Whole Dude – Whole Misery: October 01, 1949 – I can never ever live my life as a normal person. Long life is indeed a burden when it’s spent in Misery. Questions are a burden to others; answers are a prison for oneself.
Excerpt: The content discusses the historical event of October 1, 1949, when Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Communist Party, announced the creation of the People’s Republic of China. The author refers to the immediate imposition of misery on the Tibetan population and the author’s personal life as not being ‘normal’. The piece reflects on the US’s reaction to communist China, the nuclear threat from the Soviet Union, and accusations of the Truman administration mishandling the situation. It also recounts US refusal to acknowledge communist China and the eventual diplomatic recognition in 1979 as part of President Richard Nixon’s visit.
OCTOBER 01, 1949 – I CAN NEVER EVER LIVE MY LIFE AS A NORMAL PERSON
Whole Dude – Whole Misery: October 01, 1949 – I can never ever live my life as a normal person. Long life is indeed a burden when it’s spent in Misery. Questions are a burden to others; answers are a prison for oneself.
On ‘This Day in History’, October 01, 1949, Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of People’s Republic of China with profound consequences to lives of individuals as well as nations of Asia and World. Communist China wasted no time to impose a life of Whole Misery on the lives of Tibetan people.
Whole Dude – Whole Misery: October 01, 1949 – I can never ever live my life as a normal person. Long life is indeed a burden when it’s spent in Misery. Questions are a burden to others; answers are a prison for oneself.
Long life is indeed a burden when it’s spent in misery. Questions are a burden to others; answers are a prison for oneself. On Tuesday, October 01, 2024, I live in a free country without freedom for I am a refugee without a refuge.
Whole Dude – Whole Misery: October 01, 1949 – I can never ever live my life as a normal person. Long life is indeed a burden when it’s spent in Misery. Questions are a burden to others; answers are a prison for oneself.
Whole Dude – Whole Misery: October 01, 1949 – I can never ever live my life as a normal person. Long life is indeed a burden when it’s spent in Misery. Questions are a burden to others; answers are a prison for oneself. RED CHINA IS OBSESSED WITH A PASSIONATE DESIRE TO EXPAND HER INFLUENCE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD .
Naming himself head of state, communist revolutionary Mao Zedong officially proclaims the existence of the People’s Republic of China; Zhou Enlai is named premier. The proclamation was the climax of years of battle between Mao’s communist forces and the regime of Nationalist Chinese leader Chiang Kai-Shek, who had been supported with money and arms from the American government. The loss of China, the largest nation in Asia, to communism was a severe blow to the United States, which was still reeling from the Soviet Union’s detonation of a nuclear device one month earlier.
State Department officials in President Harry S. Truman’s administration tried to prepare the American public for the worst when they released a “white paper” in August 1949. The report argued that Chiang’s regime was so corrupt, inefficient, and unpopular that no amount of U.S. aid could save it. Nevertheless, the communist victory in China brought forth a wave of criticism from Republicans who charged that the Truman administration lost China through gross mishandling of the situation. Other Republicans, notably Senator Joseph McCarthy, went further, claiming that the State Department had gone “soft” on communism; more recklessly, McCarthy suggested that there were procommunist sympathizers in the department.
The United States withheld recognition from the new communist government in China. The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, during which communist Chinese and U.S. forces did battle, drove an even deeper wedge between the two nations. In the ensuing years, continued U.S. support of Chiang’s Republic of China, which had been established on the island of Taiwan, and the refusal to seat the People’s Republic of China at the United Nations made diplomatic relations impossible. President Richard Nixon broke the impasse with his stunning visit to communist China in February 1972. The United States extended formal diplomatic recognition in 1979.
Also on this day
Whole Dude – Whole Misery: October 01, 1949 – I can never ever live my life as a normal person. Long life is indeed a burden when it’s spent in Misery. Questions are a burden to others; answers are a prison for oneself. Yosemite, Yo-Che-Ma-Te (Some Among Them Are Killers) National Park.
1890
Yosemite National Park established
On this day in 1890, an act of Congress creates Yosemite National Park, home of such natural wonders as Half Dome and the giant sequoia trees. Environmental trailblazer John Muir (1838-1914) and his colleagues campaigned for the congressional action, which was signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison.
Congress creates Yosemite National Park
On this day in 1890, the United States Congress decrees that about 1,500 square miles of public land in the California Sierra Nevada will be preserved forever as Yosemite National Park.
Once the home to Indians whose battle cry Yo-che-ma-te (“some among them are killers”) gave the park its name.
Whole Dude – Whole Misery: October 01, 1949 – I can never ever live my life as a normal person. Long life is indeed a burden when it’s spent in Misery. Questions are a burden to others; answers are a prison for oneself. Yosemite, Yo-Che-Ma-Te (Some Among Them Are Killers) National Park.Whole Dude – Whole Misery: October 01, 1949 – I can never ever live my life as a normal person. Long life is indeed a burden when it’s spent in Misery. Questions are a burden to others; answers are a prison for oneself. RED CHINA IS OBSESSED WITH A PASSIONATE DESIRE TO EXPAND HER INFLUENCE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD .
Whole Dude – Whole Supreme: The White House of Supreme Ruler of Tibet.
Living Tibetan Spirits present a guide to Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet. Potala Palace serves the same purpose as The White House of the US President.
The Potala Palace on the Red Hill in Lhasa was built during the reign of Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682), the Great Fifth Dalai Lama. The Sovereign Authority of the Dalai Lama as the Ruler of Tibet was established before the US President became the Chief Executive of the United States.
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Ruler of Tibet: The political institution of Dalai Lama is formally known as ‘Ganden Phodrang’ and this is the Official Seal of the Tibetan Government.
Potala is the Seat of Tibetan Government called The Dalai Lama Institution of Tibet.
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Ruler of Tibet: The White House of Supreme Ruler of Tibet.
A GUIDE TO POTALA PALACE, LHASA, TIBET
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Ruler of Tibet: The White House of Supreme Ruler of Tibet
Potala Palace is one of the most well-known spiritual sanctums in the world
Whole Supreme: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Supreme Ruler of Tibet lives in exile to defend Freedom in Tibet. Potala Palace in Lhasa is witness to the long history of Tibetan Independence.
At 12,139 feet above sea level, Potala is the highest palace in the world. The 1,300-year-old structure was originally built as a gesture of love, commissioned by Tibetan king Songtsen Gambo for his marriage to Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. Eventually, monks came to rule Tibet and the palace was expanded and converted into the winter residence for the Dalai Lama. But when the Dalai Lama was exiled to India in 1959, the Chinese government took over and made the grounds into a museum.
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Leader of Tibet: Lhasa, Potala und Medizinberg von Osten. My Prayers to Lhasa River.
Still, the Potala Palace remains an iconic part of the region and a mecca for Buddhists around the world. The name Potala is a nod to a sacred mountain in India, where the Buddha of compassion is said to dwell. Year-round, thousands of religious pilgrims circle the perimeter of the palace with prayer wheels and beads to ask for a blessing. Many have traveled thousands of miles by foot just to pay their respects.
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Leader of Tibet: TIBET AWARENESS – HISTORY OF TIBET’S UNREST. POTALA PALACE, LHASA, TIBET.
With more than a thousand rooms, 10,000 painted scrolls, 698 murals, and thousands of exquisite statues made from precious alloys and jewels, the structure has become one of the most famous spiritual sanctums in the world. Inside are the tombs of eight Dalai Lamas, hundreds of sacred Buddhist scrolls, and numerous shrines. Butter lamps light the hallways and watchful monks are stationed in nearly every public room to ensure that decorum is maintained.
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Leader of Tibet: The Potala Palace on the Red Hill in Lhasa was built during the reign of Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682), the Great Fifth Dalai Lama. The Sovereign Authority of the Dalai Lama as the Ruler of Tibet was established before the US President became the Chief Executive of the United States.
The building is divided into two sections—the Red Palace and the White Palace. The former serves as the religious section and the latter as the administrative area. They are literally colored red and white; a fresh coat of paint made up of milk, honey, and sugar is applied every autumn.
