More Thoughts on More Lectures

12/16 The Tibetan Struggle: A Cultural Clash

Prior to this trip and learning about this trip all I knew of the Dalai Lama was that he was a monk who traveled the world giving teachings. I never knew how deeply rooted he was in the Tibetan Buddhist faith. I knew very little of Tibetan Buddhism or Buddhism itself before this trip, and even with my pre-trip research about history of Buddhism I still know so little. Yesterday, we had a speaker who, when I asked Jhon later about him, he said that he was dangerous; a real political activist. Speaking to us he was relatively calm natured, but obviously passionate! He spoke about his vision and opinion on Tibet, his personal history, and his poetry. His vision was of Tibet to be free, but to him it was more of a knowing it would happen, just waiting for the right time. He started talking about his idea of spirituality, not in anyway related to faith, but related to a calm state of mind and peace of mind. He said that the Tibetan struggle wouldn’t ever die because the struggle was within each person. There is such a pride and pure faith in each Tibetan that won’t be squandered. He continued into the unique power that Tibet holds in its natural existence. The culture is so rural that the people are not dependent upon electricity and modern conveniences. The geography of the land is so rugged that the Chinese only got a rail system in place in 2006. He said that was Tibet itself fighting back. His most powerful argument to me was about the Dalai Lama and the pure faith the people have in him. They see no problems with their living style and therefore have no interest in changing to the “better” government of democracy. Why should they give up something that has given them a happy and peaceful way of life for so long in order to change to something that, to them, forces itself in preaching that it is better and kills them if they don’t join? Next, he talked about the current events of Tibet. How from the lack of exposure and results the Tibetans stopped protesting in 1993. To him, this was a movement to stop wasting lives because nothing was happening. From the rest of the world looking in, Tibet appeared to have given up and accepted the Chinese rule. 2008 and the revolt was the opening that Tibet saw to make a new statement. There was no organization that decided this; it was the people wanting to show that the struggle lived on. The final part was to discuss how this newfound struggle and media attention showed the Tibetans the true problems that they face. Before this, all parts of Tibet were acting as individuals they didn’t see the Chinese as invading them so their independence wasn’t threatened. Now with the media coverage and people talking, the once independent people are beginning to see themselves as a country and a people, and this is a unity Tibet has not seen or known before. As for my ideas about all of this: I see Tibet struggling not just against China, but against the world if they turn too much attention from getting help from around the world. With democracy as the “best” type of government if Tibet wants to hold its way of living it will be forever in struggle with the western world. As a sort of conclusion, I should say from what I’ve seen there will be very little struggle inside Tibet to become democratic, it will be the rest of the world struggling with Tibet to force them into democracy.