Red China’s construction of hydropower plants and river damming activity in Tibet is “illegal” for Occupation of Tibet is illegal.Trouble in Tibet – Illegal Actions of Red China. Xiluodu Hydropower Project, Jinsha River, Tibet.
Red China’s construction of hydropower plants and river damming activity in Tibet is “illegal” for Occupation of Tibet is illegal.
Red Dragon – Red China – Real Evil Face: Cultural Genocide, and Ecocide, deliberate destruction of Tibet’s delicate Ecological Systems.
China starts construction of Tibet’s biggest hydropower plant on upper reaches of Yangtze River Power plant expected to provide electricity to developed eastern provinces
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 30 April, 2016, 4:01am
LI JING
China has started construction of the first hydropower station on the Jinsha River – part of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River – that will supply electricity to the economically well-off regions in the country’s east, official media reported.
The Suwalong hydro power project at the junction of Mangkam county in Tibet and Batang county in Sichuan province has a design capacity of 1.2 gigawatts and will be able to generate about 5,400 gigawatt hours of electricity a year when completed in 2021, Xinhua reported.
The design capacity is more than double that of the Zangmu hydropower plant, Tibet’s largest existing hydro project, which was completed in October on the Yarlung Zongbo river. It is hoped that the 18 billion yuan (HK$21.5 billion) Suwalong dam, could pave the way for other projects in the headwaters of the adjacent Nu (Salween) and Lancang (Mekong) rivers to “fuel development” of hydro power in Tibet, the official website Tibet.cn reported.
China’s second largest dam the Xiluodu dam, under construction along the Jinsha River in Yongshan County, Yunnan near the border Sichuan.
The Suwalong project will also boost local social and economic development in Tibet, according to the website. Construction of the 112-metre-high dam is expected to start next year.
Developed by China Huadian Corp, the Suwalong dam is being built at a time when the weak grid infrastructure and falling demand for electricity has left many hydropower stations lying idle in the mountainous southwest region.
More that 20,000 GWh of hydro electricity were not used in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, which neighbour Tibet, in 2014. Energy experts estimated that enough water to generate 40,000 GWh was simply allowed to run through turbines in the region last year.
Trouble in Tibet – Illegal Actions of Red China. Jin anqiao Hydropower Station on Jinsha River.Trouble in Tibet – Illegal Actions of Red China. Temporary Bridge across Jinsha River Hydropower Station Project.Trouble in Tibet – Illegal Actions of Red China. Mini hydropower plant on the banks of Jinsha River, Sichuan/Yunnan border.Trouble in Tibet – Illegal Actions of Red China. Third largest Hydropower Plant across Jinsha River, Tibet.Trouble in Tibet – Illegal Actions of Red China. Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station.Trouble in Tibet – Illegal Actions of Red China. Xiluodu Hydropower Project, Jinsha River, Tibet.Trouble in Tibet – Illegal Actions of Red China. River damming and hydropower projects in Tibet. Dam on Jinsha River.
The Xiluodu double-curvature arch dam was built by China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGPC). It is the second largest dam in China, next only to the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) in terms of size, construction cost and generating capacity.
The new dam was constructed in the lower Jinsha River, which is a major tributary of the Yangtze River. The dam is located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River between Yunnan Province and Sichuan Province.
Construction of the CNY50.34bn ($6.2bn) dam project began in December 2005, with the concreting commencing in 2008. Construction of the dam was completed in 2013.
With a reservoir capacity of 12.67 billion cubic metre (bcm) and flood control capacity of 4.65bcm, the Xiluodu Dam and TGD is capable of preventing floods up to 4.6bcm in the middle and lower parts of the Yangtze.
TIBET CONSCIOUSNESS – GLOBAL WARMING – CLIMATE ACTION. GLACIERS MELTING. THE ORIGIN OF YANGTZE RIVER.
Trouble in Tibet – Tibetan Way of Life under Constant Surveillance
TROUBLE IN TIBET – YOKE OF OCCUPATION. RED CHINA IMPOSES CONSTRAINTS ON TIBETAN BUDDHIST MONASTERIES. Chinese surveillance unit operating inside Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Police inside keep an eye on monks day and night, says a source.
Tibet is not part of Red China. Tibet is yoked with Red China by her military occupation. This yoking describes subjection, bondage, servitude, enslavement, hardship, burden, trouble, pain, suffering, and sorrow of Tibetan people.
BIG NEWS NETWORK.com
CHINESE AUTHORITIES SLAP NEW CONSTRAINTS ON TIBETAN BUDDHIST MONASTERIES
RFA Wednesday 30th March, 2016
TROUBLE IN TIBET – YOKE OF OCCUPATION. RED CHINA SLAPS NEW CONSTRAINTS ON TIBETAN BUDDHIST MONASTERIES. Chinese surveillance unit operating inside Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Police inside keep an eye on monks day and night, says a source.
Chinese authorities in Tibet have imposed new restrictions on monasteries in a county in northwestern China’s Qinghai province, intensifying an existing ban on displaying photos of exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, Tibetan sources in the region and in exile said.
The restrictions pertain to Rongwo and other monasteries in Rebgong (in Chinese, Tongren) county, Malho (Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in northwestern China’s Qinghai province, a native of Rebgong who lives in exile in Europe said.
“During the month of March this year, the Chinese authorities imposed unprecedented restrictions on the display of the Dalai Lama’s photo in Rebgong’s Rongwo monastery and in other monasteries,” he told RFA’s Tibetan Service.
Authorities issued four restrictions to be implemented at Rongwo monastery, which was founded in the 14th century and is located 124 kilometers (77 miles) from the provincial capital Xining, and other Tibetan Buddhist institutions in the county, he said.
The first mandate requires monasteries to strictly follow the leadership of local management committees in implementing rules and regulations, he said.
Chinese authorities set up the management committees in early 2012 in most Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, placing them under the direct control of government officials who are permanently installed in the lamaseries.
The policy was enacted to ensure that monks and nuns do not participate in activities calling for an independent Tibet or disturb the social order through protests or self-immolations.
“The permanent posting of government or party officials inside monasteries is unprecedented in Tibet, let alone at such a senior level,” Human Rights Watch said in a March 2012 statement after the policy was established.
Under a previous policy, Tibetan monasteries had been administered by so-called democratic management committees whose members were nominated and selected by government and local Communist Party officials, although the body itself was comprised of monks elected by their own communities.
OTHER DIRECTIVES
The second requirement specifies that the custodians of shrines and temples should sign off on the management committee instructions to hold them responsible for the policy, the source said.
The third directive mandates that monks in charge of temples and shrines should oversee the safety of all statues and other property and prevent their fellow monks from participating in any activities that could bring disgrace to the monasteries, he said. Such activities include putting up posters against Chinese policy in Tibet and being involved in self-immolation protests.
There have been 144 self-immolations by Tibetans living in China since a wave of fiery protests began in 2009. Most protests feature demands for Tibetan freedom and the return of the 14th Dalai Lama, although a handful of self-immolation protests have occurred over local land or property disputes.
The last directive requires that all statues and photos of the Dalai Lama be removed from shrines and temples, the source said. If anyone is discovered violating this rule, he will be expelled from the monastery and could be handed over to authorities for prosecution.
“Shrines and temples that refuse to follow the instructions could be closed,” he said. “All these restrictions were imposed just this year, but they were planned more than a year ago.” In monasteries in Rebgong, a local government staff member is assigned to one to two monks to educate them on official rules and policy on regular basis as detailed in a government-issued instruction booklet, he said.
The officials are held responsible for the activities of the monks they instruct in the event that they commit an offense against Chinese rule and policy, a source from inside Tibet said.
The 80-year-old Dalai Lama, whose photos are banned by Chinese authorities in Tibetan areas, fled Tibet into exile in India in 1959 and is reviled by Chinese leaders as a dangerous separatist who seeks to split the formerly self-governing region from Beijing’s rule.
The Dalai Lama, however, says he seeks only “meaningful autonomy” for Tibet as a part of China with protections for the region’s language, religion, and culture.
Reported by Sonam Wangdu and Dorjee Tso for RFA’s Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Copyright 1998-2014, RFA. Published with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036
Trouble in Tibet – Yoke of Occupation. Serdzong Monastery in Qinghai Province. Red China slaps constraints on Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. Chinese surveillance unit operating inside Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Police inside keep an eye on monks day and night, says a source.Trouble in Tibet – Yoke of Occupation. The Gate of Rongwo Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. Red China controls Buddhist Monasteries. Chinese surveillance unit operating inside Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Police inside keep an eye on monks day and night, says a source.Trouble in Tibet – Yoke of Occupation. Red China controls Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. Dolma Square. Rongwo Monastery. Chinese surveillance unit operating inside Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Police inside keep an eye on monks day and night, says a source.Trouble in Tibet – Yoke of Occupation. Red China controls all aspects of Tibetan Buddhist Religion. Rongpo Gonchen, Tibet. Chinese surveillance unit operating inside Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Police inside keep an eye on monks day and night, says a source.Trouble in Tibet – Yoke of Occupation. Red China Controls Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. Dolma Square in front of Rongwo Monastery. Chinese surveillance unit operating inside Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Police inside keep an eye on monks day and night, says a source.Trouble in Tibet – Yoke of Occupation. Red China imposes severe constraints on Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. Chinese surveillance unit operating inside Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Police inside keep an eye on monks day and night, says a source.Trouble in Tibet – Yoke of Occupation. Red China imposed severe constraints on Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. Rich interior of Samye Monastery. Chinese surveillance unit operating inside Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Police inside keep an eye on monks day and night, says a source.