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Leader of Tibet: Potala Palace is the symbol of Tibets Independence
The Potala Palace was named a World Heritage site in 1994 by UNESCO, and the neighboring Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka and were added on as extensions in 2000 and 2001, respectively. The Jokhang Temple is considered the most sacred temple in Tibet and the Norbulingka was the former summer residence of the Dalai Lama. All three structures are outstanding embodiments of Tibetan culture and despite waves of natural and human-induced damage, they are international icons that have remained spiritually relevant and intact over the centuries.
How to get there
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Leader of Tibet: Potala Palace is the Institution of Tibetan National Identity
Fly into the Lhasa Gonggar Airport or take a train into the city. Visitors must obtain a Tibet Tourism Bureau permit through a local tour agency in advance (allow up to 14 days) to enter Tibet by plane or train.
How to visit
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Leader of Tibet: In this July 12, 2013, photo, the Potala Palace, once the residence of the Dalai Lama, is seen in Lhasa, Tibet, China. Tibet has been a source of controversy ever since Beijing sent troops to occupy the Himalayan region following the 1949 communist revolution. It 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. (AP Photo/Penny Yi Wang)
All visitors must visit the Potala Palace with a tour group. Groups are allocated an hour inside the premises and photos are not allowed. While the palace and its adjacent temples are very much tourist attractions, many of the guests are Tibetan pilgrims who have come to the sacred sites to pray.
When to visit
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Leader of Tibet: Potala Palace represents the Institution of Dalai Lama known as Ganden Phodrang
As one of the highest cities in the world, Lhasa can get quite frosty during the winter. Summer is the best time to visit. June to August is peak tourist season.
Whole Supreme – The Supreme Leader of Tibet: The White House of Supreme Ruler of Tibet. These Tibetans are not pilgrims visiting the Potala Palace. They came to defend their Political Rights.
Tibet Awareness – Military conquest of Tibet is not a done deal
Tibet Awareness – Annexation of Tibet by China. It’s Not a Done Deal. In fact, there is no deal between Tibet and China on the border issue.
The Border called the McMahon Line between India and Tibet is not my primary concern. In 1913-14, Tibet and China had the opportunity to negotiate a deal to determine and demarcate the border between China and Tibet. They failed to do so. In fact, there is no deal between Tibet and China on the border issue.
Representatives of Tibet, Great Britain, and China at Simla Accord 1914. Front row, from left: an assistant to Ivan Chen; Sekyong Trulku, Prince of Sikkim; Ivan Chen, Chinese plenipotentiary; Sir Henry McMahon, British Plenipotentiary; Lonchen Shatra, Tibetan Plenipotentiary; Teji Trimon, assistant; Nedon Khanchung, Secretary.
I contest the occupation of Tibet by the People’s Republic of China since 1950. In my analysis, annexation of Tibet by China is not a done deal. Tibetans have never agreed to submit their territory to be ruled over by the Communist Party of China. Tibet is never a part of China. In fact, there is no deal between China and Tibet on the demarcation of their border.
Tibet Awareness – Annexation of Tibet by China. It’s Not a Done Deal. In fact, there is no deal between Tibet and China on the border issue.
BOOK EXCERPT
How the McMahon Line came to be the border between India and Tibet (and, later, China)
Tibet Awareness – Annexation of Tibet by China. It’s Not a Done Deal. In fact, there is no deal between Tibet and China on the border issue. Contested Lands: India, China and the Boundary Dispute, Maroof Raza, Westland Non-Fiction.
An excerpt from ‘Contested Lands: India, China and the Boundary Dispute’, by Maroof Raza.
Maroof Raza
Tibet Awareness – Annexation of Tibet by China. It’s Not a Done Deal. In fact, there is no deal between Tibet and China on the border issue. The original draft of the MacMohan Line in 1914: West (left) and East (right)
Lt Col Arthur Henry McMahon was formally nominated to represent the British government at the Simla Conference. With the rank of “secretary” in the foreign department of the British Government of India, McMahon was “empowered to sign any Convention, Agreement or Treaty, which may be concluded at the Conference”.
As a young captain, he had spent two years demarcating the Durand Line that separates Pakistan from Afghanistan today. He was moulded “in the furnace of responsibility and the anvil of self-reliance and relished the creation and laying down of boundaries.” His task at the Simla Conference, however, was neither enjoyable nor easy.
…China, wary of a Britain-Tibet deal, took a while to announce their representative or plenipotentiary for the Simla Conference. Eventually, when they did so, the Chinese first stated that Ivan Chen, an experienced diplomat, and Hu Hanmin would be their representatives. However, China decreed that they would be called pacificators, and would carry “no territorial powers.”
The British objected. It was only after threats and prodding that a Chinese presidential order was signed appointing Ivan Chen as their plenipotentiary and authorizing him “to sign articles that may be agreed upon in order that all difficulties which have existed in the past may be dissolved.” He just about made it in time for the opening convention of the conference.
In contrast, the Dalai Lama was decisive and swift in appointing Lonchen Shatra Paljor Dorje, his Prime Minister who later impressed everybody with his quiet dignity, as his choice for the tripartite talks. Shatra was described as “a man of great ability and patriotism.” Moreover, an official statement from the Grand Lama stated “the Chief Minister Shatra Paljor Dorje is hereby authorized to decide on all questions which may benefit Tibet and to seal all documents relating thereto.”
Both sides made their positions known in the very first meeting held at Simla on 13 October 1913. With the Chinese defeated and evicted from Tibet, Lhasa made it known that it had an “independent” status and placed a document to this effect. But the Chinese still insisted that Tibet formed an integral part of the Chinese territory and no attempts shall be made by Tibet or by Great Britain to interrupt the continuity of this territorial integrity.
For China, unlike the British Government of India, Tibet’s precise boundaries weren’t important. The British hosting the conference wanted a defined boundary for Tibet, not just with India, but also with China. This was the primary reason for the Simla Conference to have dragged on for over six months, with contestable results.
The Chinese also made a range of ridiculous claims over Tibet, most notably over its territories from the Kunlun Mountains, southeast and south of the River Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) on to the River N’Maikha in Burma (now Myanmar). Even though McMahon was prepared for some surprises, he didn’t expect this cartographic aggression based on inconsistent and vague historical assertions.
However, there were factors that restrained McMahon from defining the boundaries. For one, a draft prepared by officials at Britain’s India Office had only envisaged a two-party meeting between representatives of Peking and Delhi. With Tibet’s entry in the deliberations, McMahon had to put up appearances to hide his limitations.
In reality, in the absence of clarity about the southern limits of Tibet, McMahon was awaiting some survey reports from the expeditions along the Himalayas, particularly from India’s northeast and the tri-junction between India, Tibet and Bhutan. This region had many unsurveyed “grey areas” along a frontier of over 1,000 kilometres and was often covered with mist or clouds with many snow-covered mountains that couldn’t be easily accessed from the Indian side. This prevented McMahon from presenting a clear proposal to the conference plenipotentiaries on this part of the boundary.
Thus McMahon opened the “second meeting” of the conference on 18 November 1913 by sharing his dilemma with colleagues. He placed a skeleton map of what should be “Tibet”, admitting – after both sides had made widely divergent claims – that he was “at a loss as to what really was Tibet”.
Thereafter, he conveyed to both the Chinese and the Tibetans that without an agreement on the “limits of Tibet”, further progress was not possible. China’s Chen first said he’d have to refer the matter to Peking and then he took to bed after the meeting, claiming he was ill! Thus, with no hope of an immediate headway and with the winter in Simla bringing life to a virtual standstill, the conference venue was shifted to Delhi. It was over subsequent meetings in Delhi, both formal and informal, that there was some movement forward.
The Tibetans brought to these meetings more than ninety records and documents and backed their boundary claims with historical records in their original form, including fifty-six different registers, with numbers of monasteries and details of families, “where the writ of the Dalai Lama was unquestioned”. The Chinese, on the other hand, made historically refutable claims based on scanty evidence.
Moreover, the Tibetans’ statements were extremely critical of the “scorched earth” policies of the Chinese, especially its military commander Zhao Erfeng, who had destroyed many of their temples and villages and massacred hundreds of lamas and people. Erfeng was known to have made paper shoe soles from the leaves of Buddhist scriptures containing the teachings of Lord Buddha!
