Lamas and representatives of Buddhists from the Himalayan region take a question from a journalist on the sidelines of the 14th Tibetan Religious Conference in Dharamshala, India, on 29 November 2019. Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal
By Lobsang Wangyal
McLEOD GANJ, India, 30 November 2019
Buddhists from the Himalayan region expressed their support for the ‘Dharamshala Declaration’ — a three-point resolution passed by the Tibetan clergy calling upon the Dalai Lama to continue with his lineage — and recognises that it will be his sole right to decide his reincarnation.
A three-day gathering of Tibetan religious leaders and monks and nuns from Buddhist as well as the native Tibetan Bon religious tradition, that ran from 27 to 29 November in the heart of the Tibetan Diaspora in McLeod Ganj, unanimously passed the resolution that opposed any interference in selecting the next Dalai Lama.
Members attending the religious conference resolved: “No government or otherwise can have such authority. If the Government of the People’s Republic of China for political ends chooses a candidate for the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan people will not recognise or respect that candidate.”
Lamas and representatives of the Himalayan region from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, including Nepal, who were also in attendance, convened a meeting on the sidelines of the conference to craft their resolution expressing support of the Tibetan declaration.
“At a time when the religion and culture in the Himalayan region is passing through a difficult phase, we the people Buddhist of the Himalayan region unanimously urge for the continuation of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama,” the resolution in Tibetan said.
They have expressed full support as the Dalai Lama’s authority to decide on his reincarnation. “In case China interferes in order to serve their own political ends, the Himalayan Buddhists will reject any reincarnation imposed by China.”
It was also stated in the resolution that the Himalayan Buddhists support that the traditional and historical practice in selecting the next incarnation may be followed as suggested by the Tibetans.
The Himalayan Buddhists announced their support for the Dharamshala Declaration during a press conference on 29 November on the sidelines of the Tibetan Religious Conference, which was 14th in a series held every three years.
Eleven representatives from Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nepal attended the press conference, which was led by Jangchup Choeden, ex-Abbot of Ganden Shartse Monastery and Executive Director of Geluk International Foundation. He is a native of Garsha, a small village in Lahaul district in Himachal Pradesh.
The resolution was passed by 15 prominent trans-Himalayan Buddhist leaders, including Head of Thiksay Monastery, Thiksay Rinpoche Nawang Chamba Stanzin from Ladakh; Head of Drikung Kagyu lineage, Togdan Rinpoche from Ladakh; Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche from Spiti; Abbot of Gomang Monastery, Lobsang Gyaltsen from Ladakh; Abbot of Gyuto Monastery, Geshe Thupten Tenzin from Spiti; Abbot of Ganden Shartse Monastery, Jangchup Sangay from Nepal; Abbot of Tawang Monastery, Gyabung Rnpoche from Kinnaur; Lama of Tse Chok Ling Monastery, Tenzin Gelek from Sikkim.
Replying to a question from this journalist regarding the Indian government’s stand on the reincarnation issue, Lama Chosphel Zotpa from Ladakh said, “We have confidence that the Government of India understands our sentiments, and will give its support for the Tibetan choice of the next Dalai Lama that we support.”
Updated with names of some of the trans-Himalayan Buddhist leaders on 1 December 2019 at 11:20 am.
In order to understand the seriousness of the reincarnation issue for Tibetans, we have to understand the Dalai Lama phenomenon. The Dalai Lama is the SOVEREIGN RULER of Tibet just like the British Queen is to the UK. That is why the Chinese are extremely concerned that not having the Dalai Lama under their control amounts to having lost their claim of “sovereignty” over Tibet. The reason is, if they lose control over him, their claim over Tibet lacks credibility because it’s not been solemnised by the Dalai Lama nor supported by the Tibetan people. They have consistently asked him to accept Tibet as “part” of China and he has always refused. The “17-point agreement” was signed under duress. Therefore, Chinese claim over Tibet becomes untenable since it’s exercised through occupation and not through mutual consent. Tibet has been under military occupation for the last 60 odd years! India has accepted Chinese claims over Tibet and that is the only reason China’s claim has any credence to speak of.
