Norbu Tsering
TORONTO, Canada, 16 June 2021
Since that momentous day ten years ago when His Holiness the Dalai Lama handed over his political authority, ‘happily and voluntarily’ ending nearly four centuries of Gaden Phodrang rule, to a leader elected directly by the people, there has always been the need to rethink whether it is appropriate to continue to have Choeluk MPs. Monks are supposed to have preferred the life of spirituality to the tumultuous life of the layman. Throwing them into the messy business of parliamentary politics can be a disservice to the Buddha. They can easily become victims to the strange attraction of ego-feeding ambition and self-aggrandizement.
This is what we find has happened to our monk MPs. Because of the way they have sought to hold our democracy hostage, a vast section of our population are disenchanted with them.
Questions have been raised as to whether it is good for society to let members of the clergy get caught in the whirlwind of politics. We should actually be thinking seriously about keeping the monasteries away from the rough-and-tumble of politics. It can bring disgrace to both the monk community and to the prestige of the Tibetan Buddha Dharma when the monk MPs, chosen only by monks, conduct themselves so ignominiously and recklessly in the Parliament. We shudder when a monk MP stands up to speak to the Parliament. We squirm to guess what angry utterances he will make, and whom he will target.
Of all the MPs, it is a monk who disparages the Tibetan State Oracle during a parliamentary session televised live to the world. He ridicules the Oracle by wondering who understood the babblings coming out of his throttled neck. And what we remember is His Holiness telling us that if there is anyone who knows the Nechung oracle best, it is him. He has consulted him on many important issues.
Of all the MPs, it is again a monk who declares to the world in the Parliament that he neither believes in the Middle Way, nor has any hope from it, nor does he want to talk about it. It is anybody’s guess as to who he has in mind when he says this. Okay, it is his right to speak in the Parliament freely about any political issue that he regards important. But, the angry way he was condemning the Middle Way does not behoove him as someone who has taken the vow to tread the path of the Buddha.
The bill to remove the three justices was sponsored by the Parliamentary Standing Committee, which is dominated by monks. Yet again, we see all the Choeluk MPs in the group of MPs who refused to take oath from the pro tem Speaker. The pitiable condition of our present Parliament gasping for life is the outcome of the vengeful and unlawful way the justices were removed by Parliament, spearheaded by the monk MPs.
After the ceremony of the transfer of power from the outgoing Sikyong to the new, presided over by the Supreme Justice Commissioner and blessed by the online presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, most people were expecting a smooth transition from the 16th to the 17th Parliament. What we assumed is that the former Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay would have no problem handing over the reins of power to the new Sikyong, in a ceremony presided over by the Chief Justice Commissioner. But again, all the Choeluk MPs are on the side of MPs who chose not to care a damn for the normal and Charter-prescribed practice of the pro tem Speaker swearing in the new MPs. In no democracy, do we find that new people’s representatives have the choice of taking oath from whomsoever they like.
The image in our mind of the monk as a calm, humble, soft-spoken, considerate, kind, and forgiving person has been shattered by the more-layman-than-the-layman demeanor of our monk MPs. It is unfortunate that young MP Dorje Tsetan, from whom we have so much expectations, has allowed himself to be used as the spokesman of the never-happy monk MPs who care only for Cholkha politics. SFT has no history of a leader having a streak of partial Cholkha feelings. This is going to do no good to his political career.
Because he has shocked that large section of people who just do not associate SFT with Cholkha politics even remotely, Dorje Tseten volunteering to lead the group of MPs who have refused to take oath from Charter-prescribed law has given the chance to others to raising unpleasant questions about his integrity. Lhagyari Namgyal Dolker gets votes from her constituency, but does not care for their hopes from her. The youth of our society look up to them as future Tibet-wide leaders. But they seem to be in some hurry to climb up the power hierarchy. There is a revealing English worldly wisdom that says: Hurry makes worry and haste makes waste.
If at all we must have monk representatives in the Parliament because of our nostalgia for the old times when the thousands of monasteries were the center of Tibetan cultural life, and also because monks form a large portion of the exile population, let us have one Choeluk MP from each sect, nominated by the head Lama of the sect. Of course, different Kagyud sub-sects will need to discuss how they will go about nominating their MP. This can become a constant reminder to them that they are, indeed, Choeluk MPs. This may deter them from angrily making irresponsible remarks in the Parliament. What we normally dismiss as ‘Dra-pai Aur-tom’ (monk’s habit of recklessness) can trigger disturbances in the larger society. This is happening.