Trouble in Tibet – Yoke of Occupation. Red China controls all aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhist monks and other worshippers gather on the premises of the Palyul Thartang Gonchen Monastery in the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, western China’s Qinghai province, in an undated photo. Chinese surveillance unit operating inside Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Police inside keep an eye on monks day and night, says a source.
TIBET EQUILIBRIUM – TIBET IS NOT IN CHINA – CHINA IS IN TIBET
TIBET EQUILIBRIUM – TIBET IS NOT IN CHINA – CHINA IS IN TIBET AS AN OCCUPYING POWER. POTALA PALACE IS MUCH OLDER THAN THE WHITE HOUSE.
US Lawmakers in a recent visit to Red China have discovered that Tibet is not in China. The problem of Power Equilibrium is explained as due to China is in Tibet as an Occupying Power.
The Spirits of Special Frontier ForceThe Spirits of Special Frontier Force, Ann Arbor, MI. At Special Frontier Force, I host ‘The Living Tibetan Spirits’ to…
TIBET EQUILIBRIUM – TIBET IS NOT IN CHINA – CHINA IS IN TIBET AS AN OCCUPYING POWER.
U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, left, greets Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as she arrives for a bilateral meeting at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing, Nov. 13, 2015
VOA News
November 14, 2015 2:56 PM
A group of U.S. Congress members has completed the first such trip to Tibet in at least seven years, saying they recognize China’s commitment to building infrastructure in the territory but remain concerned about its cultural, religious and linguistic heritage.
Nancy Pelosi, leader of the opposition Democratic Party in the House of Representatives, said she and six other party members also visited Beijing and Hong Kong. In a formal statement issued from an air base in Alaska on the way home, she said the trip’s purpose had been “to deepen understanding, increase mutual respect and further strengthen U.S.-China ties.” Pelosi, a strong critic of China’s Tibet policy who was denied permission to visit the region six years ago, noted that her congressional delegation was the first to visit Tibet since a series of protests, demonstrations and violence there in 2008.
TIBET EQUILIBRIUM – TIBET IS NOT IN CHINA – CHINA IS IN TIBET AS AN OCCUPYING POWER.
Tibet’s 1,300-year-old Potala Palace, the Dalai Lama’s traditional home, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. “The delegation recognized China’s commitment to building infrastructure across China, including in Tibet, and addressing climate change,” her statement said.
But, it said, the lawmakers expressed concerns regarding “freedom of religion and expression for the Tibetan people; the preservation of Tibet’s unique cultural, religious and linguistic heritage; and diplomatic and public access to Tibet.”
Support for Dalai Lama
Pelosi conveyed to the Chinese government officials “the strong, bipartisan support the Dalai Lama enjoys in the Congress of the United States and among the American people,” the statement said.
The U.S. delegation also visited UNESCO World Heritage sites in Tibet, including the Potala Palace, which served as the living quarters and burial site for former Dalai Lamas; and the Jokhang Temple, a sacred destination for religious pilgrims. The delegation also met and observed monks at the Sera Monastery. Pelosi has been a frequent, fierce critic of China’s human-rights record in Tibet, and has been an advocate for the Himalayan region’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
TIBET EQUILIBRIUM – TIBET IS NOT IN CHINA – CHINA IS IN TIBET AS AN OCCUPYING POWER.
FILE – U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., second from left, smiles during a bilateral meeting with Zhang Ping, vice chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov. 12, 2015.
Chinese authorities accuse the Dalai Lama of separatism, claiming that he seeks independence for Tibet, which Beijing has ruled since 1951. The Dalai Lama insists he seeks only political autonomy.
The United States and the West have long accused Beijing of suppressing demands for greater religious and cultural freedom in Tibet.
High-level meetings
In Beijing, the delegation met with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and leaders of National People’s Congress.
The delegation and Chinese officials discussed the importance of building upon agreements reached by Presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping on climate change, protection of cyberspace and countering the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Li said Friday that China and the United States have more interests in common than they have differences, and he emphasized the steady growth of the two nations’ relations. Human rights
The U.S. delegation, however, reiterated the imperative of respect for religious freedom and expression in Tibet; autonomy and democracy in Hong Kong; and respect for human and women’s rights across China,” Pelosi said.
TIBET EQUILIBRIUM – TIBET IS NOT IN CHINA – CHINA IS IN TIBET AS AN OCCUPYING POWER.
FILE – U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, speaks with Zhang Ping, vice chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, as she arrives for a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov. 12, 2015.
The delegation also expressed specific concerns related to the recent arrest and detention of human rights lawyers and activists.
At Peking University in the Chinese capital, the delegation participated in a climate change forum with students who shared their determination to address the climate crisis. In Hong Kong, the U.S. delegation met with top local officials and legislators and discussed the importance of preserving Hong Kong’s autonomy and the value of U.S.-Hong Kong bilateral relations.
The U.S. delegation included Representatives Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, Betty McCollum and Tim Walz of Minnesota, Joyce Beatty of Ohio, and Alan Lowenthal and Ted Lieu of California.
VOA’s Cindy Saine-Spang contributed to this report.
Tibet Equilibrium – China is in Tibet as an Occupying Power.
Tibet Equilibrium – China is in Tibet as an Occupying Power.
Tibet Equilibrium – China is in Tibet as an Occupying Power.
Tibet Equilibrium – Tibet not in China. China is in Tibet as an occupying Power.
Tibet Equilibrium. Tibet is not in China. China is in Tibet as an Occupying Power.
Tibet Awareness – The Great Masters of Nalanda Mahavihar
TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA.
I am pleased to share an article titled ‘The Seventeen Pandits of Nalanda Monastery’ by Professor James Blumenthal Ph.D. who gives a brief account of Nalanda University and its great influence upon Tibetan Buddhism. I pay my respectful tribute to Professor Blumenthal who passed away on October 09, 2015. May Lord God bless his soul.
THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA – CENTER OF BUDDHIST LEARNING IN ANCIENT INDIA:
TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. ACHARYA NAGARJUNA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. ACHARYA NAGARJUNA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. ARYADEVA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. ASANGA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. VASUBANDHU.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. DIGNAGA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA – DHARMAKIRTI.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. GUNA PRABHA AND HIS DISCIPLE SHAKYA PRABHA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. BUDDHAPALITA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT TEACHERS OF NALANDA. BHAVAVIVEKA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. ACHARYA BHAVAVIVEKA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. CHANDRAKIRTI.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. SHANTARAKSHITA.TIBET AWARENESS - THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. SHANTARAKSHITA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. KAMALASHILA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. KAMALASHILA. BHAVANAKRAMA – THREE STAGES OF MEDITATION.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. HARIBHADRA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. VIMUKTISENA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. SHANTIDEVA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. ATISHA.TIBET AWARENESS – THE GREAT TEACHERS OF NALANDA. ATISHA.TIBET AWARENESS – GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. LAMA ATISHA.TIBET AWARENESS – GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. ATISHA.TIBET AWARENESS – GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. ATISHA.TIBET AWARENESS – GREAT TEACHERS OF NALANDA. ATISHA.TIBET AWARENESS – GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. ATISHA.
THE SEVENTEEN PANDITS OF NALANDA MONASTERY
BY JAMES BLUMENTHAL, INFO-BUDDHISM.COM Posted on October 8th, 2015
Oregon, USA — Nalanda Monastic University was the greatest center of Buddhist learning in India’s glorious past. With upwards of 30,000 monks and nuns including 2,000 teachers living, studying and practicing there during its heyday, Nalanda was unmatched.
Established during the Gupta Dynasty in the late 5th to early 6th century C.E. under the patronage of the Gupta king Shakraditra, the institution survived for six hundred years, through the Pala Dynasty, until ultimately being destroyed in 1203 by Turkish Muslim invaders. In 1204 the last throne-holder (abbot) of Nalanda, Shakyashribhadra, fled to Tibet. In the intervening centuries, however, many of India’s greatest Buddhist masters trained and taught at Nalanda.
Nalanda’s renown as a center for higher learning spread far. It attracted students from as far away as Greece, Persia, China, and Tibet. Although Buddhism was naturally the central focus of study, other subjects including astronomy, medicine (Ayurveda), grammar, metaphysics, logic, philosophy of language, classical Hindu philosophy, non-Indian philosophy and so forth were all regularly studied. Chinese pilgrims who visited Nalanda in the 7th century C.E. give detailed accounts of the physical premises and activities in their travelogues. For example, they describe three nine-story buildings comprising the library that housed millions of titles in hundreds of thousands of volumes on a vast variety of topics!
Much like the large Gelug monasteries of Sera, Drepung, and Ganden, living quarters were divided according to regions of the world from which the monks and nuns came. There are clear records of a well-populated Tibet Vihara at Nalanda during the later period. In fact, history reveals that at one point there was a Tibetan gatekeeper at Nalanda. The gatekeepers were traditionally the top scholars/debaters at the institution. Their job was to stand “guard” at the gate and defeat in debate any non-Buddhist who proposed to challenge the scholarship and ideas of the institution. If they could not defeat the gatekeeper in the debate, they would not be allowed further into the monastery.
The Seventeen Pandits of Nalanda Monastery refers to a grouping of seventeen of the most important and influential Mahayana Buddhist masters from India’s past. His Holiness the Dalai Lama frequently refers to himself as a follower of the lineage of the seventeen Nalanda masters today. He even wrote an exquisite poem in praise of the seventeen. So who were they? Historically speaking, this particular grouping of Indian masters seems to have become prominent quite recently and to be based on attributions of lam-rim (stages of the path) lineages in Tibet. A likely predecessor to this grouping is an Indian reference to the Six Ornaments of the Southern Continent (i.e., India) and the Two Excellent Ones. These eight form the core of the seventeen.