The Tibetans were thus unwilling to accept Chinese claims based on the ruthless military campaigns by Erfeng, stating that “Chao Erh-feng had been guilty of such glaring misdeeds and that even if he had a hundred lives he should forfeit every one of them to the law…”
Thus, the hotly contested territorial claims of the Chinese and Tibetans put McMahon in a spot in his attempts to find common ground, to end their “state of war” and to move the conference towards its conclusion. However, given his vast experience in map-making, McMahon proposed the division of Tibet into two zones – with the approval of Whitehall in London – by drawing lines on a map to mark: Inner (by a blue line) and Outer (by a red line) Tibet.
But the Chinese were unwilling to accept the concept of Inner or Outer Tibet. Even then, McMahon was hopeful of a settlement at the fifth conference in Delhi that was to be held on 11 March 1914. At the fifth conference, McMahon, apprehensive that China–Tibet hostilities would stall his best efforts, warned both parties that any attempts to change the ground realities to attain a favourable deal at the conference would have grave consequences. He demanded instead statesmanship from Ivan Chen and Lochen Shatra.
There was, however, a quiet spoiler lurking on the sidelines. Lu Hsing Chi was a Chinese spy at the conference, who set alarm bells ringing in China about a possible outcome that would put China at a disadvantage vis-à-vis Tibet, and thus, Peking virtually rejected the entire draft that McMahon and his team had painfully put together, demanding a better deal. Sensing that the conference might collapse, McMahon threatened to present proposals that were more stringent. This kept the Chinese team on board until the conference shifted back to Simla in April 1914, when McMahon had a private chat with Chen.
McMahon warned that if Chen failed to initial the documents in the final meetings, it would be withdrawn. Deep inside he was also prepared for the conference to end without any results even though McMahon had hoped that this was to be a decisive phase of the conference. Thus, he resorted to theatricals.
He began with a summary of earlier conference proceedings and when he ran into resistance by the Chinese and then by the Tibetans, his patience ran out. As a shocker to those in attendance, he ordered the withdrawal of the convention “with as much ceremony as possible”, as recorded by observers, to drive home his frustration with the negotiations.
This unnerved Ivan Chen, the Chinese plenipotentiary in Simla. However, in one last attempt, the conference was reconvened the next day, to give them a final chance to reconsider their positions. Facing the distinct possibility of China being left out of the border arrangements, Chen made up his mind to initial the draft and the map and, much to the relief of all, proceeded with the formalities.
However, Chen announced that he was still “bound to await definite authority from his government in Peking before the convention was formally signed and sealed.” Even as it appeared that matters had finally come to a successful conclusion, this was not to be. Chen informed McMahon’s office that his government had refused to accept – “repudiated” – his signing of the convention! McMahon was disappointed, given his multiple attempts to accept Chinese demands.
It soon became known that the man who influenced Peking to put the brakes was Lu Hsing, their Calcutta-based spy, who was elevated to an official position to negotiate with Lhasa. London was brought into these talks and soon Chinese officials suggested that Chen had been forced to agree to the terms of the convention, whereby its venue should be shifted to Peking or London. There is a view that this process reflects a conflict of interest as McMahon was both the arbitrator and the interested party here.
On the brighter side, however, the conference yielded another outcome. After Peking and Lhasa had presented enough documentation to back their conflicting territorial claims on the Sino-Tibetan frontiers, which had led to no agreement, the focus of the conference shifted to the Indo-Tibetan boundary. On this, the Chinese delegate opted to stay out, as he claimed he wasn’t authorised to discuss it.
Thus, McMahon and the Tibetan delegate agreed on an Indo-Tibet boundary on 24-25 March 1914. To that effect, McMahon drew a line on a small-scale map and this line came to be known as the McMahon Line. This boundary was marked in red ink along the crest of the Himalayas—the watershed that gave northeast India a defined boundary with Tibet. This was a major outcome after many months of negotiations, even though this was a secondary objective of the Simla Conference.
Tibet Awareness – Annexation of Tibet by China. It’s Not a Done Deal. In fact, there is no deal between Tibet and China on the border issue.
Tibet Awareness – Defend the Rights of Endangered Tibetans
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
I am sharing photo images of endangered Black-necked Cranes visiting Tibet to promote Tibet Awareness. Since 1950, Tibetans lost their Natural Freedom because of China’s military conquest and occupation. I am asking the global community of nations to defend the Rights of Endangered Tibetans and to restore the Political Rights of Tibetans.
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
A black-necked crane looks after its chicks in the Qiangtang nature reserve, Tibet, in June of 2017. Black-necked cranes are often seen in Tibet’s river valleys and the region’s barley and wheat fields in winter. With an estimated population of around 10,200, the species is classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (Xinhua/Chogo)
LHASA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) — Every year, black-necked cranes arrive in Tibet, where they are welcomed by locals and tourists.
“This is the only time of the year when we can see flocks of these birds. It’s spectacular!” said Toinzhub Cering, a wildlife ranger in Lhundrup County, which is about 87 miles northeast of Lhasa, Tibet’s capital.
Black-necked cranes are often seen in Tibet’s river valleys and the region’s barley and wheat fields in winter. And Toinzhub knows exactly where to find them.
For ten years, the 42-year-old has patrolled the nature reserve in Lhundrup, one of the major habitats of black-necked cranes.
With an estimated population of around 10,200, the species is classified as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The black-necked crane is the most recently identified among 15 kinds of cranes worldwide. They are also the only kind that inhabits plateau areas with an altitude of 2,500-5,000 meters.
Toinzhub Cering feels passionate about protecting the species and has been doing his part to help. He is always the first person to call media and authorities each year when the rare birds come and go.
Now that he has learned how to use social media, he often shares photos of the cranes with his friends.
Thanks to efforts made by locals and authorities, these exhausted birds, after flying for over 1,000 km, don’t have to face hunger, pesticide, or poachers.
Instead, they can now easily find pollutant-free highland barley and wheat left by farmers.
But endangered animal protection efforts in Tibet cover more than just birds, with the Tibetan antelope also under people’s watch, among other wildlife.
As for damage and losses caused by such animals, residents can claim compensation from the government.
Between mid-March and late April, black-necked cranes migrate to northern Tibet to reproduce in the lakeside marshes, far beyond human touch.
Yet not all journeys go so well for some cranes. Wounded birds are often left behind by the flock.
Two cranes with broken wings were found in Dazi County near Lhasa this spring. The local forestry authority has been caring for them ever since, and, hopes they can catch up with their flock during next year’s migration.
There have also been cases whereby wounded cranes have become permanent residents after recovery.
Black-necked cranes mainly live in the highlands of Tibet, India, Bhutan, and Nepal. Tibet is home to about 80 percent of the world’s total.
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
A black-necked crane, once wounded during migration, becomes a permanent resident at a temple near Shigatse, U-Tsang region of Tibet, Sept. 27, 2014. (Xinhua/Chogo)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
Group of black-necked cranes flying over Lhasa River Valley, Tibet, Nov. 23, 2017. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
A black-necked crane looks after its chicks in the Qiangtang nature reserve, Tibet, June 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
Photo taken on Dec. 18, 2018 shows black-necked cranes in Lhunzhub County of Lhasa, capital of Tibet. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
Black-necked cranes are seen in the Lhunzhub County, Tibet, Jan. 9, 2015. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
Black-necked crane chicks are seen in the Qiangtang nature reserve, Tibet, June 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
Black-necked cranes are seen in a reservoir where they spend the winter in Lhunzhub County of Lhasa City, capital of Tibet, in January of 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Dongjun)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
A black-necked crane looks after its chicks in the Qiangtang nature reserve, Tibet, June 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
Aerial photo taken on March 10, 2018 shows a black-necked crane in Lhunzhub County, Tibet. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
A black-necked crane, once wounded during migration, becomes a permanent resident at a temple near Shigatse, Tibet, Sept. 5, 2016. (Xinhua/Chogo)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
A black-necked crane family is seen near Yamdrok Lake,Tibet, Aug. 16, 2009. The little black-necked crane (C) broke the wing during migration, and the whole family became permanent residents after the little one’s recovery near the lake. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
Two black-necked cranes, wounded in wings during migration, are cared at a forestry authority in Dagze County, April 12, 2016. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
Black-necked cranes fly in the Lhunzhub County, Tibet, Jan. 9, 2015. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
Wildlife rangers are seen in the Qiangtang nature reserve, Tibet, Sept. 22, 2012. (Xinhua/Liu Hongming)
Tibet Awareness. Defend Rights of Endangered Tibetans.
