The Future of Tibet:
The Dalai Lama's role as an international celebrity, and Nobel peace prize winner, has strengthened the Tibetan cause in recent years. Portrayal of the Dalai Lama in the media, and in movies such as Seven Years in Tibet has successfully publicized the movement. It has furthermore put international pressure on China. Viewed by the outside world as an oppressor of a peaceful people, China is constantly criticized by foreign advocates and governments. This has affected China's relations with other nations. In 1993 the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of conditioning China's "most-favored-nation" status, allowing lower tariff rates. The action stated that unless China complied with the release of Tibetan prisoners, incarcerated for nonviolent expression of religion, their status would be revoked. This, along with numerous other sanctions from outside governments, have severely limited Chinese foreign policy. They can no longer get away with human rights violations without fear of economic repercussions.
The Dalai Lama's actions have also resulted in internal pressure in China. Numerous protests by Tibetan nationalists have taken form around the actions of the Dalai Lama. As recently as 2008 conflict in China has resulted on pressure to the government by Tibetans. On March 10, 2008, around five hundred monks of the Drepung monastery, attempted to march into the center of Lhasa in honor of the 49th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan revolt. They were stopped by the Chinese police, with some arrested and beaten. Meanwhile, another monks from another monastery, the Sera, were arrested in Lhasa for carrying the Tibetan Flag. Six hundred monks from Sera arrived the next day to demand the release of the ot...
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...t has been relatively ignored by the Chinese. Instead, they have taken to hard-line tactics to combat Tibetan nationalism. They hope to limit the influence of Tibetan culture as they wait for the already elderly Tenzin Gyatso to die. If the Dalai Lama seeks to solve the crisis before he dies, he needs to get China's attention, and focus on not losing the support of young Tibetan nationalists.
The future of the role of the Dalai Lama itself is uncertain. Tenzin Gyatso has stated that it us up to him on whether or not he will reincarnate after his death. Seeing the title as a remnant of the past, he is not sure if a Dalai Lama is even needed in the modern era. He sees democracy as capable of taking his place. However, the Dalai Lama has become a figure for more than just Tibet. He represents a peaceful humanistic approach in a world so dominated by violence and power.
In order to understand the political factors that influence both of these book; you need to get a background information on why China and Tibet have such animosity against each other. Tibet considers itself a free nation without any ties to China. It states that “Tibet declared itself an independent republic in 1912.Although its status did not receive widespread recognition, Tibet functioned as an independent government until China sent troops to Tibet in 1950” (BBC News). The Tibetans feel as though their freedom is being retained and they are being dictated by China which they did not approve of. China claims that Tibet proposers better with them leadin...
The Dalai Lama expresses the importance of publicity that has first been generated by the Tibetan Freedom Concert. Not only did it create awareness for the Chinese as the Dalai Lama suggested; it also created awareness around the world, especially in North America. Ask any North American teenager,"What they feel towards the idea of Tibetan oppression from the Chinese?", just ask him "Where Tibet is?" three years ago and he would probably look confused and answer by asking "Would you like fries with that?".<THIS MADE VERY LITTLE SENSE.> Ask that same teenager now, and he would likely give an educated response. The Tibetan Freedom Concert is just an example of how powerful modern media is if it can be used properly.
If China had not reannexed Tibet, that peace park would never have existed. Its entire raison d'etre is predicated on Chinese oppression and western interest. Without oppression the Tibetan traditions lose their most alluring aspect. Tibetan Buddhism is no longer dangerous or sexy. Without western interest, their potential converts and donation pool shrinks to a trickle crippling their ability to sustain the tradition.
Starting in the late 1940s, with Cold War tensions running high and the subsequent Communist takeover of China as well as the outbreak of the Korean War, there was a growing fear in the United States of the possibility of a global conflict between the Communist bloc and the West. Thus, the US government adopted a policy of doing its best to contain Communism around the world, especially in Asia after the formation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). When the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) invaded Tibet in 1950, the US considered it possible or even probable that the PRC would use Tibet as a launching pad to expand Communism into the rest of South and Southeast Asia, an early appearance of what was later famously called the “domino theory” during the Vietnam War. In line with our newly stated and evolving policy committing the United States to a “global containment” of Communism short of actual war, when a spontaneous Tibetan resistance movement arose in Tibet, we decided it to be in our national interest to covertly aid this movement through the training of Tibetan fighters and airdrops of arms and supplies to them. Although the US did provide direct and extensive assistance to the Tibetans for several years we eventually ended the program. I believe that if we truly had wanted to follow through on our application of the containment policy, we would have done more to aid the Tibetan resistance. Ultimately, the US looked to what it deemed to be its own self-interest in forging ahead with a plan of rapprochement with the PRC and abandoned the Tibetan resistance fighters when they most needed our help. I will elucidate how our policy regarding the resistance movement evolved from th...
In 1937, Tenzin Gyatso was chosen as the 14th Dalai Lama at the tender age of two years old. The Dalai Lama is considered to be the transcendent and sequential head of Tibet. He was able to assume his position a few years later, but had to flee his home in 1959 due to the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has worked incessantly to encourage the peaceful liberation of Tibet ever since that particular time period. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as he is entitled, has taken this specific time of his banishment to tour the world discovering what is out there and presenting Buddhism to the rest of the world as he takes in other experiences. Although quite rare, he does provide interviews where he not only converses about Buddhism, but also cautiously speaking the advantages of religious diversity in the world.