The Six Ornaments first include Nagarjuna (c. 2nd century C.E.), the revealer of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras and the systematizer and founder of the Middle Way (Madhyamaka) school of Buddhist philosophy. The most famous treatise of his six texts of reasoning is The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way, probably the single most analyzed, commented upon and discussed philosophical treatise in Buddhism’s history.
The second of the six ornaments is Aryadeva (c. 3rd century C.E.) who is sometimes referred to as Nagarjuna’s heart disciple and sometimes simply as his first authoritative commentator. Like Nagarjuna, Aryadeva is universally revered as an authoritative voice for all subsequent Middle Way commentators and is most well-known for his treatise The Four Hundred Stanzas. Aryadeva was born as the son of a Sinhalese king and is considered the co-founder of Mahayana philosophy
In addition to the two Middle Way schoolmasters, included among the six ornaments are the two earliest masters from the Mind-Only school (Yogachara/Chittamatra): Asanga (300–390 C.E.), the founder, and his disciple and half-brother, Vasubandhu (c. 4th century C.E.) one of the system’s earliest and most authoritative commentators. In addition to his own treatises, Asanga is also famous, according to tradition, for retrieving the five Maitreya Buddha texts¹ directly from Maitreya in his pure land, Tushita. With regards to Vasubandhu, before becoming a leading exponent of the Mind-Only school, he wrote a famous treatise from the perspective of the Great Exposition school (Vaibhashika) entitled The Treasure of Knowledge (Abhidharmakosha) which is utilized extensively in Tibetan scholastic studies. Traditionally, seven years is dedicated to the study of this text in the Gelug geshe curriculum.
Two additional Mind-Only school proponents round out the six ornaments: Dignaga (6th century C.E.) and Dharmakirti (600–660 C.E.). The two are most famous as the groundbreakers in Buddhist logic and epistemology. Specifically, they wrote philosophical treatises on the contents and means of accruing valid knowledge. They argued that from the Buddhist perspective there were two sources of valid knowledge: logical inference and direct perception. Much of their writings were detailed elaborations on these topics.
The Two Excellent Ones refers to the two great Vinaya masters: Gunaprabha (c. 9th century C.E.) andShakyaprabha. Gunaprabha was a disciple of Vasubandhu’s and is most famous for his treatise, the Vinayasutra. Shakyaprabha was a disciple of Shantarakshita’s (also among the seventeen) and the other major teacher of Vinaya among the seventeen. He is particularly associated Mulasarvastivada-Vinaya line which has been followed in Tibet since the time of the early Dharma King, Ralpachen (born c. 806 C.E.). His teacher Shantarakshita began this ordination lineage in Tibet when he ordained the first seven Tibetan monks and founded Samye Monastery.
Beyond the Six Ornaments and Two Excellent Ones, are nine additional Indian Buddhist masters, each of whom profoundly impacted the shapes of Indian and/or Tibetan Buddhism for centuries.
Buddhapalita (470–550 C.E.) was one of the great commentators on Nagarjuna’s Madhyamaka thought. He is the earliest Indian Madhyamaka specifically identified as a proponent of the sub-school of Madhyamaka known in Tibet as the Middle Way Consequence School (Prasangika-Madhyamaka). He received this designation in Tibet due to his use of a form of reasoning that drew out the absurd logical consequences of the philosophical rivals of Madhyamakas when he commented on Nagarjuna’s root text on wisdom.
Buddhapalita was subsequently criticized by another Madhyamaka master, Bhavaviveka (500–578 C.E.). He argued that a proper Madhyamaka commentator ought to do more than show the absurdities of other’s views; they also have a responsibility to establish the view of emptiness and to do so with autonomous inferences (svatantranumana). He subsequently became known in Tibet as the “founder” and primary proponent of a sub-school of Madhyamaka known as the Middle Way Autonomy school (Svatantrika-Madhyamaka).
Chandrakirti (600–650 C.E.) is revered by many in Tibet as the founder of the Middle Way Consequence school, often regarded as the highest Buddhist philosophical explanation of reality. He famously came to the defense of Buddhapalita’s use of consequentialist reasoning contra Bhavaviveka’s criticism. In a line of thinking further developed by Je Tsongkhapa (1357–1419 CE), they argued that a Madhyamaka philosopher ought not to utilize autonomous inferences because the very use of that sort of reasoning entailed the acceptance of an inherent nature in the subject of the argument. Since the existence of an inherent nature in anything was precisely what Nagarjuna was refuting, the use of autonomous inference seemed like a fatal flaw for a Madhyamaka. Though historical evidence suggests that Chandrakirti’s views likely did not have extensive support in India until the late period there, by the 13th century in Tibet, his views on a proper understanding of Madhyamaka began to dominate the philosophical landscape and continue to today.
Shantarakshita (725–788 C.E.) was a towering figure in late Indian Buddhist philosophy and immensely influential in Tibet. Philosophically, he is famous for integrating the three major lines of Mahayana philosophy into an integrated coherent system. These were the Madhyamaka, the Yogachara and the logico-epistemological thought of Dharmakirti. Beyond India, he spent the last seventeen years of his life in Tibet, ordaining its first monks and serving as abbot of it first monastery. Moreover, probably nobody has exerted a greater influence on Tibetan Buddhism in terms of the way in which Tibetans approach philosophy. Shantarakshita virtually taught Tibetans how to do philosophy during the early dissemination of the Dharma there. Two of Shantarakshita’s disciples (in addition to Shakyabhadra mentioned above) are also included in the list of seventeen. Kamalashila (c. 8th century C.E.) likewise was an immensely important figure in India and Tibet. Like his teacher, Kamalashila wrote extensively on Madhyamaka and pramana (logic and epistemology) as well as on meditation theory and practice. His three Stages of Meditation (Bhavanakrama) texts are among the most cited in traditional Tibet expositions on the topics. Moreover, also like his teacher, he spent extensive time in Tibet during the early dissemination. He famously and successfully defended the Indian gradual approach to enlightenment at the Great Debate at Samye (also called the Council of Lhasa) against the instantaneous approach advocated by Hvashang Mohoyen, the Chinese master. Tibetan histories often recount that since that time Tibetan have followed the Indian method.
Haribhadra (700–770 C.E.), the last of Shantarakshita’s disciples included in the group of seventeen, wrote the most famous and commonly utilized of the 21 Indian commentaries on The Ornament of Clear Realizations by Maitreya and the Mahayana path system in general. The other major commentator on The Ornament of Clear Realizations to be included among the seventeen is Vimuktisena (c. 6th century C.E.) whose text Illuminating the Twenty Thousand: A Commentary on the Ornament is likewise extensively cited by subsequent Tibetan authors.
Shantideva (c. 8th century C.E.) composed what is perhaps the most important and influential classic on how to practice in the Mahayana tradition: A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhisattvacaryavatara) while a monk at Nalanda. His text on the development of bodhicitta and the practice of the six perfections is revered and studied extensively by all Tibetan traditions. His Holiness the Dalai Lama often refers to his favorite passage in Buddhist literature as coming from the dedication section of this text: “As long as space endures, as long as sentient being remain, may I too remain, to dispel the miseries of the world.”
The final master included among the seventeen was the Bengali scholar-adept Atisha (980–1054 C.E.), who was a critical figure in the later dissemination of Buddhism in Tibet. Like many of the others on this list, Atisha’s impact on the shape of Tibetan Buddhism was immense. His classic, The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment (Bodhipathpradipa) is widely regarded as the root text on the graduated stages of the path presentation found in Tibetan classics like Je Tsongkhapa’s The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (also commonly referred to by the abbreviated Tibetan name, Lamrim Chenmo), Gampopa’s Jeweled Ornament of Liberation and Patrul Rinpoche’s The Words of My Perfect Teacher among others. In addition to the stages of the path teachings, Atisha also introduced the lojong, or mind training, the tradition of Mahayana practice in Tibet. Lojong teachings are quintessential Mahayana teachings in that their aim is to eliminate both the self-cherishing attitude and self-grasping by teaching means to cultivate the altruistic compassion of bodhicitta and the direct realization of emptiness. Like the stages of the path teachings, the mind training tradition is one that is embraced by all Tibetan lineages.
Together the seventeen great masters of Nalanda monastery represent the real high points of Indian Mahayana. The inspiration and teachings of these great masters continue to bless practitioners of the Mahayana to the present day.
Notes
¹ The five Maitreya texts are The Ornament of Clear Realization (Abhisamayalamkara), The Ornament of Mahayana Sutras (Mahayanasutralamkara), Distinguishing the Middle from the Extremes (Madhyantavibhaga), Distinguishing Phenomena and the Nature of Phenomena (Dharma-dharmata-vibhaga), and The Sublime Continuum (Uttaratantra).
JAMES BLUMENTHAL, Ph.D. is an associate professor of Buddhist philosophy at Oregon State University and professor of Buddhist Studies at Maitripa College. He is the author of The Ornament of The Middle Way: A Study of the Madhyamika Thought of Shantarakshita along with more than 40 articles in scholarly journals and popular periodicals on various aspects of Buddhist thought and practice. He recently finished work with Geshe Lhundup Sopa on Steps on the Path: Vol. IV, a commentary on the ‘ Shamatha’ chapter of Lamrim Chanmo of Tsongkhapa which is due for publication in the fall.