Colonization of Tibet poses risks to all living downstream
Colonization of Tibet poses risks to all living Downstream.
The major rivers of Asia take origin in Tibet. People living downstream are facing increasing risks as the rivers are drying up due to Communist China’s colonization of Tibet.
Colonization of Tibet poses risks to all living Downstream.
Arunachal Pradesh: Authorities warn of flash floods in East Siang as landslide blocks river in Tibet
Over 6,000 people were evacuated from Tibet’s Menling County after the landslide led to the formation of a barrier lake.
Colonization of Tibet poses risks to all living Downstream.
Sections of the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh dried up due to landslide upstream | HT photo
The Arunachal Pradesh government has warned of flash floods downstream of the Siang River after China informed India that a landslide has blocked a section of the river in the Tibet region, The Times of India reported on Friday.
The Yarlung Tsangpo is the upper stream of the Brahmaputra river. It is known as the Siang river once it enters Arunachal Pradesh and the Brahmaputra when it enters Assam.
The East Siang district administration has asked people not to venture near the Siang river and asked them to stay alert. The water level in the Siang river has reduced due to the landslide blocking the flow of water. The landslide has led to the formation of a lake and there are fears of large-scale floods downstream if the lake breaches, reported the Hindustan Times.
“We got a report from the Central Water Commission about the landslide in Tibet,” said Deputy Commissioner of Upper Siang district Duly Kamduk. “The water level in Siang river has gone down by around 2 meters at Tuting in Arunachal Pradesh.”
A statement issued by the East Siang district administration asked people living on the banks of the river in Jarku, Paglek, SS Mission, Jarkong, Banskota, Berung, Jampani, Sigar, Ralling, Borguli, Seram, Kongkul, Namsing, Mer, Gadum not to remove driftwood, tree barks on the banks of the river as these will serve as a natural flood control mechanism, reported Northeast Today.
Meanwhile, in China, over 6,000 people were evacuated after a barrier lake was formed following the landslide in the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet’s Menling County, reported Xinhua. The amount of water in the lake is above 300 million cubic meters.
In August, several people were airlifted from Assam’s Dhemaji district as Siang river got flooded due to heavy rainfall in the Chinese portion.
Colonization of Tibet poses risks to all living Downstream.Colonization of Tibet poses risks to all living Downstream.Colonization of Tibet poses risks to all living Downstream.Colonization of Tibet poses risks to all living Downstream
Bloodthirsty Dracula symbolizes the relationship between Han Chinese and Tibetans
Han Chinese and Tibetans. The Blood Relationship. Han Chinese are like the Teeth. The Tibetans are like the Lips. The Evil, Bloodthirsty Dracula’s Relationship with Tibet.
“The Tibetans and the Han Chinese are like lips and teeth, we are linked by Blood.”
Han Chinese and the Tibetans. The Blood Relationship. Chinese are like the Teeth and the Tibetans are like the Lips. The Evil, Bloodthirsty Dracula’s Relationship with Tibet.
Han Chinese are like the teeth of ‘The Dracula’. Innocent Tibetans are like the lips of The Dracula’s Bride. Instead of kissing the lips, Han Chinese thirst for the blood of the Tibetans. Indeed, it is a true story about Blood Relationship.
China spends big in Tibet to avert a crisis when the Dalai Lama dies
Global Power
China is increasingly trying to enhance its image by casting itself as the largest nation of Buddhist believers.
by Eric Baculinao and Jason Cumming / Aug.30.2018 / 3:53 AM ET / Updated Aug.30.2018 / 4:09 AM ET
Han Chinese and The Tibetans. The Blood Relationship. Chinese are like the Teeth and the Tibetans are like the Lips. The Evil, Bloodthirsty Dracula’s Relationship with Tibet.
Pilgrims near the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. Johannes Eisele file / AFP/Getty Images
LHASA, China: China is pouring billions of dollars into Tibet as Beijing seeks to cement its control before the succession struggle that is likely to follow the death of the Dalai Lama.
During a rare Chinese government-organized visit to the region, local officials described a development program that they contend will bring prosperity to the 3.3 million Tibetans who inhabit a vast area roughly double the size of Texas.
The massive infrastructure projects include new airports and highways that cut through the world’s highest mountains, with planned investment totaling $97 billion.
The investment plan aims to protect Tibetan Buddhism’s holy sites while building a sustainable “green economy” that safeguards the fragile environment that is an average elevation of 13,000 feet above sea level.
The roof of the world
Chinese troops marched into Tibet in 1950 in what Beijing officially terms a peaceful liberation. China has long aimed to reduce the influence of the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India.
Han Chinese and The Tibetans. The Blood Relationship. Chinese are like the Teeth and the Tibetans are like the Lips. The Evil, Bloodthirsty Dracula’s Relationship with Tibet.
Source: Natural Earth
Graphic: Jiachuan Wu / NBC News
According to official figures, China has also already spent over $450 million renovating Tibet’s major monasteries and other religious sites since the 1980s. An additional $290 million has been budgeted for the next five years.
The huge investment by China comes as the officially atheist country increasingly tries to enhance its image by casting itself as the largest nation of Buddhist believers. China claims some 300 million Buddhists of various schools, of which Tibetan Buddhism is one.
The effort comes as China faces charges from rights groups and exiles of repressing the Tibetan people. China has ruled Tibet with an iron fist since 1951, a year after its troops marched in.
Han Chinese and the Tibetans. The Blood Relationship. Chinese are like the Teeth. The Tibetans are like the Lips. The Evil, Bloodthirsty Dracula’s Relationship with Tibet.
The Dalai Lama in 2015.Ben Stansall / AFP – Getty Images file
Last month, Vice President Mike Pence said Tibet’s people “have been brutally repressed by the Chinese government.” And in June, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said conditions were “fast deteriorating” in Tibet.
Beijing routinely denies charges of repression, saying that its rule ended serfdom and brought prosperity to what was a backward region and that it fully respects the rights of the Tibetan people.
It insists Tibet has historically been part of its territory since the mid-13th century. Many Tibetans, though, say the region has been effectively independent for most of its history.
While Beijing regards the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist who seeks to split off nearly a quarter of the land mass of the People’s Republic of China, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Tibetan spiritual leader says he only seeks greater rights for Tibetans, including religious freedom and autonomy.
Reincarnation
For supporters of the Dalai Lama, China’s Tibet strategy is “aimed at increasing its control and limiting the personal freedom of the Tibetan people,” said Matteo Mecacci, a former lawmaker in Italy and president of the International Campaign for Tibet.
He called the infrastructure improvements and monastery renovations “superficial.”
Mecacci said Tibetans are “not even allowed to receive teachings from the Dalai Lama.”
Han Chinese and the Tibetans. The Blood Relationship. Chinese are like the Teeth and the Tibetans are like the Lips. The Evil, Bloodthirsty Dracula’s Relationship with Tibet.
A portrait of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Sera Monastery in Tibet. Eric Baculinao / NBC News
He added, “When it comes to the real practice of Buddhism, China continues to increase restrictions.”
With the Dalai Lama now 83, many Tibetans fear that China will use the succession issue to split Tibetan Buddhism, with a new Dalai Lama named by exiles and another by the government after his death.
(Barry Kerzin, an American monk and the Dalai Lama’s personal physician, told NBC News that he is “perfectly fit.”)
The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet and went into exile in India in 1959, has repeatedly tussled with China’s ruling Communist Party over who has final authority on the issue of reincarnation.
“The Tibetans and the Han Chinese are like lips and teeth, we are linked by blood.”
Tibetan Buddhism holds that the soul of a senior lama is reincarnated in the body of a child on his death.
China says it must approve the next Dalai Lama, and the Dalai Lama has said his biggest concern is that China will try to name his successor.
Han Chinese and the Tibetans. The Blood Relationship. Chinese are like the Teeth and the Tibetans are like the Lips. The Evil, Bloodthirsty Dracula’s Relationship with Tibet.