That’s why it becomes very important for our cultural cousins in the Himalayas to pressure India to remedy their erroneous blunders by taking a firm stand on the issue of the Dalai Lama reincarnation, in order not only to rectify past mistakes but for their own national security. Today, India and China are competing for geopolitical and strategic influence across Asia. India’s policy in the neighbourhood has floundered by alienating the Sri Lankans, the Nepalis, and even internationalising the Kashmir issue inadvertently by abrogating article 370. China brazenly took the Kashmir issue to the UN despite India’s solemn representation against such interference. Therefore, there is no reason why India can’t stand by the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation as a quid pro quo gesture.
Bhula, you can not compare the British Queen to the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is a politician as well as religious leader (Choesi Ngidhen) as per our Tibetan constitution, whereas the Queen is just a politician. Tibetans (my parents and grandparents) can not write and read our own language, whereas Britons can read and write their own language well.
The Queen is also the HEAD of the CHURCH of England.
Plhamo la,
Have you ever seen or heard that Queen is teaching in a church or monastery? They have special preacher called “POPE”, who manages Christianity around the world.
Secondly, differentiate between mind and brain. In Buddhism, mind and body is one means brain and body. Example, people who have a stroke the blood clot lodges in a particular part of brain and part of brain which is submodule in the brain that interprets colour or creates the idea of colour; now they no longer see colour after the stroke. They see only black and white. Buddhism is a science and not a blind faith to study, like Lamaism.
It is good to read that the devout Himalayan Buddhist community and other followers of H.H. the Dalai Lama in India and beyond are uniting behind this ‘Dharamshala Declaration’.
According to Hinduism reincarnation or avatar is defined as rebirth of the soul some part of oneself in another body. There is difference between Hinduism and Buddhism. According to Buddha’s pure teachings, Buddhism is nontheistic and teaches nothing has an inherent self. Therefore, there is no question of reincarnation. Buddhism is based on doctrine of anatta, which denies the existence of a soul or permanent or individual self. But Tibetan Buddhism is based on Lamaism, comingle of Buddhism, Bon and Hindu religion. This notion takes us to Dalai Lama, a god kin authority. If Dalai Lama is manifestation of a god, Avalokitishrava he would not be going through the aging process of ordinary human being. Avalokitishvara is one of the avatar of Vishnu as per Hindu mythology. Ava means descendance, Lokit means holder of universe and Ishrava means god. The 5th Dalai Lama was appointed as spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet by Mongol. After 5th Dalai Lama, many successions of Dalai Lama were not leaders until 13th Dalai Lama.
Hey Nama Sangpo aka “Awakened Sky” in youtube,
I’m happy for you if you found salvation in Christianity. But don’t come here like a missionary with a zeal to convert the “heathens” and attack Buddhists and Hindus and other indigenous spiritual traditions. Unlike Abrahamic religions, Dharmic spirituality is inclusive and recognizes even your path to Salvation as valid but there are different levels of Realization and yours is stuck in the so called “heavenly realms”. Dharmic truth goes right to the SOURCE.
According to Nima Sangpo: Buddhism is based on doctrine of anatta, which denies the existence of a soul or permanent or individual self.’ Most of us get stuck here.
Here’s my attempt on understanding the basics:
“Madhyamaka’s denial of svabhāva does not mean a nihilistic denial of all things, for in a conventional everyday sense, Madhyamaka does accept that one can speak of “things”, and yet ultimately these things are empty.
From the 2 Truths in Buddhism, we now live in the world of convential truth.
Only When one truly & fully accomplishes the Paramitas – does the ultimate truth apply. That is when the laws of physics have NO effect – walking through walls, dropped pebbles in the ocean leaving no ripples, etc etc. Takes many lifetimes.
About Citta Santana and Reincarnation
“The notion of mind stream was further developed in Vajrayāna (tantric Buddhism), where “mind stream” (sems-rgyud) may be understood as a stream of succeeding moments, within a lifetime, but also in-between lifetimes. The 14th Dalai Lama holds it to be a continuum of consciousness, extending over succeeding lifetimes, though without a self or soul.
The Dharma was translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan over centuries. Today it is being translated back into Sanskrit.
What you call Lamaism is the cultural accruments one sees on first sight. These aid one in practice including visualization of Guru as personification of Chenregzi. But on Study/practice IT is all there.
You sound like one serious literalist if that is a category.