TIBET AWARENESS – GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA. BUDDHIST CENTER OF LEARNING WHICH FLOURISHED FROM 427 TO 1197 CE. AT NALANDA, BIHAR, INDIA.TIBET AWARENESS – GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA UNIVERSITY. NALANDA TRADITION OF MAHAYANA BUDDHISM.TIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN GREAT MASTERS OF MIDDLE WAY BUDDHIST TRADITION OF NALANDA MAHAVIHAR. THE FOUNDATIONS OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM.TIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA MONASTIC UNIVERSITY.TIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN MASTERS OF NALANDA MONASTIC UNIVERSITY. THIS CENTER OF BUDDHIST LEARNING FLOURISHED FOR 600 YEARS. THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY OF 30,000 MONKS, NUNS INCLUDED 2,000 TEACHERS.TIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA MONASTIC UNIVERSITY.TIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA BUDDHIST TRADITION OF MADHYAMAKA OR MIDDLE WAY.On www.photodharma.netTIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA BUDDHIST TRADITION. INDIA REOPENED NALANDA UNIVERSITY 800 YEARS AFTER ITS DESTRUCTION IN 1203 CE.TIBET AWARENESS – GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA UNIVERSITY. THE GREAT CENTER OF BUDDHIST LEARNING WAS DESTROYED BY ISLAMIC CONQUESTS OF INDIA.On hlaoo1980.blogspot.comTIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN GREAT MASTERS OF NALANDA MADHYAMAKA MIDDLE WAY BUDDHIST TRADITION.On www.photodharma.netTIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN GREAT MASTERS OF MIDDLE WAY BUDDHIST TRADITION OF NALANDA MAHAVIHAR.TIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN GREAT MASTERS OF MIDDLE WAY BUDDHIST TRADITION OF NALANDA MAHAVIHAR.On www.photodharma.netTIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN GREAT MASTERS OF MIDDLE WAY BUDDHIST TRADITION OF NALANDA MAHAVIHAR.TIBET AWARENESS – SEVENTEEN GREAT MASTERS OF MIDDLE WAY BUDDHIST TRADITION OF NALANDA MAHAVIHAR.On www.photodharma.net
Tibet Awareness: Tibet under the Yoke of Occupation. While Tibet is nominally in charge of its own affairs, its top officials are appointed by Beijing and expected to rule with an iron fist. The region incorporates only about half of Tibet’s traditional territory and has been smothered in multiple layers of security ever since deadly anti-government riots in 2008.
Tibet is not part of Red China. However it will be correct to claim that Tibet is under the Yoke, under control, is subdued, and has become subservient to Red China. This ‘Yoking’ speaks of Tibet’s subjection, bondage, servitude, enslavement imposed by the burden of military occupation. The Yoke clamped over necks of Tibetans causes hardship, pain, suffering, and sorrow. Tibetans resist this restriction on their natural freedom.
AP PHOTOS: Glimpse of life in Tibet after China celebrates anniversary of autonomous region
Tibet Awareness: Chinese officials have taken foreign journalists on a visit to the region, normally off-limits to them, weeks after Communist Party officials commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. (AP Photo/Aritz Parra)
In this Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 photo, a Tibetan family walks across Jokhang Square in the center of Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. Chinese officials have taken foreign journalists on a visit to the region, normally off-limits to them, weeks after Communist Party officials commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. (AP Photo/Aritz Parra)
Associated Press Sept. 19, 2015 | 3:40 a.m.
Tibet Awareness: Chinese officials have taken foreign journalists on a visit to the region, normally off-limits to them, weeks after Communist Party officials commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. (AP Photo/Aritz Parra)Tibet Awareness: Chinese officials have taken foreign journalists on a visit to the region, normally off-limits to them, weeks after Communist Party officials commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. (AP Photo/Aritz Parra)
LHASA, China (AP) — Tibet is usually off-limits to the foreign media, but Chinese officials this week took foreign journalists on a visit to the region, almost two weeks after Beijing celebrated half-century control over the Himalayan territory.
Tibet Awareness: Chinese officials have taken foreign journalists on a visit to the region, normally off-limits to them, weeks after Communist Party officials commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. (AP Photo/Aritz Parra)Tibet Awareness: Chinese officials have taken foreign journalists on a visit to the region, normally off-limits to them, weeks after Communist Party officials commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. (AP Photo/Aritz Parra)Tibet Awareness: Chinese officials have taken foreign journalists on a visit to the region, normally off-limits to them, weeks after Communist Party officials commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. (AP Photo/Aritz Parra)
China sent troops to occupy Tibet following the 1949 communist revolution. The government says the region has been part of Chinese territory for centuries, while many Tibetans say it has a long history of independence under a series of Buddhist leaders.
The region’s traditional Buddhist ruler, the Dalai Lama, fled in 1959 amid an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, and continues to advocate for a meaningful level of autonomy under Chinese rule.
China established the Tibetan autonomous region in 1965, one of five ethnic regions in the country today. While Tibet is nominally in charge of its own affairs, its top officials are appointed by Beijing and expected to rule with an iron fist. The region incorporates only about half of Tibet’s traditional territory and has been smothered in multiple layers of security ever since deadly anti-government riots in 2008.
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Tibet Awareness: While Tibet is nominally in charge of its own affairs, its top officials are appointed by Beijing and expected to rule with an iron fist. The region incorporates only about half of Tibet’s traditional territory and has been smothered in multiple layers of security ever since deadly anti-government riots in 2008.
TIBET AWARENESS – TIBET IS NOT PART OF RED CHINA. THE GREAT PROBLEM OF TIBET IS OCCUPATION BY FOREIGN POWER.
There is great confusion in the minds of people when they speak about Status of Tibet as a national entity. It may be true to claim that Tibet came under foreign domination from 1279 to 1368 during Mongol or Yuan Dynasty of China, and had nominal protection from 1644 to 1911 during Qing, Ch’ing, or Manchu Dynasty of China. For much of its human history, Tibet was free of direct foreign control and Tibetans maintained independent national character and independent national identity. For example, India was part of British Empire for several centuries and yet India has always been a separate entity and has its own national character and national identity that sets India and Great Britain apart.
TIBET AWARENESS – TIBET IS NOT PART OF CHINA. RED CHINA’S MILITARY OCCUPATION WILL NOT MAKE TIBET A PART OF CHINA. TIBET IS OCCUPIED AND TIBET’S STATUS WILL BE RESTORED WHEN THE OCCUPIER IS EVICTED.
The Evil Red Empire formulated by China’s Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong (or Mao Tse-tung) on October 01, 1949 cannot claim Tibet as a part of People’s Republic of China. Tibet always existed as separate, and independent and it cannot be incorporated into other national entities like China. Tibet’s subjugation, domination by Red China describe the true colors of the evil Red Dragon. I describe Red China as Imperialist, Hegemonist, Neocolonialist, and Expansionist. Red China’s territorial expansionism will not replace Tibet’s true identity and status.
TIBET AWARENESS – TIBET IS NOT PART OF CHINA. TIBET INCLUDES TIBETAN TERRITORIES OF TIBETAN AUTONOMOUS REGION (TAR), AND TIBETAN TERRITORY INCLUDED IN QINGHAI, GANSU, SICHUAN, AND YUNNAN PROVINCES OF RED CHINA.
On behalf of Special Frontier Force, I confirm that we are not seeking separation of Tibet from Red China. Separatism is not the real issue for Tibet is never a part of any Chinese Dynasty or Chinese Empire. However, we have our rights to evict occupying military power from the entire territory of Tibet which includes Tibetan territory found in Red China’s Provinces of Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan apart from Tibet Autonomous Region or TAR.
President Xi Emphasizes Need to Promote National Unity and Combat Separatism in Tibet
By KWAO PEPPEH | Aug 25, 2015 12:02 PM EDT
TIBET AWARENESS – TIBET IS NOT PART OF CHINA. RED CHINA’S MILITARY OCCUPATION WILL NOT MAKE TIBET A PART OF CHINA. TIBET IS OCCUPIED AND TIBET’S STATUS WILL BE RESTORED WHEN THE OCCUPIER IS EVICTED.
(Photo : Photo by Host Photo Agency/Ria Novosti via Getty Images) Chinese President Xi Jinping has underscored the need to consolidate the unity and security of Tibet.
President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for an all-out-effort to cultivate national unity in Tibetan autonomous areas and fight against separatism.
He made this comment against the backdrop of persistent agitations from Tibetans at home and abroad for sovereignty from China.
The Chinese government claims Tibet as part of her national territory. Therefore, when the Communist Party of China consolidated control of the mainland in 1950, representatives of the government and the Dalai Lama (the de facto head of the theocratic state) negotiated a historic agreement. The Seventeen Point Agreement officially cemented Chinese control of the region – albeit it was granted autonomy.
This agreement was later thrown-under-the-bus following the 1959 Tibetan Uprising. The 14th Dalai Lama subsequently went on exile and has repeatedly repudiated the Seventeen Point Agreement. There have been several protests (including self-immolation) by Tibetans for independence since then. Activists claim the Chinese government is curtailing the rights of Tibetans and undermining their culture.
President Xi has explained that efforts should be focused on “ensuring national unity and consolidating ethnic unity” in Tibet.
“We should help people of various ethnic groups understand, support, appreciate and study from each other,” he explained.
President Xi highlighted the need to engender a sense of patriotism among Tibetans and promote the ideals of socialism. He also noted that religious doctrines expounded by Tibetans Buddhists should be compatible with those of the Communist Party.
Xi explained that ensuring stability in Tibet is crucial to ensuring good government in the entire country. He condemned separatism and vowed to clamp down on all efforts to separate the country.
Recently, the Chinese-state media reported that the government is set to install three additional unmanned radars in the Himalayan region. Currently, the government has only one radar in the area. Experts say this would go a long way to improve security in Tibet and strengthen the government’s control of the region.