The Panchen Lama who was installed by the Chinese government attends an event in 2016.Cui hao / Imaginechina/Getty file
In 1995, after the Dalai Lama named a boy in Tibet as the reincarnation of the previous Panchen Lama, the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism, China put the boy under house arrest and installed another instead.
Many Tibetans are torn between accepting and spurning the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama.
Palaces and shrines
Explaining the seeming contradictions in China’s policy, Tibet’s foreign affairs deputy chief, Ma Qiang, said that while the Community Party “doesn’t believe in religion,” China’s government was “duty-bound to protect Tibetan Buddhism and restore and preserve its holy sites because that is also what the Tibetan people want so they can exercise their freedom of worship.”
The most iconic landmark to receive Chinese funding is the imposing Potala Palace, the thousand-room residence that overlooks Lhasa. It houses the tombs of all but one of the Dalai Lamas who have died since 1682.
Han Chinese and the Tibetans. The Blood Relationship. Chinese are like the Teeth and the Tibetans are like the Lips. The Evil, Bloodthirsty Dracula’s Relationship with Tibet.
Lhasa’s Potala Palace. iStock / Getty
According to the museum’s deputy director, Gonga Zhaxi, the 13-story palace has undergone two major renovations on which Beijing spent $37 million. Another $4.4 million has been budgeted for the repair of its ornate golden roofs.
To protect its priceless Buddha statues, frescoes and scriptures, a limit has been set of 5,000 pilgrims and tourists per day, and cats have been deployed against the colony of rats, he said.
Other sites that have benefited from Chinese cash include:
The seventh-century Jokhang Temple is Tibet’s holiest shrine as it houses a life-sized statue of Buddha (Jowo Shakyamuni) at the age of 12. The labyrinth of chapels thick with the smoke of incense and prayer candles is visited daily by around 12,000 pilgrims and tourists. Buddha’s statue was the gift of the Chinese Tang dynasty Princess Wencheng when she married Tibetan King Songtsan Gambo around 1,300 years ago. The union is now immortalized in a spectacular open-air opera with a cast of 800. A private production company has invested more than $80 million to promote this narrative of Tibet-China unity. Lhagba, a prominent monk and the site’s management director, said Beijing has spent $14.7 million on major repairs there in the past 10 years.
Beijing has also helped with major renovations at Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery, two of Tibet’s most influential Buddhist academies, with grants of $30 million and $8 million. Thanks to government help, the monks can focus on their studies and need not bother with the monastery’s repairs, according to Awang Ciren, the monastery’s academic head. To increase its enrollment of 480 monks, Beijing is building a new dormitory that can accommodate 170 monks, he added.
In addition, 46,000 monks and nuns are now covered by health insurance and social security, officials said.
And with Beijing’s “preferential” policy and massive budget subsidies, Tibet’s economy has been growing faster than the rest of China.
Some $170 million was spent on environmental projects last year, part of a 23-year plan unveiled in 2009 that’s worth $2 billion.
“In Tibet, we don’t allow the burning of coal, and since 2011, we have stopped approving any new mining projects,” said Luo Jie, Tibet’s environmental protection chief, adding that more than one-third of Tibet’s territory consisted of nature reserves. “We also don’t tolerate river pollution.”
Developing a “green economy” is the future of Tibet, according to economic planning official Jiang Taichang
Tourism is also an industry that is drawing more focus. Last year, more than 25 million tourists and pilgrims visited Tibet, generating more than $5.5 billion or one-third of Tibet’s income, and their number is expected to rise to 70 million in four years. (The majority of tourists are Chinese, as security has been ratcheted up significantly in the decade since anti-government protests spread through Tibetan areas in 2008 and Tibet remains mostly off-limits to foreigners.)
Han Chinese and the Tibetans. The Blood Relationship. Chinese are like the Teeth and the Tibetans are like the Lips. The Evil, Bloodthirsty Dracula’s Relationship with Tibet.
Monks at Tibet’s Sera Monastery debate Buddhist teachings. Eric Baculinao / NBC News
Lhasa’s special economic zone, built with a $30 million investment from Beijing, is already fully leased out, with 200 enterprises producing a range of products from beer to medicines. A new technology zone and financial district are being planned.
Norbu Thondup, the Beijing-appointed executive vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibet’s administrative name, condemned the “sabotage” activities aimed at the “harmony and happiness in today’s Tibet” by groups supporting the Dalai Lama.
He reiterated China’s policy that the “gate is open” if the Dalai Lama abandons the idea of “splitting” Tibet from China.
“The decision is for the Dalai to make,” Thondup said of him returning to his homeland. “The Tibetans and the Han Chinese are like lips and teeth, we are linked by blood.”
But Mecacci, of the International Campaign for Tibet, said it was important for China to engage with the Dalai Lama.
“Only a serious dialogue while the Dalai Lama is alive can provide a lasting political solution in Tibet,” he said. “Finding an agreement with the Tibetans would help China because it’s the right thing to do and because it will help China both domestically and internationally.”
Eric Baculinao reported from Lhasa and Jason Cumming from London.
Han Chinese and the Tibetans. The Blood Relationship. Chinese are like the Teeth and the Tibetans are like the Lips. The Evil, Bloodthirsty Dracula’s Relationship with Tibet.
Tibet Awareness – Look at Tibet Issue From All Angles
We look at Tibet issue from all angles to openly declare that Red China is an Evil Power, a Tyrant, an Aggressor, a Neocolonialist, an Expansionist, an Oppressor, and a Subjugator of Tibet.We look at Tibet issue from all angles to openly declare that Red China is an Evil Power, a Tyrant, an Aggressor, a Neocolonialist, an Expansionist, an Oppressor, and a Subjugator of Tibet.
We look at Tibet issue from all angles to openly declare that Red China is an Evil Power, a Tyrant, an Aggressor, a Neocolonialist, an Expansionist, an Oppressor, and a Subjugator of Tibet.
Mercedes-Benz Apologizes to China Over Dalai Lama Post
We look at Tibet issue from all angles to openly declare that Red China is an Evil Power, a Tyrant, an Aggressor, a Neocolonialist, an Expansionist, an Oppressor, and a Subjugator of Tibet.
Mercedes-Benz has become the latest major global brand to offer a public apology after upsetting the Chinese government on a sensitive subject.
We look at Tibet issue from all angles to openly declare that Red China is an Evil Power, a Tyrant, an Aggressor, a Neocolonialist, an Expansionist, an Oppressor, and a Subjugator of Tibet.
The carmaker apologized Tuesday for hurting “the feelings” of Chinese people by quoting the Dalai Lama in a post on its Instagram account. The move comes just weeks after Marriott, Delta Air Lines and other big names found themselves in trouble with Beijing over how they described politically sensitive places like Taiwan and Tibet.
The Chinese government has launched frequent attacks on the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, calling him a “traitor” and a separatist. Beijing considers Tibet to be part of its territory and comes down hard on any suggestions to the contrary.
Mercedes, which is owned by Daimler, (DDAIF) ran afoul of China’s stance when it paired a quote attributed to the Dalai Lama with a photo of one of its luxury sedans on Instagram — a social media platform that is banned in China.
“Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open,” the quote read.
The ad was posted on Monday and garnered nearly 90,000 likes before Mercedes deleted it the following day, according to a screenshot posted by Chinese state media.
The Global Times, a state-run newspaper that often strikes a nationalistic tone, criticized Mercedes, saying the company was quick to respond to the incident but shouldn’t make such mistakes in the first place.
Mercedes issued a statement in Chinese about the incident on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter (TWTR), offering a “sincere apology” three separate times.
“We fully understand how it has hurt the feelings of people in the country, including our colleagues working in China, we sincerely apologize for this,” Mercedes said, adding that the post contained “extremely erroneous information.”
With its rising middle class and growing economic might, China is a key market for many global brands. Mercedes is no exception.
Of the nearly 2.4 million vehicles it sold worldwide last year, more than a quarter were snapped up by Chinese buyers.
A growing number of international companies have recently found themselves in hot water in China over politically sensitive issues.
Authorities last month blocked Marriott’s websites and apps for a week in China after it listed Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as separate countries in its emails and apps. Marriott (MAR) apologized profusely, saying it respects and supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China.
