Mongolia says "No" to future Dalai Lama visits

Reported widely on the internet, this is from a story appearing in the NY Times on Friday.

Remarks by its foreign minister this past month were the latest sign that another country had withered under pressure from China over the contentious issue of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Mongolia, whose rulers played a role in establishing the Dalai Lama centuries ago, no longer welcomes him.

The minister, Tsend Munkh-Orgil, told the Onoodor newspaper that the government “feels sorry” for allowing the Dalai Lama to visit Mongolia in November and that the Dalai Lama “probably won’t be visiting Mongolia again during this administration,” according to Bloomberg News. The Foreign Ministry confirmed the remarks, according to The Associated Press.

The reaction by Mongolia surprised some scholars because of the country’s deep ties to the Dalai Lama, which date from the 1500s. Even the title alludes to those roots: Dalai means “ocean” in Mongolian.

• Read the entire article here.
• Photo of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama by Christopher Michel and is used under a CC BY 2.O license
#theChinaIssue

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

Interview with HH the Karmapa

A wonderful interview with His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. This is circulating well on the web, but in case you have not come across it yet...



Q: You get to see news from around the world, and you get to see now that Tibet is now is flushed with wealth and there's so much of material comfort. Do you think Tibetans are forgetting the cause?

Karmapa: Maybe not. Of course, they have lots of material progress, material development there. One way for the people it's more satisfying that there's only material development. What they need is more internal freedom They can have more access. They can have a sort of basic freedom and freedom of religion and freedom of speech and everything. I think those are very important sort of matters you could say … I think material development can bring some temporary comfort and temporary sort of satisfaction, but if people need more long term sort of happiness and more long term satisfaction, then they need more. More than material development.

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, Richard Davidson and Dan Harris

"(a) destroyer of our peace of mind is our own different emotions." - The Dalai Lama

Dan Harris speaks with His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist who has looked at the impact of meditation on the brain, in this 25 minute podcast.


ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

Dalai Lama condems terror attacks in Paris

His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Sunday condemned the series of terror attacks in Paris on Friday, which killed over 130 people.

“Violence is a reaction by short-sighted, out-of-control people. At 81, I believe it cannot be resolved through prayers or government help. We have to begin the change at individual level and then move on to neighborhood and society,” said the Tibetan leader.


Read the entire article at Phayul.com

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

Dalai Lama calls for more research into 20-year disappearance of Panchen Lama

The Chinese government sees the appointment of the next Dalai Lama as key to consolidating state control over Tibet, where separatist movements have flared since the 1950s, and to undermining the present Dalai Lama's influence.

"I think the Chinese government is more concerned with the Dalai Lama institution than myself," the Dalai Lama said on Monday at a news conference at Oxford University.



[Reuters 14 Sept. 2015] The Dalai Lama said on Monday more research was needed to settle the fate of the man he named as the Panchen Lama, the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism, who vanished two decades ago but is said by the Chinese to be living a normal life.

Gendun Choekyi Nyima, now 26, disappeared shortly after he was declared by the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet to be the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama when he was six years old.

The Chinese Communist Party has long maintained that Gendun Choekyi Nyima is not the real Panchen Lama, and in 1995, the government selected Gyaltsen Norbu as the 11th Panchen Lama.

"Some friends say that my Panchen Lama is still alive (...) and he has also had the opportunity to make a family," the Dalai Lama said.

Read the entire article at http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/14/us-china-britain-dalailama-idUSKCN0RE1N620150914

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

Silly question

You might also feel sort of nervous for the person who has the opportunity to ask the next question. This one would be hard to follow ...



The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

China: No Way to the Middle Way

DHARAMSHALA, August 27: In what comes as a major blow to the Tibetan exile government’s efforts of reestablishing dialogue with Beijing, China has said that the “Middle Way proposed by the Dalai Lama group” will never be accepted.

The United Front Work Department said in a release posted on its website that the Middle Way’s main intention is to split China and that the Dalai Lama’s envoys refuse to accept China’s idea of Sovereignty over Tibet. The UFWD also has accused the 1989 Nobel Peace laureate of “wanting to seize all the power and set up a semi-independent political regime.”

Chinese president Xi Jinping has called out to his communist officials in Tibet to "firmly take the initiative" in the fight against exile ‘separatist forces’, a term often found in Chinese propaganda to refer to Tibetan exiles, “vowing to crack down on all activities seeking to separate the country and destroy social stability.”


Read the entire article:
China will never accept Middle Way Approach: UFWD, by Tenzin Monlam
Phayul [Thursday, August 27, 2015 10:36]


The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

The Venerable Thich Nhat Hahn continues to make progress in his recovery, and arrived in San Francisco on 11 July "to receive a more intensive rehabilitation program that could be specifically adapted to his needs." Plum Village is inviting those who may wish to help to make a donation to assist with the additional costs associated with this new treatment. Donate at www.thichnhathanhfoundation.org/healingthay.