At the center of the unrest in Tibet is issue of the exiled Dalai Lama and the selection of his successor. Chinese state media have underscored the fact that the central government plays a “vital role”in the selection of the next Dalai Lama. However, experts say this is unlikely to go down well with the Dalai Lama, who has said that he may be the last leader of the “Yellow Hat” Tibetan Buddhists.
TIBET AWARENESS – TIBET IS NOT PART OF CHINA. RED CHINA’S MILITARY OCCUPATION WILL NOT MAKE TIBET A PART OF CHINA. TIBET IS OCCUPIED AND TIBET’S STATUS WILL BE RESTORED WHEN THE OCCUPIER IS EVICTED.
KALA CHAKRA – CYCLICAL FLOW OF TIME – REJUVENATION OF TIBET
Just like individuals, nations have history of their own during which national life experiences effects under the powerful influence of time. The tides of Time were in favor of Tibet during 1911 when Manchu China’s power declined. Unfortunately, the good times that Tibet witnessed from 1911 to 1950 abruptly ended when The Communist Party of China declared the birth of a new nation called People’s Republic of China on October 01, 1949. This new nation from her inception is evil-minded, and evil-hearted. Red China lost no time to openly declare her Imperialist and Expansionist Policy and attacked her weak neighbor with no sense of shame. Tibetans are resisting military occupation with Patience and Perseverance as their weapons. I am hopeful that Time’s powerful influence called ‘Healing Power’ will cure this terrible disease called Occupation giving Tibet a chance to recover, regrow, regenerate, renew, rejuvenate and revitalize the lives of millions of Tibetans experiencing pain, suffering, and misery.
Tibetan spiritual leader performs Kalachakra as 150,000 devotees attend religious meet in India-administered Kashmir.
ALYS FRANCIS| 07 Jul 2014 12:20 GMT |Arts & Culture, India, Dalai Lama, Religion, Tibet
Tibetans snuck into India dodging Chinese border guards to see their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, perform the 33rd Kalachakra for world peace in Shey, a tiny town nestled 3,400m-high in the Himalayas.
The massive religious teaching, said to empower tens of thousands of his disciples to attain enlightenment, is a significant event for Buddhists.
About 150,000 devotees from around the world are flocking to the northern Ladakh district in India-administered Kashmir, which shares an eastern border with Tibet. The Dalai Lama also reiterated his plea to Buddhists in Myanmar and Sri Lanka to halt violence against Muslims, in a speech to tens of thousands of devotees to mark his 79th birthday.
China reportedly deployed extra troops and cracked down on Tibetans travelling to attend the 12-day gathering that began on July 3. Despite this, several Tibetans told Al Jazeera that they crept over the border at night.
The Dalai Lama fled China in the 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, settling in Dharamshala in northern India, where he set up the Tibetan government in exile. He has since held Kalachakras every few years or so around the world – from India to New York.
The Tibetan spiritual leader remains a point of tension between India and China. Just days before the Kalachakra, Chinese troops reportedly showed their might at a disputed border between Tibet and Ladakh, repeatedly entering territory both countries claim.
Ladakh(***)s first Kalachakra in 38 years saw hotels in the main town of Leh booked out, with followers bedding down in thousands of tents, empty government buildings and schools.
Ladakh Buddhist Association President Dr Tondup Tsewang told Al Jazeera that the Kalachakra was of great importance to the region, which is home to numerous Tibetan refugees.
Dr Tsewang, who keeps a tattered fabric badge from attending Ladakh(***)s first Kalachakra in 1976, said that the whole community was involved in the event.
Nearly 80,000 local Ladakhis, 15,000 Tibetans from around the world, 9000 monks and nuns, 5000 foreigners and numerous Indians attended the first day(***)s teaching.
Many Ladakhis came dressed in traditional clothes: voluminous woollen goncha robes clinched at the waist, dupatta silk scarfs and top hats.
Monks of all ages couldn’t(***) contain their excitement, running to get a seat in the Kalachakra ground on the bank of the River Indus after passing security.
A vast shade-cloth was erected to protect followers from the sun, while nine LCD TV screens broadcast the Dalai Lama around the Kalachakra ground.
The event was also live-streamed online via a camera above the stage and translated into 11 languages.
Local police and army were called in to help secure the event, managing traffic and controlling the crowd outside.
The Dalai Lama resigned as leader of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile in 2011 and has spoken of his desire to retire one day.
It is expected that the Tibetan spiritual leader will confer another Kalachakra initiation next year when he turns 80.
The Dalai Lama has long been calling for Tibet to be given autonomy to preserve its culture and religion, rather than full independence from China.
The Chinese authorities regard the Dalai Lama as a separatist.
Kalachakra is a Buddhist process that empowers tens of thousands of his disciples to attain enlightenment.
56th ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING DAY ON MARCH 10, 2015 :
THE BATTLE OF RIGHT AGAINST MIGHT : SEEKING SOLIDARITY OF GLOBAL COMMUNITY IN SUPPORT OF FREEDOM IN OCCUPIED TIBET .THE BATTLE OF RIGHT AGAINST MIGHT : 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING DAY . SEEKING JUSTICE IN OCCUPIED TIBET . OCCUPATION IS UNJUST, ILLEGAL , AND IS A LIE IMPOSED BY CHINA .THE BATTLE OF RIGHT AGAINST MIGHT : 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING DAY, MARCH 10, 2015. SEEKING PEACE AND HARMONY IN OCCUPIED TIBET .THE BATTLE OF RIGHT AGAINST MIGHT : 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF TIBETAN NATIONAL UPRISING DAY, MARCH 10, 2015. THE BATTLE WILL CONTINUE TILL THE OCCUPIER IS EVICTED FROM TIBET .
THE TYRANT WILL ALWAYS FIND AN EXCUSE FOR HIS TYRANNY.
This story was told by Aesop, the legendary Greek story-teller. Once upon a time, a Wolf was lapping at a stream. When looking up, the Wolf saw a Lamb just beginning to drink a little down the stream. “There’s my supper,” thought the Wolf. The Lamb looked so very helpless and innocent. The Wolf felt he ought to have an excuse for taking its life. Then he called out to the Lamb, “How dare you muddle the water from which I am drinking?” “No, Master, No,” said the Lamb; “if the water be muddy up there, I cannot be the cause of it, for it runs down from you to me.” “Well then,” said the Wolf, “Why did you call me bad names this time last year?” “That cannot be,” said the Lamb, “I am…
To maintain its supremacy as the world’s Superpower, United States unveils its plan to Divide and Rule India.
THE UNITED STATES UNVEILS ITS PLAN FOR PARTITION OF INDIA : THE US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WHO PLANTED A TREE AT RAJGHAT, MAHATMA GANDHI MEMORIAL DEMANDED IN A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT INDIA MUST UPHOLD RELIGIOUS FREEDOM . THIS IS THE WHOLE MANTRA WHICH CALLS FOR THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION AS DEMANDED BY SIKH SEPARATISTS AND KASHMIR SEPARATISTS . RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS THE “MANTRA” FOR PARTITION OF INDIA USING RELIGION AS A TRUMP CARD .
I want to share my opinion on President Barack Obama’s diabolical demand for “Religious Freedom” in the Republic of India. A radical Sikh organization called “The Dal Khalsa’ stated that it is happy with US President Obama’s call to India to uphold Religious Freedom. I am sharing this opinion on behalf of Special Frontier Force – Establishment Number. 22, a military organization affiliated to the US, India, and Tibet. The US has never demanded that Christian Missionaries be given free access to preach their Gospel inside Occupied Tibet. In fact, President Obama has not spoken about Religious Freedom in Tibet while he is fully aware of Tibetan Government-in-Exile’s existence at Dharamshala, India. President Obama has unveiled the plan of United States and United Kingdom to seek the Partition of the Republic of India on lines similar to partition of India in 1947. Religious Freedom is the “MANTRA” for Partition of India.The strategy followed by the British Raj and the US administration is the same. In 1947, it was very important to defend the rights of Muslims as without partition, Muslims cannot have access to political power and without political power, Muslims would lose their Religious Freedom. In democracy, there is separation of State and Church. In opinion of the West, India can never have true Democracy as a majority of its people may belong to Hindu religion. To counteract the Hindus, the British have formulated the governance policy called “Divide and Rule.” The collapse of the Soviet Union, the breakup of Czechoslovakia, the US sponsored dismemberment of Republic of Yugoslavia, and creation of Kosovo are often cited as examples of bringing “Regime Change” in countries considered to be hostile to the US Foreign Policy Agenda. The 105th US Congress in its First Session passed Resolution # 37 which demands the formation of an Independent Sikh Nation called “KHALISTAN” and the resolution demands the Right to Self-Determination for people who profess or follow the religion called Sikhism. Western powers like Great Britain, United States, Canada, France, Belgium, Australia and others have formulated a political strategy to take full advantage of the religious sentiments of the people of Sikhism to dismember the Republic of India. There is a fundamental hostility for the very existence of India which is known as “BHARAT” because of Hindu religion that many of its people adhere. In a world full of competing religions, Hindus are not allowed to desire any identity of their own. In other words, India’s adherence to the principles of DEMOCRACY is of no consequence and Indian people be separated taking advantage of the differences in religion, language, and history of regional affiliations. The concept of an independent, sovereign Khalistan, the Sikh Homeland was announced on October 7, 1987. These Sikh Separatists claim that Government of India murdered over a million Sikh people and accuse Government of India violates their Rights to Religious Freedom. The annual Sikh March for Khalistan is held on BAISAKHI(Vaisakhi) Day during the month of April. Sikhs living in Washington DC, New York, London, Vancouver(Canada) and other places parade on streets. The US supports these political activities and allows Sikh nationals of India to apply for asylum in the United States for it endorses their claims about religious persecution of Sikhs by Government of India. These Sikh Separatists claim that without political power, religion cannot flourish, their repression will continue and that their Sikh Nation will perish. A similar argument is made by Muslim Separatists who live in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. The advocates of Khalistan do not mention about persecution of Sikhs in Kashmir, and it appears that they have no recollection of the killing of Sikhs at the time of India’s Partition in 1947. When the United States President spoke about Religious Freedom, he did not mention about the Right to Self-Determination of Sikhs in Punjab, and of Muslims in Kashmir. However, Indian people must recognize that the issue of Religious Freedom is not simply about the Rights of Christians to practice their religion. It is important to know that the United States is not demanding Pakistan to support the rights of Christians living in Pakistan. The US is not asking Sikh Separatists and Kashmir Separatists to embrace Christianity or to grant full access to Christian Missionaries to operate in their communities. The fundamental concern is not about religion or Freedom of Religion. The goal of this US Policy is to breakup India and not to allow its people to find Peace, Justice, and Prosperity by choosing DEMOCRACY.