Shortly after that, Delta (DAL) came under fire for similarly listing Taiwan and Tibet as countries. It said it was “an inadvertent error with no business or political intention” in its apology.
At the same time, the owner of European clothing brand Zara was chastised by regulators for listing Taiwan as a country and ordered to rectify the situation.
China and Taiwan — officially the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China — separated in 1949 following the Communist victory on the mainland after a civil war.
They have been governed separately since, though a shared cultural and linguistic heritage mostly endures, with Mandarin spoken as the official language in both places. The government in Beijing has always maintained that Taiwan is a renegade province that is part of its sovereign territory.
Communist China sent troops into Tibet in 1950 to enforce its claim on the region and has controlled it since 1951 — though the central government in Beijing has faced repeated bouts of unrest from ethnic Tibetans unhappy over its rule.
— Nanlin Fang contributed to this report.
CNNMoney (Hong Kong) First published February 7, 2018: 2:43 AM ET
We look at Tibet issue from all angles to openly declare that Red China is an Evil Power, a Tyrant, an Aggressor, a Neocolonialist, an Expansionist, an Oppressor, and a Subjugator of Tibet.
TIBET AWARENESS – UNEQUAL YOKING. TIBET IS SUBJECT TO BURDEN IMPOSED BY UNEQUAL YOKING WITH A MONSTROUS BEAST, UNEQUAL IN SIZE AND POWER.
Red China, using military force, yoked with Tibet. To perform farm work, farmers generally use two animals of same type, size, and strength to get work done without imposing unequal burden on animals yoked together. Red China is a huge, monstrous beast, and her Unequal Yoking with Tibet imposes burden called Subjection, Bondage, Servitude, Enslavement, Hardship, Trouble, Pain, and Suffering upon Tibetans.
TIBET AWARENESS – UNEQUAL YOKING. TIBET IS SUBJECT TO BURDEN IMPOSED BY UNEQUAL YOKING WITH A MONSTROUS BEAST, UNEQUAL IN SIZE AND POWER.
Tibet is under the Yoke of Burden, Control, Subjugation to become subservient to Red China’s Doctrine of Neocolonialism.
THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT TIBET – FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking. The Burden of Military Occupation.
The country at the roof of the world, was very different from what I expected. Tibet, often considered the spiritual center of the world has more Buddhist monks, stupas and gods than any other place, yet it was anything but the peaceful and calm realm I had envisioned. Not that the available online resources lie about it, but more that there is a general lack of information beyond the Dalai Lama and the Chinese-Tibetan political situation, so my mind veered towards red-robed monks and the magical image of the Potala Palace. The list of things that surprised me about Tibet is quite long, but I will attempt to highlight the most relevant, the top 17 things that most people don’t know about Tibet or that will surprise any traveler to the oft-called Shangri-la.
1. Tibet facts – Tibet is developed and it has incredible infrastructure
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking. Red China’s Subjugation of Tibet.
I visited with the utopian idea in my head that Tibet was going to be a peaceful and isolated place resembling Bhutan. But Tibet, or the Tibetan Autonomous Region, is a Chinese occupied territory that became part of China in 1950 and, as a result, for good or for bad, infrastructure has developed dramatically. Even the road that leads to the world’s highest mountain, Everest, is paved almost all the way, a far cry from the 9-14 day trek from Lukla Airport (the world’s most dangerous airport) to reach the Nepalese equivalent. In fact, we drove all the way to 5,200m to the tourist Everest Base Camp. Roads throughout the country are smooth and paved, including the Friendship Highway that links Shanghai with Kathmandu and runs for 5,900km, practically crossing Tibet.
Countless electricity lines crisscross the arid landscapes, at times, several electricity posts slashed my photographs. Even the most remote of villages have electricity and solar panels. Why? Tibet is China’s richest province, with deep reserves of gold, copper and other precious and valuable resources and infrastructure is essential to mine and exploit this natural wealth. As our train to Lhasa glided through the middle of nowhere, high up in the Tibetan Plateau, the lights of trucks carrying minerals to processing factories provided a continuous source of light in the darkest of nights. Those factories lit the horizon in sudden outbursts. Next to them, nomad villages built to accommodate the workers supporting the factories sprung as if mushrooming from the rocks and sand. There were many, and we were to see even more across Tibet.
2. Tibet facts – The issue of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking. The Great Problem of Tibet.
The 14th Dalai Lama left Tibet after disagreement with the Chinese government about his successor, which made it too dangerous for him to stay and has lived in exile in Dharamsala, India, ever since. This shows his opposition to the occupation and his demands for true autonomy (not independence) for Tibet. The Chinese government recognizes Buddhism, a religion that is widely spread in the country despite communism, but nominated their own Panchen Lama, the successor to the Dalai Lama, in 1995, six years after the death of the previous Panchen Lama, following a traditional process using a golden urn that was used for the 10th, 11th and 12th Dalai Lamas. Their choice did not match that of the current Dalai Lama, whose successor has been kept in an unknown location in China ever since.
The Panchen Lama nominated by the Chinese Government has been receiving education in Buddhism and Tibetan culture since his enthronement at the Panchen Lama’s seat in Xigatse. His photograph can be seen across Tibet whereas having a photo of the 14th Dalai Lama is illegal and can carry fines or imprisonment. Tibetans often claim this misalignment about who the next Dalai Lama will be as the main attempt by the Chinese to eradicate Tibetan culture and identity.
3. Tibet facts – The highest country on the planet
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking. Natural Freedom violated by Unnatural Occupation.
When I visited Bhutan I thought I was high. High on life, high on spirituality and high up in the mountains! One of the country’s nickname, “The Kingdom in the clouds”, clearly reflects its high altitude, with the capital at 2,300m and several peaks above 7,000m. Bhutan ranks as the highest country in the world when average altitudes are taken, despite some of the lowest parts are almost at sea level.
But that is just because Tibet is not officially recognized as a country by the UN because of Chinese veto, so it is just a region of China. Before Chinese occupation, Lhasa was the highest capital in the world as per the Guinness World Book of Records, but La Paz in Bolivia has taken that prize since Tibet became a part of China.
What makes Tibet’s altitude extra special is that, not only does it have the highest mountain in the world (Mount Everest), but also the highest average altitudes at 4,575m above sea level, the highest road, the highest toilet, the highest town (Whenzuan), the highest monastery and the highest train. Everything in Tibet is made of superlatives. We drove up mountain passes that are at 5,200m, we used the highest toilet in the world, located on the same mountain pass top, we took the train to Lhasa, which climbs to 4,500m and visited the world’s highest monastery, Rongbuk, at the foot of Everest Base Camp. Altitude is an undetachable synonym with Tibet.
4. Tibet facts – 40% less oxygen
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking. Natural Conditions, Natural Factors, Natural Mechanisms, and Natural Events produce Natural Freedom in Tibet.
Tibet’s high altitude is the cause for the traveler’s worst nightmare: Altitude sickness. Because it is so high, the pressure is lower giving the sensation that there is less oxygen. I have extensively covered the topic of altitude sickness, because we felt it and felt it badly, but what I found most interesting is that it is not possible to descend in Tibet, the lowest altitude is already a whooping 3,500m above sea level.
5. Tibet facts – Permits, permits, permits
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
Getting to Tibet is not particularly difficult. Travel restrictions have been lifted and you can go on a small private tour like I did with WildChina, without issues. It was a similar process to that for North Korea. You cannot travel independently, but you can pretty much visit anything as long as you are entering with a tour company. And, unlike North Korea, you can freely wander the streets or explore anything without a chaperon.
However, visiting Tibet does require a lot of planning ahead. You will need a Chinese visa first, which is required by almost all citizens and can take up to two weeks to process depending on your country of residence and which can be very costly (US$100 in Singapore). With a photocopy of that in hand, the travel agent will apply for a Tibetan permit which will be linked to your detailed itinerary. The permit can take anything from a week to 3 weeks so you should start the entire process about two months ahead to ensure everything is done on time as the processing timelines vary vastly from country to country (e.g. one of my friends took 2 weeks for the Chinese visa and 3 days for the Permit whereas I took 3 days for the visa and 3 weeks for the permit).
