Long Beach, LA — His Holiness left Memphis on the morning of September 24, 2009 arriving in Long Beach in California later this morning. At the airport he was received by Khensur Lobsang Jamyang whose Geden Shoeling Buddhist is hosting his visit here. Tibetan Parliamentarian for North America, Tenzing Chonden, and Kasur Pema Chhinjor were also among those who received His Holiness
His Holiness first went to the Geden Shoeling Buddhist Center in Westminster, California, where he blessed its library. He also had a lunch there before proceeding to Long Beach.
In the afternoon, at 2:30 pm His Holiness left for the nearby Terrace Theatre where around 500 members of the Tibetan community from southern California and nearby areas had gathered for an audience with him. The president of the Tibetan Community of Southern California, Mrs. Pema Chodon, gave a brief report on the activities.
The children of the Sunday Tibetan Culture school presented a song in praise of His Holiness.
Thereafter, His Holiness addressed the people for nearly 50 minutes. His Holiness said it is 50 years since we became refugees. He said it is nearly 60 years since the unfortunate events happened in Tibet. In the life span of a people’s history 50 years is not a long time, but if we look at it from the point of view of an individual’s life span, 50 or 60 years are really long time, he said.
He said in one sense, our situation for the past 50 years is a sad one. Those of us in exile have been homeless while those Tibetans in Tibetan have undergone great difficulties. However, in another sense on account of that negative development, the Tibetan people in all the three provinces have seen the strengthening of their feeling of their being the same people from the Land of Snows. His Holiness said, in the past, if we take the region where he was born, in Dhomey in Qinghai Province, the people there did not have any connection with the Tibetan Government. Although the people had spiritual connection their feeling of being Tibetan has not been that visible. But last year we saw developments in Tibet that showed that all Tibetans considered themselves as one, he said.
His Holiness said in exile, in general wherever Tibetans live, whether in India, Switzerland, or the United States, they have developed a very positive image. However, now if we are not alert and careful there is the risk of gradual degeneration of the positive Tibetan characteristic.
His Holiness said among the scholars in the international community Tibetan culture is seen as something that is beneficial to the world. Among scientists, there is acceptance that Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism are not just museum pieces but something that have relevance to day-to-day life, he added.
He said if we look back to our situation in the past 50 years our negative experience has turned out to be some sort of a blessing. He said he usually mentioned that had he not been a refugee and resided in Lhasa, he would have had some pomp but would not have had the exposure to the world or would not have been able to have interest in such matters. On account of our being in exile, he said he had been able to meet all sorts of people, politicians, scientists, ordinary individuals, sick people, etc. From his own childhood he said he had been very curious to know and to get answers for “how” and “why” of anything. After meeting different people, he said he had the opportunity to become more aware.
His Holiness said he had always been saying that we should hope for the best while preparing for the worst. He thus urged everyone to be alert and not to become lax. In Tibet, the Tibetan people are exposed daily to fear and tribulation and so they have daily reminder of their situation. Those of us in exile, while we do care about the common cause, but because of absence of any daily emergency situation, other than means of earning livelihood or improving our situation, we face the risk of becoming lax, he said. We need to think over our condition and to think about the hope being placed in us by the people in Tibet, he said. His Holiness said this does not mean that one does something specifically for the Tibetan cause. Any Tibetan can utilize the opportunity in his or her daily interaction at the workplace or anywhere to show the positive Tibetan characteristic, he said. Such an attitude will garner support for Tibet from others.
His Holiness said it is important for the parents to relate their experience to their children so that the children become aware of the situation under which our community has existed and be reminded of their identity.
His Holiness said we are following the non-violent path for the cause of Tibet. We are proud of the path we have adopted since we have truth on our side. On account of this we can be non-violent and transparent. On the other hand, since the Chinese Communists do not have truth (concerning Tibet) they have to indulge in falsehood, distortion, and the use of force. If they have truth, then they can provide reasons.
In order to follow the path of non-violence we need education, His Holiness said. In the past we have fallen behind in the matter of modern education, he added. He related the experience of the 13th Dalai Lama who upon his return from India had taken steps to send students abroad, but that could not happen.
His Holiness also told the audience about his interaction with some Christian group in Ladakh during his recent visit there. He said he had told them that the Christians may have been the most effective among the religious traditions in providing education throughout the world. He told them that the Christian groups had established a school in Batang in Kham. Phuntsok Wangyal had told him that he had gone to that school. Similarly in Amdo there was another school. His Holiness said that had there been more such schools in Tibet there would have been hundreds and thousands of Tibetans who would have had modern education.
We need to look at our past experience and need to pay special attention to education. His Holiness then asked the university students in the audience to stand up. He commended them and said along with their studies they need to interact with more students, particularly if there are Chinese students. Such activities would be beneficial, he said. His Holiness also asked parents to encourage their children to continue their studies and to undertake specialized education.
His Holiness said along with modern education they also need to pay attention to Tibetan culture the basis of which is Tibetan Buddhism. He said mere faith in Tibetan Buddhism was not enough. One needs to study Buddhism and gain conviction through reasoning.
His Holiness referred to the presence of some monks in the gathering and said that they needed to be really conscientious. He advised the monk community not to use their religious faith as a means of earning a livelihood. Similarly, he said that anyone wearing a monk’s garment needs to be careful to abide by the responsibilities that come with it and they should not do anything inappropriate.
As for relations with China, His Holiness said that he did not have anything special to tell them. He said the main responsibility is being shouldered by the elected Kalon Tripa. We are sincerely following the path of democracy, he said. In the course of last year’s Special General Meeting, His Holiness said he had conveyed to the Kalon Tripa that we needed to get the frank views of the public on future course of action and to abide by it rather than us trying to bring them to our point of view.
His Holiness said after the Tibetan demonstrations last year and the subsequent Chinese actions we had felt that we needed to strengthen our outreach to the Chinese scholars in addition to our contact with the Chinese Government. He said he had suggested the establishment of Tibetan-Chinese friendship groups and some have already been established. He said he himself had made efforts in meeting Chinese scholars, particularly those who reside in China. He added that he may have met over 300 such Chinese individuals in the past one year. After these people have heard our side of the story relating to Tibet they have no hesitation in supporting us, he said.
He said some of the Chinese scholars tell us that the political system in China will change. In the past 60 years or so there has been degeneration of the traditional Chinese characteristic. Today, money has become the central focus in China. They feel that there is the need to revive the positive Chinese tradition. They say that today we need the support of the Chinese scholars on the Tibetan issue. In the future, Tibetans need to support the Chinese people in reviving their spiritual and cultural heritage. Thus, Chinese scholars understand the value of Tibetan culture and place hope on it for developing the Chinese society.
Therefore, it is very important that we establish relationship with the Chinese people. Some of them have told us that in the past they had only known the official Chinese Government position. But after meeting us, coming to the Tibetan communities in India, etc. they say that they have to apologize for what has happened to the Tibetans. This is the result of our having truth on our side.
If we look at the local level where Tibetans are in dire situation, things may seem hopelesss, but if we look at the situation from a broader perspective, it is a matter before truth triumphs. Everyone needs to continue with their indomitable determination.
If we look at the Tibetan people through history we can certainly feel proud. We have a language. If people need to study Buddhist philosophy in the world today it is Tibetan language that has the best collection. Thus we can be proud of being Tibetans. We also need to be able to keep up with the times in this 21st century and have an all round education. That is all.
His Holiness will be giving teachings on Septembet 25 and 26 in Long Beach.
— reported by Bhuchung K Tsering