Your claim that in “pure teachings” of Buddhism “there is no question of reincarnation” alluding that Tibetan Buddhism is NOT “pure”. It shows the arrogance & superiority and prejudicial attitude towards Tibetan Buddhism. If you assert that because Buddhism is based on anatta, there is “no question” of reincarnation”. Do you therefore accept that every individual who is seeking nirvana must achieve it in a single life time? Don’t they take two life times or 3 life times to achieve nirvana? According to thravada texts the “hearers” are said to take more life times to achieve than the prayeka -buddhas to achieve nirvana. How do you explain that if they have to achieve nirvana in single life time? If there is no rebirth why did the Buddha teach four results or goals path such as, one entering the continuum, the returning, the non-returning and ultimate goal? Your spurious logic that if he or she is Avaloketesvara, one shouldn’t get old or age shows your height of ignorance. If it is because he is a Buddha, what about Buddha Sakyamuni? Are you going to claim that he was not old even at the ripe age of 80? Are you serious? Besides, it’s the consciousness of the person which takes rebirth. The body decays and dies but there no death to the consciousness. Why? There no outside or inner causes which can cause the death of the mind. No fire, water, wind, earth, sickness or old age can kill the conciousness. At death it enters the bardo stage where it seeks rebirth with a suitable parent in accordance to ones karma. It takes one week to seven weeks maximum to take rebirth according to the individual karma. At this stage it takes another form either in the high or low realms to continue the journey of death and rebirth which is known as samsara or cycle of death and rebirth.
Bhu la, I did not say Buddha was a reincarnated or god. He was just a human being who achieved enlightenment that means he conquered anger, jealousy and hatred in his life time, but still he went through the aging process because he was a human being, part of the nature. One of the Buddha’s teachings is consciousness. The object of knowledge is not different from the subject of knowledge. Without object there is no subject or consciousness. The subject and object is one, like a coin, not two different things. I and the world I live is one not two different things.
Buddha’s first teachings is Four Noble Truth and it is incredibly simple, profound and interesting subject of nature.
Jesus was not a human being?
People who have fallen prey to soul harvesters -what would they know about Dharmic religions of Eternal Truth. On this Indigenous faith day i remember the Native Americans, the Mayans, the Africans, the Egyptians, Zoroastrian as well as the Pagans of Europe who have lost their ancient spiritual traditions wiped out by colonialists and religious fanaticsm of the Abrahamic religions.
You are confused and making others even more confused. I believe it’s your mission here to confuse everyone to divert the reincarnation debate to nullify the assertion of the Tibetan tradition. I can see your agenda to paint Tibetan Buddhism as a conglomeration of Hinduism/Bon and Buddhism. How did you come to that conclusion? How do you prove it? Your contention is in fact the tool the evil CCP used to demonise and destroy Tibetan Buddhism. The word “Lamaism” was used by the CCP to differentiate Tibetan Buddhism as being something archaic and demonic as a pretext to be dismantled in order to “liberate” the Tibetans from this supposed theocratic hell the CCP painted to invade and occupy Tibet. For your information, in all the major texts that Tibetans study in their great monasteries, the Root texts have all been translated from Indian language and thus goes like this ༄ རྒྱ་གར་སྐད་དུ་ ཨ་བི་ས་མ་ཡ་ཨ་ལན་ཀ་ར་པྲ་ཥྞ་པ་ར་མི་ཏ་ བོད་སྐད་དུ་་བསྟན་བཅོས་མངོན་པར་རྟོག་པའི་རྒྱན་ཞེས་བྱ་བ་ etc. All the five great treatises on Prajna paramita, Madhyamika, Abhidharma, Vinaya Sutra and Pramana Vartika are translated from Indian language into Tibetan as I have explained above and they are THE very basis Buddhist studies in Tibet. All students from novice stage until they complete their study after two decades have to first memorise the root text and then study the commentaries by Indian and Tibetan masters. Your futile attempt in conjunction with your CCP masters CANNOT hide the sun with your mace of deception. Besides, to say, “nothing has an inherent self” is ludicrous as saying, a stallion can give birth to an offspring. In the highest Buddhist School of Madhyamika embraced by Nagarjuna and Arya Deva, there is no inherent existence of anything. Everything is inherently non-existent.