The permit is your passport into the Tibetan Autonomous Region and will be checked and rechecked a million times throughout the trip. Your guide will keep the permit with him or her throughout your stay. Every time you reach a new village the guide will be registering you, even for just one night, with the local Police, so your whereabouts are being monitored at all times. There were also 20 road checks through our 9 day journey and we were thoroughly scrutinized at the train station and airport before boarding. If you plan to visit Everest Base Camp, then you will need an additional permit and to go through a Military check-point at the park’s entry.
6. Tibet facts – Big Brother is watching
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
The controls of visitors extend to the cars as well. All cars that take tourists around the country are owned by the government and kitted with two cameras and a radio system that communicates a central office to all the drivers. The cameras are constantly monitoring the driver and making sure that he is not doing anything against the Chinese rules. Every time the speed went above the marked limit, a message came through on the radio speakers to slow down. The speakers also shared a regular amount of updates and reminders about safety on the road. It was a constant reminder that our every move was being watched.
7. Tibet facts – Cold and high, but without snow
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
I was expecting the landscapes to be rocky, mountainous and majestic and for the snow to cap all mountain tops but Tibetan landscapes are rather brown and grey with very little snow. In fact, although we saw some snowflakes as we traversed the highest pass, at 5,200m, the majority of the mountains were devoid of that delicate white veil that tops other mountain ranges. Our guide confirmed that it does snow very little in Tibet and that pretty much all the snow we were seeing was permanent. The glaciers, receding as a result of global warming, were also perennial. The lack of snow is caused by the high Himalayan mountains that stop the clouds from emptying their bowels and providing rain or snow.
8. Tibet facts – Tibet was not always a peaceful nation
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
I associated Tibet with peace, not least because the Dalai Lama has been an example of opposition to the Chinese occupation, something which got him the Nobel Peace Prize. But Tibet’s past wasn’t always as spiritual and peaceful as Buddhism advocates. Tibetan Kings fought and defended Tibet from assailants for centuries. Remnants of Medieval fortresses, city walls and castles can be seen across the country. Unlike Bhutan, who was never occupied by an international power, the English had several incursions in Tibet, as did the Mongols, Indians, Afghans, Nepali and various Chinese dynasties. So monks, and the Tibetan Kings, were a fearless army defending their territory since the 17th century until the Chinese occupation in the 1950s.
9. Tibet facts – Yak meat, yak butter, yak hair
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
Tibet’s high altitudes and harsh conditions make life extremely hard and yaks are the lifeline for most Tibetans. Yak meat, leaner and lighter than beef, is ever present. Yaks are also used for milk and butter and their hair is used to make rugs and clothes, even to weave the cover ups that protect the Potala Palace – delicate paintings and carvings from the sun. Even yak dung is collected and dried to be used as fuel in the winter months. However, yaks are an endangered species and most of the animals seen roaming the fields are actually a blend between yak and cow.
10. Tibet facts – Photos of the Dalai Lama are illegal
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
Almost everyone has a clear image in their heads of the current Dalai Lama. However, carrying or having his photo in Tibet could lead to imprisonment and punishment. None of the houses or temples we visited had any. Instead, the Panchen Lama, nominated by the Chinese Government, is to be displayed in homes and businesses. The prohibition extends to the Tibetan Flag, which does not fly anywhere in the country. Bright Chinese flags are hung on rooftop of houses, next to the colorful prayer flags.
11. Tibet facts – Shangri-la is the result of a misspelling
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
Tibet is often referred to as the Shangri-la. The word has no meaning in Tibetan, although La does mean mountain pass and is attached to the end of all passes in Tibet. The word was first coined by the writer of the most famous novel about Tibet, Lost Horizon, in 1933. James Hilton probably misunderstood the word Shambala, which has a similar meaning in Tibetan Buddhism, and wrote Shangri-la instead. Since then, the word has been assimilated to a mythical place somewhere high in the mountains, a Heaven of sorts, a paradise on Earth, and is even the brand name of a luxury hotel chain whose eponymous Lhasa hotel I stayed at during my visit.
12. Tibet facts – The prostrations
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
I had seen some images of devout Buddhists prostrating in key Buddhist temples and landmarks but nothing could prepare me for the absolute devotion and extreme prostrations that some engage in. Some people would spend their entire day prostrating and praying, continuously kneeling down and lying flat on the floor then standing up again. Most will be dressed appropriately, with hand and knee protection to allow them to glide. At some particularly holy places, like in front of the Jokhang Monastery or the Potala Palace, some extreme devotees would prostrate in the middle of the pavement and receive donations from passers-by.
13. Tibet facts – The toilets
I cannot talk about things which surprised me about Tibet and not mention the toilets. Although there are public toilets across the cities and main road stops, they smelled so bad and were so dirty at times that we opted for the nature toilet: behind a rock (because there are no trees in the mountains). Bringing wet wipes and tissue is not enough, one needs to bring a sort of perfume to put a couple of drops under the nose to enter some of the public toilets. All of Tibet’s toilets, barring the hotels, are squat toilets consisting of a hole on the floor with a drop which may sometimes not be very long. There are no doors to the public toilets which often times will have more than one hole next to each other. You may do your thing next to someone who is doing her thing, in the open. And if that was not enough, many people miss and the toilets are never cleaned. You get the picture. This remained the main topic of discussion among my group, a source of constant jokes and laughter, as we hunted for the cleanest, least smelling holes. I will leave it there.
14. Tibet facts – Kora
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
Tibetans go on walking and praying pilgrimages around main landmarks and monasteries. Much like the Camino de Santiago or the trip to Mecca, only shorter and more frequent. These walks are called Kora and can be taken around any monastery. The most common one is the one in Lhasa, around the Potala Palace or the Sera Monastery. Locals pray as they walk around, many of them will spin prayer wheels like in Bhutan. Some of the Kora can take up to a full day and the elderly may repeat them every day.
15. Tibet facts – Temple smell
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
All temples and monasteries in Tibet have the same common smell of yak butter used in the butter lamps and fresh incense also burned across the country in houses and burners that can be found in public places.
16. Tibet facts – Paying for photographs
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
In Bhutan taking photos of temples and monasteries is simply not allowed. The interiors of the Buddhist buildings are usually covered from floor to ceiling with paintings and offerings in bright colors and gold and they are incredible to see and experience and provide a deep sense of spirituality. In Tibet you can photograph almost every landmark and interior as long as you pay a donation. At first we were surprised but relaxed as the money seemed more like a voluntary donation which we diligently dropped in bowls. But in some monasteries the monks would chase us for the donation, making us drop cameras for those who did not pay to avoid any photos being taken, and the initially innocuous amount started to amount to a small fortune as some temples started to ask for up to US$350 per hall for video, like in Shigatse. At US$2-4 per hall and an average of 3-5 halls worthwhile per monasteries I probably spent upwards of US$100 in photo donations, on top of the entry tickets. Considering these were religious places that were already filled with pilgrim donations (and stacks of money were stuffed inside God’s enclosures), the additional donation started to feel a bit much.
17. Tibet facts – Commercialized Everest Base Camp
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
I can speak for myself, who paid a handsome amount to take a helicopter to the Nepali Base Camp well before this was a commercial venture offered to tourists. But on the Tibetan side, thanks to very good infrastructure, the Base Camp has been commercialized extensively. We slept 8km from the climber’s Base Camp in a tourist tented camp which advertised free WiFi and was filled with souvenir stalls albeit it offered very basic accommodation at sub-zero temperatures without heating. The Chinese government has announced plans to build a resort, museum and helipad a few kilometers from Base Camp, in Gangkar, to offer greater comfort and drive more tourism dollars into the country, although most visitors to Tibet are still local Chinese from other provinces. Serious trekkers no longer consider Everest a hard climb since so many people are attempting and reaching the summit every year. I can tell you the acclimatization to 5,200m was very tough.
18. Tibet facts – Speed limits
Tibet Awareness – Unequal Yoking.