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM :
This letter was written by an unknown author and I was asked to comment on it. The author had failed to acknowledge the US support for Sikh Separatists and Kashmir Separatists in the name of promoting Religious Freedom. The US deliberately undermined the ideal of Democracy and is endorsing Religious Fundamentalism to defend its vested interests, and to maintain its status of a Superpower at any cost without any concern for its own national values.
You spoke of religious freedom and in favor of the right to proselytize during your recent visit to India. Your words reflect the Christian West’s obsession with religious freedom. We Hindus have little doubt that when you talk of religious freedom you have the freedom of Christians to proselytize Hindus and not the freedom of Hindus to practice Hinduism in mind. In many Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, a Hindu cannot even carry pictures of Hindu deities to worship in the confines of one’s home. You have never pontificated to the Saudis about the virtues of religious freedom. In the Christian Greece, it was illegal for a Hindu to cremate the dead until 2007 yet no American president pontificated to the Greeks. So, we rightly conclude that the religious freedom of Hindus is nowhere on your radar.
However, we are not asking you to stand up for our religious freedom. We are, instead, challenging your obsession with religious freedom. Let us begin by talking about some fundamental teachings of Christianity which you are presumably familiar with.
I did not render service. I have been responsible for genocide. It took me 18 years to realize that.
Christianity requires a groom to drag his bride on the nuptial night to her father’s doorstep and stone her to death on the suspicion that she may not be a virgin. It urges onlookers to participate in this violent orgy (Deuteronomy 22:13-21). Jesus sanctified and vowed to fulfill such terrible, misogynistic teachings (Matthew 5:17). We Hindus view the feminine as sacred and will not allow anyone the freedom to spread misogyny. We will not protect the alleged freedom of a misogynist at the expense of the dignity of a woman. We understand that you are not eagerly defending the freedom of the Taliban to spread Islamic misogyny in the USA. We are pleased to inform you that we Hindus will apply the same yardstick to Christian misogyny as well.
The Second Coming of Jesus is a core and fundamental Christian belief. On this occasion, Jesus would torture millions of Hindus for a period of five months, massacre them, and put them on the hell-bound cargo to be condemned to eternal torture (Revelations 9:4-5). Jesus also promises to make the Hindus kneel before the Christians in abject submission (see Hartung, John: Love Thy Neighbor – The Evolution of In-group Morality, pp. 15-16). We Hindus value human rights and will not grant anyone the freedom to spread genocidal hatred or subjugate others. You should be able to relate to our stance because you too aren’t advocating the freedom of Al Qaeda to spread genocidal hatred against Americans, are you?
Misogyny, a craving to subjugate others, and genocidal hatred are poisonous. Giving them a religious sanctity doesn’t make them desirable. Karl Popper cautioned against the tendency to tolerate the intolerant because such a misplaced tolerance would result in the demise of the tolerant and eventually lead to the demise of tolerance itself. His sage advice applies to intolerant, hateful, and misogynistic religious beliefs such as Christianity and Islam. According such religious beliefs even a modicum of freedom would eventually degrade the feminine and extinguish freedom itself.
We Hindus value freedom; not merely freedom of religion as Western Christians mistakenly value. In our reasonable worldview, only freedom is a fundamental right whereas religious freedom is a privilege that is earned only when the religious teachings do not subvert freedom. A religion that subverts the very foundation of freedom and human dignity by advocating misogyny and genocidal hatemongering cannot be accorded that privilege.
In The Religious Crusades of the CIA, Arvind Kumar shows that ‘religious freedom’ is a euphemism for the CIA-led initiatives to destabilize Hindu society. The Tamil writer Jeyamohanshows how the Ford Foundation acted as the front for this imperial agenda by funding Christian missionaries in India’s northeast. These missionaries facilitated the entry of other western-funded groups which sowed division and hatred among the various ethnic groups that had hitherto coexisted for millennia. These imperial-funded and orchestrated initiatives resulted in gruesome riots, bloodshed, and massacre of many a thousand besides sinking the entire northeast into abject poverty. One of the missionaries that had facilitated the pillage eventually had a moment of realization and confessed to Jeyamohan, “I did not render service. I have been responsible for genocide. It took me 18 years to realize that.”
President Obama, we will not allow another genocide by facilitating the spread of imperial-funded Christianity. Instead, we will initiate every measure to curb it. We will bring forth legislation to prevent the CIA and its front agencies such as the Ford Foundation from destabilizing India. We will also prevent western powers from controlling the churches in India by nationalizing India’s churches and NGOs and by empowering the government to nominate priests. In the true spirit of democracy and freedom, and in the spirit of Indian pluralism, these priests would hail from all communities and religions as well as from among the ranks of atheists.
You may also anticipate legislative measures which would protect indigenous religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and the various tribal religions. We would reverse the existing system which discriminates against indigenous religions while favoring Christianity and Islam. The state would fund institutions belonging to indigenous religions. We hope this idea would resonate with you; after all, the UK protects the Church of England and funds its educational institutions. America’s Christian churches are the leading beneficiaries of faith-based initiatives. So, this idea is no stranger to westerners.
We hope that not only Hindus and Indians but reasonable Americans too would laud these forthcoming initiatives. After all, a vibrant, democratic, and multicultural India is in the best interests of America as well. On the other hand, an India laid waste to by the predation of Christianity can only harm Indian as well as American interests. A patriotic American should be appalled by the fact that American textbooks indoctrinate defenseless children in Christianity. These textbooks portray Jesus as an embodiment of compassion. One would never tolerate a sanitized portrayal of a terrorist such as Osama bin Laden as compassionate. Yet, Jesus, who isindistinguishable from Osama bin Laden, is hailed as compassionate in textbooks. Such indoctrination is an abuse of the trust children place in adults. It is not only the mind of the American child that is abused. Defenseless children are subject to physical abuse as well because of their parents’ beliefs in biblical teachings. The Bible mandates the circumcision of the male child (Genesis 17). As a result, despite the progress in scientific knowledge, over 58 percent of American male children are subject to genital mutilations. These are examples of serious violation of a child’s freedom.
We hope that America ends such discriminatory practices by emulating the Indian example of curbing Christianity (as well as Islam) through legislation. We look forward to the day when America respects the freedom of a child to grow up unmolested in an environment nourished by reason. We hope you realize that the freedom of a child cannot be sacrificed to propagate Bronze Age superstitions.
Our ghar wapasi program is ready to embrace America’s recovering Christians.
Yours truly,
An imaginary Indian politician
PS: How I wish an Indian politician wrote such a letter! Alas, in all likelihood, an Indian politician or a lay Hindu is likely to appease the Western bully by pleading that India is doing a lot to ensure religious freedom and will do even more. They would then grant more freedom to the rapacious missionaries and foreign NGOs until India becomes another Philippines.
MY THOUGHTS ON PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S INDIA VISIT :
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Barack Obama shared their views in a radio conversation titled “MAAN KI BAAT”(Mindful Conversation) that was broadcast on January 27, 2015. I am sharing the transcript of this radio conversation. Both the leaders speak about shared values and the basis for friendly relations between both countries in very general terms. They want to speak directly from the heart and share some personal thoughts on issues without specifically touching issues such as foreign policy. It is claimed that enough information on policy matters was shared in the joint press conference. However, I am of the opinion that there is no transparency in their conversation. There is no Peace, there is no Freedom, there is no Justice, there is no democratic governance, and there is no free flow of information in the occupied territories of TIBET and the problem is of great concern since early 1950s. When the 34th President of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower made his five-day visit to India from 09 December to 14 December, 1959, he expounded the need for relentless effort to secure Peace through promoting Freedom. He used the term “CRUSADE” to communicate the intensity of struggle and sacrifice that is involved if people have to find Peace in their personal lives. There is really no Peace until man enjoys his Natural Right to Freedom. Since 1959, India has been hosting the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, and I am totally surprised to note that these two leaders have not said a word about the plight of Tibetans and their military oppression.
Transcript of the special episode of ”Mann ki Baat”: PM Shri Narendra Modi and US President Shri Barack Obama share their thoughts on Radio
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Today, Shri Barack Obama, President of the United States, joins us in a special programme of Mann Ki Baat. For the last few months, I have been sharing my “Mann Ki Baat” with you. But today, people from various parts of the country have asked questions.
But most of the questions are connected to politics, foreign policy, economic policy. However, some questions touch the heart. And I believe if we touch those questions today, we shall be able to reach out to the common man in different parts of the country. And therefore, the questions asked in press conferences, or discussed in meetings – instead of those – if we discuss what comes from the heart, and repeat it, hum it, we get a new energy. And therefore, in my opinion, those questions are more important. Some people wonder, what does “Barack” mean? I was searching for the meaning of Barack. In Swahili language, which is spoken in parts of Africa, Barack means, one who is blessed. I believe, along with a name, his family gave him a big gift.