The Dalai Lama is a profound believer of peace, compassion, love and nonviolence. He is considered by Tibetan Buddhists to be the reincarnation of the Buddha of Compassion and was meant to lead the people. Even though he has had a tough time throughout most of his life time and has struggles to free his homeland from the Chinese occupation he has consistently opposed the use of violence. “He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people.” (The Dalai Lama A Simple Path and An Open Heart pp. 800).Dalai Lama, since then, began teaching about the Four Noble Truths, in order to demonstrate that they offer an insightful path to greater happiness for individuals, and for humanity.
This series of protesting is called the Tibetan Independent Movement. They would do this in ways such as flying Tibetan flags in place of Chinese flags. This had very minimal effect but led to the Chinese Government cutting off essential supplies to the Tibetans to the point of riot and revolt. The Chinese Government accused the exiled Dalai Lama of organizing these riots as a part of a separatist plot.
It was told that the Dalai Lama himself is the 14th reincarnation and the last reincarnation. The Dalai Lama describes how he himself did not step on the path to Nirvana in order to help others gain enlightenment. As such it can be seen that the Dalai Lama is a pivotal role for Buddhism. The Dalai Lama is important to both individuals and communities as he is someone who is seen as a teacher and written many books in order for people to better understand buddhism. The quote “[Nirvana] can only be reached, not produced, by the Path . . . it transcends the intrinsic nature of matter . . . being attainable through special insight affected by strong effort” can be understood through how the Dalai Lama lives out his life. This is seen as the quote talks about how just learning about the path to enlightenment through the eightfold path is not enough to be on the path to Nirvana. People must also live the teachings of Buddhism in order to attain enlightenment. The Dalai Lama heavily impacts individuals and communities as the Dalai Lama himself is seen as a role model of the faith. This is seen as the Dalai Lama himself is seen as the living example of the Buddhist teachings. As such he
Over the past few decades, there have been many political problems in Tibet. This can be attributed to the ongoing problem between Tibet and China. Tibet had previously, for many years, been faced with occupation by the forces of the People's Republic of China in their land. This was very alarming to many people, including the highly respected Dalai Lama of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has been a very influential person in Tibet's history and many of the decisions he has made have directly affected the outcome of certain situations pertaining to the relationship between Tibet and China.
Buddhist way, while knowing that eventually one day he would reign in this position and have this important power. Through the years the Dalai Lama has done many things in the way of improving country relations and advocating human rights to all people. The selection taken from Ethics for the New Millennium focuses on t...
The Dalai Lama is the head of the school of Tibetan Buddhism. Dating back to Gendun Drub, who founded the Tashilhunpo Monastery, he and his successors are said to be the reincarnations of the bodhisattva of compassion Avalokiteshvara. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, became the head of Tibetan Buddhism in 1950. However, after unsuccessful protest of Communist China...
Starting in the early 1950’s China began an invasion and occupation of neighboring Tibet. For centuries Tibetans had lived in their own, independent country with their own religion and culture along with their own government. Over this time period China and its people have seen Tibet in a different way; they see it as always being part of China. This is an important issue for not just Tibetans and Chinese, but for the world even with many people never knowing that Tibet was in a struggle for freedom. The action that is going on in Tibet could, and in some cases already has, affected many people in many different countries. I believe that what the Chinese government is doing to Tibet is wrong in almost every way, and that action needs to be taken from outside governments or people to help change the issue. Throughout this paper I will further my argument with facts while showing the other side of the spectrum by writing how the Chinese are trying to help.
It is completely difficult to reach an agreement in the near future that ends Tibetans-Chinese dispute. It’s even impossible to judge the case based on some historical events that even Historians can’t fully agree on. The only two facts are that Tibetans economical life is so much better after the invasion and the Tibetans religious life is completely chained by the Chinese government. The one and only possible solution for this dispute is an absolute religious freedom to the Tibetans under the Chinese supervision; else, both sides will keep fight to what it seems forever.
Since the initial warming of U.S.-China relations in the early 1970’s, policymakers have had difficulty balancing conflicting U.S. policy concerns in the People’s Republic of China. In the strange world of diplomacy between the two, nothing is predictable. From Nixon to Clinton, presidents have had to reconcile security and human rights concerns with the corporate desire for expanded economic relations between the two countries. Nixon established ties with Mao Zedong’s brutal regime in 1972. And today Clinton’s administration is trying to influence China’s course from within a close economic and diplomatic relationship.
The Dalai Lama considers himself as an ordinary Buddhist monk, but because Buddhism is the official religion of the people of Tibet they believe that he is a 14th reincarnation of the original Dalai Lama, a powerful figure, who has the highest religious status, blessing and respect. They consider him as an enlightened being that helps other suffering beings, an ocean of wisdom, guidance, a compassionate man and a living Buddha based on tradition, belief and a heredity system. And because religion and politics are connected according to their belief and tradition, the Dalai Lama to them is not only a spiritual leader but he is the head of the Tibetan state, a political leader and a ‘god-king’ as well (Waterhouse, 2008). The Dalai Lama ‘Tenzin Gyatso’ was born in 1935 in Taktser, China. When he was two years old he got recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama, when he reached the age of five he was educated and groomed to assume his role. He then assumed his full political power when he reached fifteen years old, but