We regularly saw cars stopped in the middle of the road. The Chinese authorities control speed limits in a very comical and questionable way: By putting road controls and checking how long it took you to get from one to the next. The speed limits on the road are low, about 35 km/h for many roads, making the trips longer than they should take given the great infrastructure. I already discussed before that the tourism vehicles cannot surpass the speed limit and if you do, the driver gets an announcement through the radio system. But, in addition, most roads have controls. You will get a stamp on a paper with the time you crossed the previous one and the policeman will check that it took you the stipulated amount of time to cover the distance. This was not an issue for us because we were not in a rush and were making plenty of photo stops. But the locals had to stop by the side of the road to waste some time before going through controls or speed cameras.
TROUBLE IN TIBET – STOP THE CULTURAL GENOCIDE. Disorienting social and economic change is under way in Tibet. The exiled Dalai Lama accuses China of “cultural genocide” (monasteries are being harassed, and in some parts of the plateau Chinese-language education erodes traditional ways).
The Exiled Supreme Ruler of Tibet His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama expressed deep concern about Cultural Genocide in Occupied Tibet.
TROUBLE IN TIBET – STOP THE CULTURAL GENOCIDE: Disorienting social and economic change is under way in Tibet. The exiled Dalai Lama accuses China of “cultural genocide” (monasteries are being harassed, and in some parts of the plateau Chinese-language education erodes traditional ways).
UNPACIFIED PLATEAU: TIBET
Disorienting social and economic change is under way in Tibet. The exiled Dalai Lama accuses China of “cultural genocide” (monasteries are being harassed, and in some parts of the plateau Chinese-language education erodes traditional ways).
Government infrastructure investment in the Tibetan Autonomous Region has spurred mass tourism, but Tibetan resentment at missing out on tourism – and construction-related jobs was a big cause of rioting in Lhasa and elsewhere in 2008. Nor do the 6 million Tibetans (seen as troublemakers by China) migrate much to places with more opportunities: only around 1% have settled outside the plateau. The few private-sector jobs in Tibet mostly go to Han Chinese, so educated Tibetans mostly work for the government. The Chinese name for Tibet, Xizang, means “western treasure house” but Tibetans have little share in its spoils.
Trouble in Tibet – Regime Change through Meditation
Whole Trouble – A Total Wake-Up Call for Regime Change in Tibet. How to change the Regime in Occupied Tibet? The Role of Meditation. The Great Masters of Nalanda. Acharya Kamalashila explained Three Stages of Meditation.
The problem of military occupation in Tibet needs resolution which demands a ‘Regime Change’. If military occupation poses problem, it exists outside the mind of a person experiencing the problem of occupation. Meditation may bring about some change in electrical activity of the brain and that change in activity can only be experienced by the person who practices meditation. However, there is no reason to suggest or expect any change in electrical activity of brain of a person who imposes the burden called military occupation. Can I hope to change the mental activity of Red China’s President through the practice of very rigorous meditation?
Meditation helps to bring Regime Change if the practitioner of meditation takes full advantage of changes in the electrical activity of his brain induced by the practice of meditation to perform specific physical actions to vacate the problem of occupation by evicting the Occupier.
Trouble in Tibet – Regime Change through Meditation. Can I hope to change the mental activity of Red China’s President through the practice of very rigorous meditation?
“Since you cannot tame the minds of others, until you have tamed your own, begin by taming your own mind.” – Acharya Atisha.
Neuroscientist Richie Davidson Says Dalai Lama Gave Him ‘a Total Wake-Up Call’ that Changed His Research Forever
By Lauren Effron
Jul 27, 2016, 2:00 PM ET
TROUBLE IN TIBET – REGIME CHANGE THROUGH MEDITATION. Dr. RICHIE DAVIDSON, NEUROSCIENTIST INVESTIGATES EFFECTS OF MEDITATION ON HUMAN BRAIN.
Dr. Richie Davidson, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been meditating for more than 40 years, but it was the Dalai Lama himself who convinced him to dedicate his life to researching the effects of meditation on the brain.
“He challenged me, saying, ‘You’ve been using the tools of modern neuroscience to mostly study anxiety, depression and fear, all these negative feelings. Why can’t you use these same tools to study qualities like kindness and compassion and equanimity?’ And I didn’t have a very good answer for him,” Davidson said. “It was a total wake-up call for me and really was a pivotal catalyst.”
Davidson, who founded the Center for Healthy Minds, met the Dalai Lama in 1992 and has since gone on to conduct multiple studies on mindfulness, compassion and cognitive therapy training. He talked about his research and personal meditation practice with ABC News’ Dan Harris for his “10% Happier” live stream/podcast show.
Early in his career, Davidson said he “became a closet meditator and didn’t talk to any of my colleagues about my interest in meditation … [the Dalai Lama] played a major role in me coming out of the closet and encouraging serious scientific research in this area.”
His relationship with His Holiness led to Davidson and his colleagues to conduct a study a few years ago looking at the brain scans of Buddhist monks as they meditated. The Dalai Lama had granted permission for his monks to have their brains studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, home to one of the most renowned brain labs in the world.
Davidson’s team flew in monks from Tibet and Nepal for the study and asked them to meditate while undergoing EEG, MRI and FMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans. When they first looked at the scans, Davidson said the results were so shocking, he thought the equipment was malfunctioning.
“What we saw in these individuals, not a burst of gamma, but a long duration [of activity] for minutes while they were meditating, which is crazy,” Davidson said. “This had never been seen in a human brain before.” Typically in an “untrained mind,” Davidson said, a burst of activity would last for about one second, but the monks could sustain it. “And [they] can turn it on pretty much at will,” he said. “Any of us can have it and we may not be able to sustain it, that’s the difference … a thought will come into our mind and we’ll get lost in it for a few minutes, and so the ability to sustain it I think really requires much more practice.”
As a scientist, Davidson has been criticized in the past for his close relationship with the Dalai Lama, a religious figure. Davidson also has been questioned about whether he is biased toward a certain outcome in his research because he has been practicing meditation for decades. But Davidson argued that his personal practice and the Dalai Lama’s support are beneficial to his work.
“I understand the concern and really my push back is simply that we are trying to do the science at the highest possible level with the most integrity,” Davidson said. “And I actually believe that if you’re going to study meditation scientifically then you’ve got to meditate yourself…. It would be like telling a cardiologist that they can’t do any physical exercise for the rest of their active career because they’re biased.”
Every morning, Davidson said he will do a period of meditation and then take two to three minutes to scan his calendar for meetings. Then for a few seconds, Davidson said he pauses to reflect on how he can bring “the right stuff” to each meeting in order to “be present and be most helpful.”
“I can go through a day where I have 10 straight hours of meetings and at the end of that period feel totally nourished and refreshed,” he said.
His advice for those who want to start meditating was to commit to a daily practice for at least 30 days, but set a reasonable amount of time.
“There are published studies which show as little as eight minutes of meditation can actually produce a measurable objective change, but again it says nothing about how long these changes will last,” Davidson said. “It doesn’t matter how small that number is, but do it every day.”
Whole Trouble – A Total Wake-Up Call for Regime Change in Tibet. How to change the Regime in Occupied Tibet? Tibetan Resistance: The Doctrine and the Philosophy of Tibetan Resistance to China’s War of Occupation is based on the Force or Power of an Idea that concludes that the Enemy has no Power over your Mind and the Enemy cannot exercise authority over your Mind. Resistance begins when man sets his Mind Free. Resistance is Freedom in Action without any sense of Fear.Whole Trouble – A Total Wake-Up Call for Regime Change in Tibet. How to change the Regime in Occupied Tibet? Tibetan Resistance: The Doctrine and the Philosophy of Tibetan Resistance to China’s War of Occupation is based on the Force or Power of an Idea that concludes that the Enemy has no Power over your Mind and the Enemy cannot exercise authority over your Mind. Resistance begins when man sets his Mind Free. Resistance is Freedom in Action without any sense of Fear.Whole Trouble – A Total Wake-Up Call for Regime Change in Tibet. How to change the Regime in Occupied Tibet? Tibetan Resistance: The Doctrine and the Philosophy of Tibetan Resistance to China’s War of Occupation is based on the Force or Power of an Idea that concludes that the Enemy has no Power over your Mind and the Enemy cannot exercise authority over your Mind. Resistance begins when man sets his Mind Free. Resistance is Freedom in Action without any sense of Fear. Great Masters of Nalanda. Acharya Atisha.
