Tibet in Sydney

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to be among circa 5000 people in attendance at HHDL's teachings on Nagarjuna. This was a major event for myself, as I am sure it was for many of those attending this and the other recent events offered. I had never before attended an event with HHDL.

Several things stood out for me. Firstly, although the crowd was not entirely made up of Tibetan Buddhists, there was a strong representation of such among those present. Having had no contact other than through written word and online groups with such, it was a relaxing and enjoyable experience to be in the same building with so many people practicing the same path as I for the first time.

Secondly, I noticed the importance of HHDL to the Tibetan population. Whereas I and many others both respect and appreciate HHDL, the Tibetans seem to cherish him considerably. This was brought out strongly when a chanting-meditation session lead by a Tibetan woman occurred shortly before an afternoon session. It made me realize just how important HHDL is to the Tibetan people and allowed me to appreciate and understand his presence even more, myself.

Finally, it was a wonderful opportunity to connect to the Tibetan people and learn a little more of the culture of an amazing country. Among the various activities, were Tibetan music played during the lunch break, stalls with information, books, and contact with Tibetan people and groups, and a display of traditional Tibetan dancing performed in front of HHDL!

THE UNMISTAKEN CHILD

The Buddhist concept of reincarnation, while both mysterious and enchanting, is hard for most westerners to grasp. Israeli filmmaker Nati Baratz uses the story of monk Tenzin Zopa's search for the reincarnation of his own master to exemplify the power of that concept. Unmistaken Child (http://www.unmistakenchild.com/film.php) is a new documentary that simply  follows Tenzin Zopa as he embarks  on what becomes afour-year search by foot, mule and helicopter for the reincarnation of Lama Konchog, a world-renowned Tibetan master. Christal Smith speaks with writer and director Baratz about the journey, the challenges and the mixed reactions from westerners grappling with this very different perspective on life after death. 

 

http://www.unmistakenchild.com/film.php  

Article from: http://thetibetconnection.org/index.html

Chinese Army violates int’l border in Ladakh

Sept 6 – After helicopter incursions into Indian airspace, the Chinese Army has brazenly violated the International Border in Ladakh region and painted boulders and rocks in the area red. The Chinese troops entered nearly 1.5 kilometres into the Indian territory near Mount Gya, recognised as international border by India and China, and painted the boulders and rocks with red spray paint, official sources said.

The incursions were reported from the area, generally referred in the Chumar sector in east of Leh, and painted “China” in Cantonese with red spray paint all over the boulders and rocks, they said.

The 22,420 ft Mount Gya, also known as “fair princess of snow” by Army is located at the tri-junction of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, and Tibet. Its boundary was marked during the British era and regarded as international border by the two countries.

The border patrol discovered the red paint markings on various rocks and boulders along the Zulung La (pass) on July 31 and that the Chinese had entered into the area and written “China” all over the place, the sources said.

When asked to comment on the issue, an Army spokesperson declined to answer any queries regarding this saying it was an operational matter.

Though the spokesperson refused to answer further questions, senior Army officials said the issue was being downplayed as three of its Generals were currently in Beijing and Lhasa under an exchange programme.

This incident was viewed with seriousness by the officials as the Chinese have made foray into these areas for the first time since independence and sprayed the area with red marking as deep as 1.5 to 1.7 kilometres of the Indian territory.

The border forces talked to the locals located along the border in Ladakh and Spiti from where they came to know about the incursions by the People’s Liberation Army of China in this area.

River Pareechu, which runs through Himachal Pradesh, has been a headache for frequent floods, enters Tibet from this region only.

Before this, Chinese helicopters had violated the Indian air space along the Line of Actual Control in Chumar region only in June and also helli-dropped some expired food.

Reacting to this, the Army spokesperson had said “there was a report of a helicopter flying in the area south of Chumar, where India and China have differences in perception on the Line of Actual Control. It was reported by grazers.”

