progress to the Tibetan people within the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), and they can do the same for the Tibetans in exile, pending a positive relationship that is contingent on the CTA’s willingness.
 
In essence, this would mean the CTA should divest of all its interest and involvement in operations like Radio Free Asia, which is described in Wikipedia as “…a private, non-profit international broadcasting corporation that broadcasts and publishes online news, information, and commentary to listeners in East Asia while ‘advancing the goals of U.S. foreign policy.’” Surely in geopolitical terms, advancing the goals of U.S. foreign policy is at the expense of China’s foreign policy as both superpowers are vying for dominance in the same global market.
 
Therefore if the Dalai Lama and CTA are sincere about being autonomous under China, as the Tibetan spiritual leader has proclaimed, it behooves them to stop being a shill for American foreign policy and show that they have China’s interests at heart. It would also mean that the CTA must henceforth stop receiving grants and any form of funding from countries that are critical of China, for instance the United States.
As a show of its good intentions, the Dalai Lama and CTA must immediately call for a cessation of all CTA policies that have split the Tibetan communityboth within Tibet and in the diaspora. The most critical of these would be:

The Rangzen vs. Umaylam Split: The CTA must now make all efforts to reconcile the two groups instead of demonizing Rangzen advocates as being an ‘internal enemy’ as Sikyong Lobsang Sangay has recently claimed, and as ex-CTA Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche has announced previously.

The Karma Kagyu Split: The Dalai Lama should now use his influence to close ranks in the Karma Kagyu lineage. It became divided after the Dalai Lama acted beyond his mandate in the Karma Kagyu’s succession issue and endorsed a rival Karmapa to the one that the lineage chose per their centuries-old tradition.

The Dorje Shugden Issue: The Dalai Lama and CTA must immediately cease all victimization and persecution of Dorje Shugden practitioners by labelling them traitors of the Tibetan people. This conflict that the Tibetan leadership started and sustained for the past 20 years has injuriously divided the Tibetan people and Tibetan Buddhist adherents worldwide.

Full article here: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/the-dalai-lamas-change-of-tune/

May this NEW YEAR 2018 bring the Tibetan people together, may there be a seize in discrimination on Dorje Shugden practitioners and may H.H. the Dalai Lama be allowed to return back to Tibet so that his good people can see him and their spirit renewed AND perhaps from then on the real preservation of Tibetan culture and religion can truly begin.

Don't forget historically, the Emperors of China, especially of the Qing dynasty, have promoted Tibetan Buddhism for the purpose of national unity and harmony in the vast country of China in the past. The Emperors established and cultivated a close relationship with Tibet, especially with the Dalai Lamas, Panchen Lamas and the Changkya Lamas (Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s previous incarnations) from the Gelugpa sect. The Tibetans believe the emperors of China are emanations of Manjushri and it is no surprise that Dorje Shugden incarnated as the legendary Emperor Kangxi. http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/emperors-of-china/

[Rowntree]

For those who have not been following the Tibet political scene, it would be beneficial for you to read this article to see where it all kind of started. The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) based in Washington DC received a video message from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama stated that they were not seeking independence from China since 1974 in March 2018 before the official launch of the "Thank You India 2018" event in Dharamsala. He pointed out that China and Tibet can have mutual benefits if reconciled. Since then, there are more and more news on His Holiness stating his wish to return to Tibet, China.

[DharmaSpace]

Yes this is an amazingly interesting piece of information. If the Dalai Lama can change his tune about the Panchen lama and his strategy against the Chinese, then he can change all his previous stances about a variety of subjects.

For as long as I can remember for the past 20 years, the 14th Dalai Lama danced in the midst of China's looming power. The Chinese could not stop the Dalai Lama, as the Dalai Lama went and engaged with a variety of Western leaders and powers.

Today, it is clear the Dalai Lama needs to head back to Tibet, for reasons unknown. So there is a big change in how Dalai Lama is engaging with the Chinese, with his earth shattering statements on both the current Panchen Lamas one recognized by the Dalai Lama and another one recognized by China. It was almost a praise on what the Dalai Lama said about both Panchen Lamas, which is different from previous times. Although the Dalai Lama does not talk much about the official Panchen Lama from China, he also used to support the Panchen Lama that is supposedly missing.

[Celia]

Whilst a change of tune is definitely welcomed, somehow doubt that the Dalai Lama would outright say Dorje Shugden ban is lifted. Especially since he has indicated that there was never a ban. If at all, more likely it will be the case where the Dalai Lama would be cornered to stop playing up the Dorje Shugden issue and co-operate with China to not create any in fighting or segregation on religious ground as a condition for return. Then again, it could also be the case where a story will be concocted up to explain away the sudden U-turn on Dorje Shugden and the Dalai Lama indicate no longer an issue to propitiate Dorje Shugden.  After all, there is a track record of twisted and misleading facts being presented as “justification”.

[Drolma]

60 years is long enough to conclude if a cause is successful or it is a failure. After 60 years, the Tibetans are still in exile, there is no progress in Tibet cause; there is no clear direction from the CTA. It will be very unfair to ask the Tibetans in exile to keep waiting for the day to come and more unfair to India and the west to continue to give support in any kind.

The Dalai Lama's change of tune is an indirect way to tell the Tibetans and the world that the Tibet cause is a failure. For the future of the Tibetans in exile, it is better to negotiate for autonomous recognition for Tibet than keep fighting with the Chinese government. Tibet is so developed now, there are schools, hospitals, houses, roads, train, airport. It is modernised like the rest of the cities in China. People are given the freedom to practice a religion as long as they don't mix politic with religion and they abide by the law.

If the Dalai Lama is accepted by China, he could bring the Tibetans in exile back to Tibet and enjoy everything China has developed in Tibet and they will have an identity, not stateless anymore. What can the CTA give to the Tibetans in exile? For the past 60 years, Tibetans in exile are still stateless, the Indians are angry with them because they leech on India, and contribute nothing to Indian's economy or development.