An undated file photo of monks of Gyuto Monastery in Sidhbari near Dharamshala. Photographer unknown
Tibet Sun Online News
ON THE WEB, 4 March 2021
As many as 153 monks at Gyuto Monastery in Sidhbari near Dharamshala have tested positive for coronavirus since the last week of February, according to reports.
The outbreak started after Losar, the Tibetan New Year, on 13 February. The situation came to light after a random sampling was carried out at the monastery on 23 February.
Since then, 330 samples have been taken, of which 153 have tested positive. Except for one monk showing serious symptoms, the rest are said to be asymptomatic. The one with serious symptoms has been brought to Tanda Hospital.
Those affected are in isolation at the monastery, and the entire locality has been declared a containment zone.
Investigations showed that among those tested, 15 monks, comprising 13 from Karnataka and two from Delhi, had come to the monastery after Losar, but all these tested negative.
The Deputy Commissioner of Kangra District Rakesh Kumar Prajapati has instructed the Central Tibetan Administration to oversee the Tibetan population in the area to follow the Covid-19 protocols so that the outbreak doesn’t grow.
The Kangra district caseload is recorded at 8,430, and 207 people have died from Covid-19.
That’s what happens when you rely on om tare tutare soha as a vaccine against covid and let down your defenses.
These silly Gelugpa sect monks should have listened to Mila Rangzen’s advice.
It’s strange that those who have constantly used the sacred name of HH are casting aspersions on his advice concerning the Tara mantra. This is blasphemy in every sense of the word. It’s called kur-dep in Tibetan.
L Namgyal is radicalised by hate-monger Mila who is an infidel.
HH advised Tibetans to recite Tara mantra to protect ourselves from the virus but has ALWAYS advised people to keep the distance and sanitise hands whenever he gave virtual teachings. Reciting mantra didn’t equate with not taking precautions in hygiene and sanitation.
Those who hate the monks and nuns and the Dharma are using such opportunity to belittle and discredit the holy Dharma. People like Mila and Thokme are infidels who ironically use the sacred name of the Dalai Lama to slander their opponents but in reality, they are going directly against the wishes of HH The Dalai Lama by creating communal divisions in the exile community.
The sacred texts says, “those who have no faith in the Dharma, there will be no beneficial effect because they are like burned seeds”. In order to impact the individual by Dharma, devotion is paramount.
For example: An elderly Ama la asked her son to bring a relic of the Buddha from India since he often travelled to India. The son forgot to bring it the first two trips but just as he was returning home on the third trip, he remembered his mother’s request at the nick of time.
To save himself from embarrassment and his mother from despondency, he picked up a dog’s tooth as the Buddha’s “relic” and gave it to her. His devoted mother never doubted the authenticity of the “relic” since it was brought by her own son. As a result she got blessing just like as if it was the original relic of the holy Buddha. In other words: no faith no blessings!
According to Tibetan health department report, in exile over 1600 Tibetans tested positive for Covid-19 out of which 400 are monks and nuns. Over 50 Tibetans died of it. All of them especially monks and nuns believed in the power of Doma mantra, that if recited with faith and devotion would protect themselves from being infected. But alas the facts proved otherwise.
Against this backdrop, Tibet Star just when the pandemic began in last January cautioned against such blind-faith and advised Tibetans to instead wear mask, practice social distance, wash hands with soap or sanitizer and avoid travelling unless it’s very necessary. But people condemned him for what to their mind amounts to blasphemy.
And then Gyari Doma, Lobsang Sangay and Kaydor while infected travelled in the Tibetan diaspora and campaigned vigorously for election before huge crowds and the end result is cases skyrocketed and many died. But the Tibetan people fail to blame them for their irresponsible action out of ignorance and fear.
That is the state of Tibetan mindset. Sad, disgusting but true.
Linking Politics even to this… How pitiful. Freedom of speech and freedom in general should be exercised with responsibility and care. Elections will come and go but community needs trust and respect amongst each other.