From the Plum Village news release:

To all Plum Village Practice Centers,
To all Practice Centers and Sanghas worldwide,
To our Dear Beloved Friends,

Since our last update, Thay has been able to communicate more clearly a very strong wish to intensify his recovery program. Thay is very determined to do everything possible to recover both his physical movement and speech. After many options were presented to Thay, he made a clear decision to travel to the United States to receive a more intensive rehabilitation program that could be specifically adapted to his needs.

We are happy to report that Thay arrived safely on the West Coast of the United States on the afternoon of July 11. In order to make the flight as safe as possible for Thay, he was flown in a private jet, generously offered by a kind friend. He was accompanied by Sister Chan Khong and the team of attendants who will be continuing their round-the-clock care for him during this new stage of recovery. Thay’s rehabilitation will be guided by a team of distinguished neurologists specializing in stroke and cognitive rehabilitation at UCSF Medical Center.

Read the entire news release at http://plumvillage.org/news/an-update-on-thays-health-14th-july-2015/
Photo: Thay enjoying the fragrance of a lotus flower, 16 June, 2015, from Plum Village.

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

The death of 65 year old Trulku Tenzin Delek Rinpcohe is being reported by several news services. Trulku Tenzin Delek had been held in Chinese prison since 2002. Suffering with a serious heart condition since at least 2009, he had been denied medical treatment by the Chinese authorities.

As reported online, "Tibetan sources said Trulku’s advocacy to develop social, medical, educational and religious institutions for Tibetan nomads in eastern Tibet and his work for environmental conservation in the face of indiscriminate logging and mining projects had earned him the wrath of the Chinese authorities in the region."

“Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was an innocent monk who suffered over 13 years of unjust imprisonment, torture and abuse in a Chinese prison for simply advocating for the rights and wellbeing of his people and for expressing his devotion to His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” said his cousin Geshe Nyima. “The Chinese government must immediately release his body so that our family and community may perform the last Buddhist religious rites.”

Read more at Phayul.com, U.K.Guardian

Photo from Wikipedia.com, uploaded by Nick.Gulotta,and used under a CreativeCommons by-sa 2.5 license. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenzin_Delek_Rinpoche#/media/File:TenzinDelek.jpg

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

A birthday wish for His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama.



"You see, my one most favorite prayer is: 'So long as space remains and suffering of sentient beings is there, I will remain in order to serve.' It is that sentence which gives me inner strength. You see time does not matter. Eons and eons…limitless eons…don’t matter so long as in your life…there is some fulfillment…some purpose. And the purpose means helping others, supporting, serving others." - His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, from an interview with Yolanda O'Bannon on 16 Feb.1996.

The full interview containing this quote can be found at http://www.yowangdu.com/tibetan-buddhism/dalai-lama-interview.html

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

The Dalai Lama Celebrates 80th Birthday

The Dalai Lama Celebrates 80th Birthday

"The Central Tibetan Administration, Riwo Geden and the Dhomay Association jointly offered a long life prayer offering to the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 80th birthday (Sunday) as per the Tibetan lunar calendar. " - Tenzin Menkyi (Phayul.com)


"The Nobel laureate will be in the United States when he turns 80 on July 6, but Sunday (was) his official birthday according to the Tibetan lunar calendar, and he celebrated with his family, fans and followers in Dharamsala." - Yahoo! News

top photo: Phayul Photo/Kunsang Gashon
lower photo: AFP Photo/Lobsang Wangyal

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

Q: Your Holiness, how do you control your anger in your daily life?

Q: Your Holiness, how do you control your anger in your daily life?

(great laughter everywhere)

"So, when anger develop, think - what are the causes? Also think, what would be the result of anger? Shouting. Then you realize that is too much anger…. So in order to have healthy body and healthy mind, that means calm mind - that is very important. - so anger is destroyer of calm mind … no use and creating more problem. Continuously think in these lines … and then eventually that kind of thinking becomes habit of your own mind. That is the way to reduce anger." - HH The 14th Dalai Lama

See the video Tackling Anger (3:59) at https://youtu.be/ydWgUQYP7JY

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Expresses Sadness about Nepal Earthquake

Dharamsala, HP, India, 26 April 2015 - Expressing great sadness about reports of the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal yesterday with the loss of many lives and widespread damage to property, His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote to the Nepalese Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala.

“The people of Nepal and Tibetans have been neighbours throughout history and many Tibetan refugees live in Nepal. I offer my condolences to you and to those who have lost members of their families, friends and their homes in this tragedy.”

He added: “As a token of solidarity with the people of Nepal, I have asked the Dalai Lama Trust to make a donation towards rescue and relief efforts.”

View the news release on the Dalai Lama web site

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

Tibetans celebrate 26th birthday of Panchen Lama, call for his release

DHARAMSHALA, April 25: Tibetans and supporters today celebrated the 26th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama Gedun Choekyi Nyima with appeals for his immediate release at a public event at the TCV day-school here.

“Kidnapped at the age of 6, Gedun Choekyi Nyima is considered the world’s youngest political prisoner. 17th May 2015 will mark 20 years since his enforced disappearance,” said Nyima Yangtso, Vice-President of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress. “Through this event, we call on the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances, Human Rights organizations and world governments to inquire about his wellbeing and to pressure the Chinese governments for his immediate release.”

