It may happen that here in Tibet, religion and government will be attacked both from without and within. Unless we guard our own country, it will happen that the Dalai and Panchen Lamas, the Father and the Son, and all the revered holders of the Faith, will disappear and become nameless. Monks and their monasteries will be destroyed. The rule of law will be weakened. The lands and property of government officials will be seized. They themselves will be forced to serve their enemies or wander the country like beggars. All beings will be sunk in great hardship and overwhelming fear; the days and nights will drag on slowly in suffering.
- The Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Thupten Gyatso

TIBET is an ancient country steeped in mystery and wonder. It had been isolated in the Himalayas as a peaceful Buddhist country not open to foreigners until 1949, when the Communist Chinese, under the control of Mao Tse-Tung invaded and killed over 1 million Tibetans and destroyed monasteries, homes and culture. The Tibetans follow five main Buddhist rules or precepts:-

1. I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.
2. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
4. I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.
5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

So you see how hard it was for Tibetans to fight against fully trained soldiers. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet fled the country in 1959 with his closest friends, advisors and family. They trekked over the Himalayas, eventually finding refuge over the border in India. Many more Tibetans still follow his journey in an attempt to escape from the cruel Chinese.

A lot more on this subject and other related matters can be found on links that I will provide.

I am a member of The Tibet Society of the UK. This is an English based charity that helps Tibetans In Exile all across the globe.
Their website will tell you how to join.

Two interesting films that are both entertaining and informing about Tibet are:

Seven Years In Tibet
Kundun

The Kashag is the government of The Dalai Lama and the Tibetans in Exile:

The Kashag, Central Tibetan Secretariat, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala 176215, India
e-mail: kashag@gov.tibet.net

The Dalai Lama himself is a living manifestation of the Boddhisatva (Buddhist deity) Avalokiteshvara, also known as Chenrezig. He is said to have been reborn in the first Dalai Lama, many centuries ago and the Dalai Lama is also reborn, resulting in the current Dalai Lama, the fourteenth, Tenzin Gyatso.

Office Of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Thekchen Choeling
P.O. McLeod Ganj
Dharamsala 176 219
India

Other religious leaders and re-incarnations include the Panchen Lama, the current of whom was kidnapped by the Chinese a few years ago along with his family and has not been heard from since. He is only a young child and is said to be currently kept in captivity and The Karmapa. At present, there is a debate about which Karmapa is real. There are two candidates, both of which are recognised by different people as the real Karmapa, another manifestation of the Buddha Of Compassion.

Ugyen Trinley Dorje, is regarded by most as the real Karmapa, including HH The Dalai Lama, while Thaye Dorje, now living in France, is regarded by The Shamarpa and other Buddhist Lamas as the real one.

Make up your own mind by using the links below.

If you want to help Tibet, or learn more about it, e-mail ME or follow some links below,


Matthew Webb