African countries have lived by the ancient idea of ‘Ubuntu’, which alludes to the ‘oneness in humanity’. They say – “I am, because we are”. Despite the gap in centuries and borders, there is the same spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which speak of in India. This is the great shared heritage of humanity. This unites us. When we discuss Mahatma Gandhi, we remember Henry Thoreau, from whom Mahatma Gandhi learnt disobedience. When we talk about Martin Luther King or Obama, we hear from their lips, respect for Mahatma Gandhi. These are the things that unite the world.
Today, Barack Obama is with us. I will first request him to share his thoughts. Then, I and Barack will both answer the questions that have been addressed to us.
I request President Barack Obama to say a few words.
(Hon’ble Shri Barack Obama):
Namaste! Thank you Prime Minister Modi for your kind words and for the incredible hospitality you have shown me and my wife Michelle on this visit and let me say to the people of India how honoured I am to be the first American President to join you for Republic Day; and I’m told that this is also the first ever Radio address by an Indian Prime Minister and an American President together, so we’re making a lot of history in a short time. Now to the people of India listening all across this great nation. It’s wonderful to be able to speak you directly. We just come from discussions in which we affirmed that India and the United States are natural partners, because we have so much in common. We are two great democracies, two innovative economies, two diverse societies dedicated to empowering individuals. We are linked together by millions of proud Indian Americans who still have family and carry on traditions from India. And I want to say to the Prime Minister how much I appreciate your strong personal commitment to strengthening the relationship between these two countries.
People are very excited in the United States about the energy that Prime Minister Modi is bringing to efforts in this country to reduce extreme poverty and lift people up, to empower women, to provide access to electricity, and clean energy and invest in infrastructure, and the education system. And on all these issues, we want to be partners. Because many of the efforts that I am promoting inside the United States to make sure that the young people get the best education possible, to make sure that the ordinary people are properly compensated for their labour, and paid fair wages, and have job security and health care. These are the same kinds of issues that Prime Minister Modi, I know cares so deeply about here. And I think there’s a common theme in these issues. It gives us a chance to reaffirm what Gandhi ji reminded us, should be a central aim of our lives. And that is, we should endeavour to seek God through service of humanity because God is in everyone. So these shared values, these convictions, are a large part of why I am so committed to this relationship. I believe that if the United States and India join together on the world stage around these values, then not only will our peoples be better off, but I think the world will be more prosperous and more peaceful and more secure for the future. So thank you so much Mr. Prime Minister, for giving me this opportunity to be with you here today.
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Barack the first question comes from Raj from Mumbai
His question is, the whole world knows about your love for your daughters. How will you tell your daughters about youre experience of India? Do you plan to do some shopping for them?
(Hon’ble Shri Barack Obama):
Well first of all they very much wanted to come. They are fascinated by India, Unfortunately each time that I have taken a trip here, they had school and they couldn’t leave school. And in fact, Malia, my older daughter, had exams just recently. They are fascinated by the culture, and the history of India, in part because of my influence I think, they are deeply moved by India’s movement to Independence, and the role that Gandhi played, in not only the non-violent strategies here in India, but how those ended up influencing the non-violent Civil Rights Movement in the United States. So when I go back I am going to tell them that India is as magnificent as they imagined. And I am quite sure that they are going to insist that I bring them back the next time I visit. It may not be during my Presidency, but afterwards they will definitely want to come and visit.
And I will definitely do some shopping for them. Although I can’t go to the stores myself, so I have to have my team do the shopping for me. And I’ll get some advice from Michelle, because she probably has a better sense of what they would like.
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Barack said he will come with his daughters. I extend an invitation to you. Whether you come as President, or thereafter, India looks forward to welcoming you and your daughters.
Sanika Diwan from Pune, Maharashtra has asked me a question. She asks me, whether I have sought assistance from President Obama for the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Mission
Sanika you have asked a good question. There is a lot of worry because of the sex ratio in India. For every 1000 boys, the number of girls is less. And the main reason for this is that, there is a defect in our attitudes towards boys and girls.
Whether or not I seek help from President Obama, his life is in itself an inspiration. The way he has brought up his two daughters, the way he is proud of his two daughters.
In our country too, I meet many families who have only daughters. And they bring up their daughters with such pride, give them such respect, that is the biggest inspiration. I believe that inspiration is our strength. And in response to your question, I would like to say, to save the girl child, to educate the girl child, this is our social duty, cultural duty, and humanitarian responsibility. We should honour it.
Barack, there is a question for you. The second question for President Obama comes through e-mail: Dr. Kamlesh Upadhyay, a Doctor based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat – Your wife is doing extensive work on tackling modern health challenges like obesity and diabetes. These are increasingly being faced in India as well. Would you and the First Lady like to return to India to work on these issues after your Presidency, just like Bill and Melinda Gates?
(Hon’ble Barack Obama):
Well, we very much look forward to partnering with organizations, and the government and non-governmental organizations here in India, around broader Public Health issues including the issue of obesity. I am very proud of the work that Michelle has done on this issue. We’re seeing a world-wide epidemic of obesity, in many cases starting at a very young age. And a part of it has to do with increase in processed foods, not naturally prepared. Part of it is a lack of activity for too many children. And once they are on this path, it can lead to a life time of health challenges. This is an issue that we would like to work on internationally, including here in India. And it is a part of a broader set of issues around global health that we need to address. The Prime Minister and I have discussed, for example, how we can do a better job in dealing with issues like pandemic. And making sure that we have good alert systems so that if a disease like Ebola, or a deadly flu virus, or Polio appears, it is detected quickly and then treated quickly so that it doesn’t spread. The public health infrastructure around the world needs to be improved. I think the Prime Minister is doing a great job in focusing on these issues here in India. And India has a lot to teach many other countries who may not be advancing as rapidly in improving this public health sector. But it has an impact on everything, because if children are sick they can’t concentrate in school and they fall behind. It has a huge economic impact on the countries involved and so we think that there is a lot of progress to be made here and I am very excited about the possibilities of considering this work even after I leave office.
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Mr. Arjun asks me a question. An interesting question. He says he has seen an old photo of me as a tourist outside the White House. He asks me what touched me when I went there last September.
It is true that when I first went to America, I was not lucky enough to visit the White House. There is an iron fence far from the White House. We stood outside the fence and took a photograph. White House is visible in the background. Now that I have become Prime Minister, that photo too has become popular. But at that time, I had never thought that sometime in my life, I would get a chance to visit the White House. But when I visited the White House, one thing touched my heart. I can never forget that. Barack gave me a book, a book that he had located after considerable effort. That book had become famous in 1894. Swami Vivekananda, the inspiration of my life, had gone to Chicago to participate in the World Religions Conference. And this book was a compilation of the speeches delivered at the World Religions Conference. That touched my heart. And not just this. He turned the pages of the book, and showed me what was written there. He had gone through the entire book! And he told me with pride, I come from the Chicago where Swami Vivekananda had come. These words touched my heart a lot. And I will treasure this throughout my life. So once, standing far from the White House and taking a photo, and then, to visit the White House, and to receive a book on someone whom I respect. You can imagine, how it would have touched my heart.
Barack there is a question for you. Himani from Ludhiana, Punjab. Question is for you ……:
(Hon’ble Shri Barack Obama):
Well the question is “Did you both imagine you would reach the positions that you’ve reached today?”
And it is interesting, Mr. Prime Minister, your talking about the first time you visited White House and being outside that iron fence. The same is true for me. When I first went to the White House, I stood outside that same fence, and looked in, and I certainly did not imagine that I would ever be visiting there, much less living there. You know, I think both of us have been blessed with an extraordinary opportunity, coming from relatively humble beginnings. And when I think about what’s best in America and what’s best in India, the notion that a tea seller or somebody who’s born to a single mother like me, could end up leading our countries, is an extraordinary example of the opportunities that exist within our countries. Now I think, a part of what motivates both you and I, is the belief that there are millions of children out there who have the same potential but may not have the same education, may not be getting exposed to opportunities in the same way, and so a part of our job, a part of government’s job is that young people who have talent, and who have drive and are willing to work for, are able to succeed. And that’s why we are emphasizing school, higher education. Making sure that children are healthy and making sure those opportunities are available to children of all backgrounds, girls and boys, people of all religious faiths and of all races in the United States is so important. Because you never know who might be the next Prime Minister of India, or who might be the next President of United States. They might not always look the part right off the bat. And they might just surprise you if you give them the chance.
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Thank you Barack.
Himani from Ludhiana has also asked me this question – did I ever imagine I would reach this high office?
No. I never imagined it. Because, as Barack said, I come from a very ordinary family. But for a long time, I have been telling everyone, never dream of becoming something. If you wish to dream, dream of doing something. When we do something, we get satisfaction, and also get inspiration to do something new. If we only dream of becoming something, and cannot fulfil the dream, then we only get disappointed. And therefore, I never dreamt of becoming something. Even today, I have no dream of becoming something. But I do dream of doing something. Serving Mother India, serving 125 crore Indians, there can be no greater dream than this. That is what I have to do. I am thankful to Himani.
There is a question for Barack from Omprakash. Omprakash is studying Sanskrit at JNU. He belongs to Jhunjunu, Rajasthan. Om Prakash is convener of special centre for Sanskrit Studies in JNU.
(Hon’ble Shri Barack Obama):
Well this is a very interesting question. His question is, the youth of the new generation is a global citizen. He is not limited by time or boundaries. In such a situation what should be the approach by our leadership, governments as well as societies at large.