The young Lama went missing after the exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognized him as the reincarnation of the tenth Panchen Lama on May 14, 1989.

Read the full story at the Phayul.com website

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

China whining over President Obama and the Dalai Lama

(DHARAMSHALA, January 31) China has accused the US President Barack Obama for letting the exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama use the White House as a podium to "promote anti-Chinese activities". It urged Obama to cancel the event...

“The U.S. leader’s planned meeting with Dalai is a gross interference in China’s domestic politics,” said Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry. “It is a severe violation of the principles of international relations. It will inflict grave damages upon the China-U.S. relationship.”

Beijing's protests when world leaders grant an audience to the Dalai Lama has now become a diplomatic routine for the Beijing leadership.

Chinese officials denounce the Dalai Lama as a separatist responsible for instigating self-immolations by Tibetans inside China. The Tibetan leader is widely respected around the world for his advocacy of peace and tolerance.

Read the full article
at Phayul.com



The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

Spread peace through your actions: Dalai Lama

Ghaziabad, Jan 27 (IANS): Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Tuesday urged students to spread the message of peace and prosperity through their actions.

Speaking at the DAV Public School in Sahibabad, he said India is a great country because of its cultural diversity, and the new generation is the future hope of this great country.

He exhorted the students to be scientists, doctors and economists.

"Through meditation this country's young generation is capable of leading the world," said Dalai Lama while interacting with the students of the school that had invited him as chief guest.


• Read the article at http://www.daijiworld.com/



The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

Visit to Mother Teresa's House, Kolkata, India (01/12/15)

Visit to Mother Teresa's House, Kolkata, India (January 15, 2015)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama looking at the displays at the museum in Mother Teresa's House in Kolkata, West Bengal, India on January 12, 2015.
Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL



Visit to Mother Teresa's House, Kolkata, India (January 15, 2015)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to the sisters, and staff of the Missionaries of Charity at Mother Teresa's House in Kolkata, West Bengal, India on January 12, 2015. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

• Additional photos at dalailama.com

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

"no one can fill the shoes of the Dalai Lama"

An interview with Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile was published by The Diplomat, premier international current-affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific region. A portion of the interview centered around the question of whether or not the institution of Dalai Lama should continue following the death of the XIVth Dalai Lama.

Recently, the Dalai Lama said that the institution of Dalai Lama should end with him. He was quoted as saying that it would be better that the institution of Dalai Lama goes rather than an incompetent person take over.

I think he often says that. Logically, what he is saying is that it is better to have a popular Dalai Lama. People [are more likely to] remember the institution with a popular Dalai Lama than with some nondescript Dalai Lama. But the institution of the Dalai Lama has been very successful. If you read the history of all the Dalai Lamas almost all have been successful. Unfortunately, between the 8th and 12th the Dalai Lamas did not live long. Almost all the Dalai Lamas have left a strong legacy. So long as the Dalai Lama lives long the legacy will be good.

Still, do you fear what comes after this Dalai Lama?

Obviously no one can fill the shoes of the Dalai Lama. That is a given. He is a global statesman, a Nobel Laureate of international stature. But then this is about Tibet and the Tibetan people. Tibet as a nation at the roof of the world, the Tibet plateau will be there. The Tibetan people will be there to continue the struggle. It is certain that we will continue like any other conventional movement. The 15th Dalai Lama will be there. The younger generation is more talented, more skillful, more educated. We will be strong.

Some analysts say that the Chinese government is waiting for the present Dalai Lama to disappear from the scene so that it can negotiate a final settlement with a pliant new Dalai Lama.

That strategy is wrong because whenever you reach an agreement, it has to be delivered to the people. How you do that? With His Holiness the Dalai Lama whatever agreement you reach with him the absolute majority of Tibet should agree with that. Then we will follow the Dalai Lama’s direction and implementation would also be effective. Now if you are waiting for a scenario where actually you don’t have anyone to deal with then it would be more problematic. An agreement is not a piece of paper, an agreement has to be implemented.

• Read the entire interview at The Diplomat website
• Image Credit: Western Connecticut State University Peggy Stewart via Flickr.com

The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

Dalai Lama watercolor by Lynn Cornish

As part of a daily watercolor painting challenge, California artist Lynn Cornish created this wonderful watercolor portrait of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. It is shared here with her permission. For more about her work, see lynncornishwatercolors.com



The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook

Nobel summit moved to Rome after Dalai Lama visa row

(as reported by Indiolink)

A summit of Nobel peace laureates scheduled to be held in Cape Town has been moved to Rome after the South African government failed to issue a visa to the Dalai Lama, organizers said.

The gathering will now take place in the Italian city from December 12-14, the summit’s secretariat said in a statement. The event was “suspended” in September “after the South African government failed to issue a visa for His Holiness the Dalai Lama who had hoped to attend the world peace summit in Cape Town,” it said.

Read the entire article at http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleS.php?id=112314090510

Photo found on internet without attribution.


The Dalai Lama Blog

on Facebook