India and China have been engaged in talks over the Line of Actual Control and had exchanged maps in 2002. In the western sector (East Jammu and Kashmir), the Samar Lungpa area, between the Karakoram Pass and the Chipchap river, is contentious, with Chinese maps showing the LAC to be south of the Samar Lungpa.

This is the northernmost part of the border, far to the north of Leh. But while the Indo-Tibetan Border Police operates north of the line the Chinese claim to be the border, they remain south of the Lungpa.

South of the Chipchap River are the Trig Heights, comprising Points 5495 and 5459.

Chinese troops frequently enter the area and in fact, they have a name for Point 5459; Manshen Hill. The area, south-east of Trig Heights, called Depsang Ridge is also contentious. Differences were found when Chinese small-scale maps were interposed on large-scaled Indian ones.

Article from Phayul.com

Four Tibetan monks sentenced up to ten years in prison

From Phayul[Friday, August 21, 2009 12:34]

Dharamsala, August 21- Four monks of Sera monastery who, along with ten others, carried out a protest at Bharkor street in the Tibetan capital Lhasa last year on March 10 had been sentenced to varying prison terms, according to the Voice of Tibet radio service. Chinese police immediately arrested the fourteen monks who carried the banned Tibetan national flag and shouted slogans calling for Tibet's independence.

Lodoe had been sentenced to ten years in prison and is currently detained at Chushul prison near Lhasa. Lodoe’s family in Sershul, Zachukha, had received an official intimation of the sentencing of Lodoe in April this year and were warned against publicizing the sentencing of Lodoe.

On July 14 this year, Lodoe’s family paid a visit to his prison where they knew that two other companions of Lodoe, 29 year old Lobsang Ngodup and 30 year old Mangay Soepa, had been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

A native of Zachukha and presently a monk at Sera monastery in south India, told the radio that there is no news about another monk named Thinlay Namgyal, who was arrested on charges of setting ablaze a house in Lhasa last year during the protests.

The same source said another monk named Sonam Dakpa who had visited India a few times was arrested on his way back to Tibet last year around the time of unrest in Tibet and sentenced to ten years in prison. He is detained at Chushul prison.

Since the majority of the fourteen monks arrested were from Zachukha the Chinese authorities suspected Ari Rinpoche’s (spelled as pronounced) hand behind the fourteen monks and arrested him from Lhasa. Ari Rinpoche is the head of Wonpo (spelled as pronounced) monastery in Zachukha and his whereabouts are unknown. Another monk named Draklha, a scripture master at Sera monastery had also been arrested and whereabouts not known.

Mining projects continue to cause a problem within Tibet

There has been further mention of problems caused by Chinese mining facilities within Tibet. On Tuesday, the news from Dharamsala was that toxic waste was causing animal deaths and additionally a potential danger to humanity. On this occasion, the problem stems from the toxic waste created by the mining operations.

The mine currently in question is situated close to Lhasa, in Meldro Gungkar and has already been responsible for more than a thousand cattle deaths. Residents from nearby township Gyama created a petition requesting that mining operations cease. They fear not only that the water contamination will be harmful to cattle and wild animals, but that local plant species and humans will be affected detrimentally.

Due to the Chinese so far ignoring both the problem and petition, the local community is counting on international assistance to prevent a catastrophe. Tibetan residents who spoke to visiting official in June were rewarded with a temporary withdrawal of miners; however, they have since been warned not to interfere with mining activities and been threatened with punishment for political activity.

As the Chinese authorities continue to disregard the local population and sweep aside protests, Tibetans are counting on the world as a whole to step in and put an end to the mining activities. Hopefully, the threat to wildlife will bring in support from nature conservation enthusiasts along with the danger to the human population from the contaminated water urging human rights and health groups to take a stand. The Tibetans themselves now risk being arrested, beaten, tortured, or killed if they continue with their objection beyond the warnings.