I think this is a very important question. When I look at this generation that is coming up, they are exposed to the world in ways that you and I could hardly imagine. They have the world at their fingertips, literally. They can, using their mobile phone, get information and images from all around the world and that’s extraordinarily powerful. And what that means, I think is that, governments and leaders cannot simply try to govern, or rule, by a top-down strategy. But rather have to reach out to people in an inclusive way, and an open way, and a transparent way. And engage in a dialogue with citizens, about the direction of their country. And one of the great things about India and the United States is that we are both open societies. And we have confidence and faith that when citizens have information, and there is a vigorous debate, that over time even though sometimes democracy is frustrating, the best decisions and the most stable societies emerge and the most prosperous societies emerge. And new ideas are constantly being exchanged. And technology today I think facilitates that, not just within countries, but across countries. And so, I have much greater faith in India and the United States, countries that are open information societies, in being able to succeed and thrive in this New Information Age; than closed societies that try to control the information that citizens receive. Because ultimately that’s no longer possible. Information will flow inevitably, one way or the other, and we want to make sure we are fostering a healthy debate and a good conversation between all peoples.
(Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Omprakash wants me too, to answer the question that has been asked to Barack.
Barack has given a very good answer. It is inspiring. I will only say, that once upon a time, there were people inspired primarily by the Communist ideology. They gave a call: Workers of the world, Unite. This slogan lasted for several decades. I believe, looking at the strength and reach of today’s youth, I would say, Youth, Unite the world. I believe they have the strength and they can do it.
The next question is from CA Pikashoo Mutha from Mumbai, and he asks me, which American leader has inspired you
When I was young, I used to see Kennedy’s pictures in Indian newspapers. His personality was very impressive. But your question is, who has inspired me. I liked reading as a child. And I got an opportunity to read the biography of Benjamin Franklin. He lived in the eighteenth century. And he was not an American President. But his biography is so inspiring – how a person can intelligently try to change his life.
If we feel excessively sleepy, how can we reduce that?
If we feel like eating too much, how can we work towards eating less?
If people get upset with you that cannot meet them, because of the pressure of work, then how to solve this problem?
He has addressed such issues in his biography. And I tell everyone, we should read Benjamin Franklin’s biography. Even today, it inspires me. And Benjamin Franklin had a multi-dimensional personality. He was a politician, he was a political scientist, he was a social worker, he was a diplomat. And he came from an ordinary family. He could not even complete his education. But till today, his thoughts have an impact on American life. I find his life truly inspiring. And I tell you too, if you read his biography, you will find ways to transform your life too. And he has talked about simple things. So I feel you will be inspired as much as I have been.
There is a question for Barack, from Monika Bhatia. (Hon’ble Shri Barack Obama):
Well the question is “As leaders of two major economies, what inspires you and makes you smile at the end of a bad day at work?”
And that is a very good question. I say sometimes, that the only problems that come to my desk are the ones that nobody else solves. If they were easy questions, then somebody else would have solved them before they reached me. So there are days when it’s tough and frustrating. And that’s true in Foreign Affairs. That is true in Domestic Affairs. But I tell you what inspires me, and I don’t know Mr. Prime Minister if you share this view – almost every day I meet somebody who tells me, “You made a difference in my life.”
So they’ll say, “The Health-Care law that you passed, saved my child who didn’t have health insurance.” And they were able to get an examination from a Physician, and they caught an early tumour, and now he is doing fine.
Or they will say “You helped me save my home during the economic crisis.”
Or they’ll say, “I couldn’t afford college, and the program you set up has allowed me to go to the university.”
And sometimes they are thanking you for things that you did four or five years ago. Sometimes they are thanking you for things you don’t even remember, or you’re not thinking about that day. But it is a reminder of what you said earlier, which is, if you focus on getting things done as opposed to just occupying an office or maintaining power, then the satisfaction that you get is unmatched. And the good thing about service is that anybody can do it. If you are helping somebody else, the satisfaction that you can get from that, I think, exceeds anything else that you can do. And that’s usually what makes me inspired to do more, and helps get through the challenges and difficulties that we all have. Because obviously we are not the only people with bad days at work. I think everybody knows what it is like to have a bad day at work. You just have to keep on working through it. Eventually you make a difference. (Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi):
Indeed Barack has spoken words from the heart (Mann Ki Baat). Whatever position we may hold, we are human too. Simple things can inspire us. I also wish to narrate an experience. For many years, I was like an ascetic. I got food at other people’s homes. Whoever invited me, used to feed me as well. Once a family invited me over for a meal, repeatedly. I would not go, because I felt they are too poor, and if I go to eat at their place, I will become a burden on them. But eventually, I had to bow to their request and love. And I went to eat a meal at their home. It was a small hut, where we sat down to eat. They offered me roti made of bajra (millet), and mik. Their young child was looking at the milk. I felt, the child has never even seen milk. So I gave that small bowl of milk to the child. And he drank it within seconds. His family members were angry with him. And I felt that perhaps that child has never had any milk, apart from his mother’s milk. And maybe, they had bought milk so that I could have a good meal. This incident inspired me a lot. A poor person living in a hut could think so much about my well-being. So I should devote my life to their service. So these are the things that serve as inspiration. And Barack has also spoken about what can touch the heart.
I am thankful to Barack, he has given so much time. And I am thankful to my countrymen for listening to Mann Ki Baat. I know radio reaches every home and every lane of India. And this Mann Ki Baat, this special Mann Ki Baat will echo forever.
I have an idea. I share it with you. There should be an e-book made of the talk between Barack and me today. I hope the organizers of Mann Ki Baat will release this e-book. And to you all, who have listened to Mann Ki Baat, I also say, do participate in this. And the best hundred thoughts that emerge out of this, will also be added to this e-book. And I want you to write to us on Twitter, on Facebook, or online, using the hashtag #YesWeCan.
• Eliminate Poverty – #YesWeCan
• Quality Healthcare to All – #YesWeCan
• Youth empowered with Education – #YesWeCan
• Jobs for All – #YesWeCan
• End to Terrorism – #YesWeCan
• Global Peace and Progress – #YesWeCan
I want you to send your thoughts, experiences and feelings after listening to Mann Ki Baat. From them, we will select the best hundred, and we will add them to the book containing the talk that Barack and I have had. And I believe, this will truly become, the Mann Ki Baat of us all.
Once again, a big thank you to Barack. And to all of you. Barack’s visit to India on this pious occasion of 26th January, is a matter of pride for me and for the country.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – AHAM BRAHMASMI – UNITY VS IDENTITY :
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : WHICH HAS COME FIRST ??? THE CHICK OR THE EGG ??? SPIRITUALITY IS NOT ABOUT KNOWING THE BEGINNING OR THE ENDING OF THINGS. IT IS ABOUT THINGS THAT EXIST IN THE PRESENT.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : THE HUMAN ORGANISM RUNS ITS LIVING FUNCTIONS AS IF OPERATED BY A PRECISE TIMEKEEPING DEVICE OR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK. MAN’S EXPERIENCE OF TIME IS RELATED TO SUN’S APPARENT MOTIONS IN THE SKY. MAN KNOWS THE REALITY OF TIME BECAUSE OF AN ILLUSION THAT CAUSES DAY AND NIGHT GIVING MAN THE PERCEPTION OF SUN’S APPARENT MOTION WHILE CONCEALING THE REALITY OF SUN’S MOTION IN THE MILKY WAY GALAXY.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : HOW DO PLANTS KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW ??? PLANTS KNOW ABOUT LIGHT, THE LENGTH OF DAY, AND THE DURATION OF DARKNESS CALLED NIGHT. THERE IS NO “INTELLECT” INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS OF KNOWING. THE ABILITY OF KNOWING LIGHT OR PHOTORECEPTION IS EXPLAINED BY PHOTOCHEMISTRY.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : AT A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, LIFE AND LIVING IS ABOUT KNOWING MATTER AS SELF OR NON-SELF. THIS IDENTIFICATION OF MATTER INVOLVES THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE MOLECULES OF MATTER . TO LEARN THE ART OF KNOWING, MAN HAS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOLECULAR BASIS FOR EXISTENCE.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – WHOLE YOGA : SPIRITUALITY IS ABOUT FINDING PEACE, HARMONY, AND TRANQUILITY IN THE LIVING, HUMAN CONDITION. THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICE CALLED YOGA WILL GIVE PEACE AND HARMONY IF MAN IS “YOKED” WITH THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : HOW DOES THE HUMAN ORGANISM KNOWS ABOUT ITS OWN LIFETIME ??? THE AGING PHENOMENON IS RELATED TO MAN’S PERCEPTION OF TIME. HOW IS TIME CONTROLLING OR OPERATING LIFE EXPERIENCE ???
SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE ART OF KNOWING : BLAISE PASCAL(1623 – 1662), FRENCH SCIENTIST AND RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHER CLAIMED THAT MAN IS INFINITELY REMOVED FROM COMPREHENDING THE EXTREMES ; THE END OF THINGS AND THEIR BEGINNINGS ARE HIDDEN.
Ladakh Buddhist Association President Dr Tondup Tsewang told Al Jazeera that the Kalachakra was of great importance to the region, which is home to numerous Tibetan refugees.
Nearly 80,000 local Ladakhis, 15,000 Tibetans from around the world, 9000 monks and nuns, 5000 foreigners and numerous Indians attended the first day(***)s teaching.
Many Ladakhis came dressed in traditional clothes: voluminous woollen goncha robes clinched at the waist, dupatta silk scarfs and top hats.
Whole Dude - Whole Concept 