We can, then, expect the Choeluk MP to, besides taking part in the general Parliamentary business, talk about the support many monasteries might be needing from CTA. It can be help for improving health care for the monastic community or it can be facilities for improving the monastic educational facilities or it can be help for organizing language classes for the clergy community or it can be help for holding classes for Tibetan history lessons. And, if the monks desire, CTA can help the monasteries organize talks by subject specialists on different spiritual traditions in the world. We have rarely seen the Choeluk MPs, so far, raise in the Parliament issues concerning the interests of the monasteries.
For those monks with political ambitions, the right to contest elections as a Cholkha MP candidate or even as a Sikyong candidate should be enshrined in the Charter. Of course the monasteries have the authority to bar their monks from contesting elections. This is very different from having monk MPs who represent their religious sects in terms of people’s reaction to what they say or do. If a monk thinks that he has the potential to be another Samdhong Rinpoche, he should get the opportunity not by getting elected by a small section of the society that is supposed not have its hand on the pulse of the political life of the larger society, but by getting elected by the whole of society.
The problem with the present system of having Choeluk MPs is threefold: There are ten too many; second, they are elected only by monks, whose life we expect to be apolitical; and third and most important, they have a misplaced sense of arrogance rising from their puffed-up self-importance as elected MPs who do not need to worry about what the head Lama of his sect will think of their adventures in the Parliament.
If at all we are not willing to separate the church from the state, let us, at least, make our Choeluk MPs rise in our eyes by getting them nominated by the Head of the sect. This will, surely, have a calming effect.
If somehow the oath of office taken by the MPs before the picture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the book of the Charter is held valid, it may also imply that their argument that the pro tem Speaker’s oath from sacked Chief Justice Commissioner is illegal will also be held valid. This will ensure for us stormy Parliamentary sessions in the next five years. This will be the mother of political intrigues. Whenever the Sikyong rises to speak in the Parliament, a section of MPs, most probably led by the monk MPs will walk out, shouting they do not recognize a Sikyong sworn in by a Chief Justice Commissioner who is unconstitutionally clinging to his job. Oh! how China will lap all this up. God forbid, the present impasse in the constitution of the 17th Parliament comes to this. We have to stop democracy — our proud answer to China’s autocratic rule in Tibet — from becoming a laughingstock.
About the author
Norbu Tsering worked at Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh, Ladakh, as an English Lecturer, and then at TCV School, Ladakh, as the School Principal. He currently lives in Toronto, Canada.
More articles by Norbu Tsering on Tibet Sun.
Both of these “young leaders” as everyone consider, I have never believed in them to be a leader. I have seen them from a very close view, they are simply an opportunist, fame lover, hypocrites. Imagine Dorjee Tsetan an MP with a highest vote from dotoe talks about very big issues but fails to pay his very basic green book contribution correctly, used his post in SFT went to Ari freely. Lhagyari again an opportunist want to make her political career in a short period of time, never accept her mistake and fails to understand the feeling of people who voted for her. But both of them lost their credibility. People will show them their true Aukaat soon.
Politics are dirty and monk are spiritual. Let give them good atmosphere and let them practice the spiritual and practice the dharma for all the good sentient beings.
Monk Chithues have made exile tibetans in shock !!!
our exile politics are in bad shape and for the common people their information through CHATGROUPS are very influential, they believe in hearing the infos from faceless voices!!!
the most dangerous one is tenzin lungthok, he is utsang and acting as a leader in support of kaydor and ruining the brains of khampa people, he is making khampa image bad, he is utsang and is a relative of tomla nelung, father in law of kaydor, so they are making bad and disunity among tibetans, tomla and kaydor are not saying anything to him to stop spreading rumours and spread false news to disunify tibetans. kaydor has never said any word to stop as he is the main responsible. people say he is dominating women in switzerland as his wife is the permanent president ! they are using their funds too.
so all these people are selfish.
very sad to know all these facts.
It is time someone report Tenzin Lungtok to French police for his connection with People’s Republic of China.
Why most of Sangay-Kaydor supporters are the ones who go to Chinese embassy for losar celebrations, shugden followers, anti-His Holiness the Dalai Lama group, haters of CTA and CTA leaders, media-haters etc. There are disgruntled showmen like Dhondup Lhadar, Tseten Lhagya, Tseten Phuntsok, Samdup Rocha from Austria, Tamtse Tsering from Swiss, Anutsang guy from England and that ex-gyapon from Dharamshala.
Any valid points are totally allowed in a democratic society. But for anyone creating and propagating false and malicious news, court case for defamation is the best way ahead.
If the string-pullers (you know who you are – internally and externally) are still hoping for the downfall of this new government through the use of all these bad elements in our society and through the channels of 22 rogue chithues, please remember Tibetan community under the great leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama are built stronger than your devious strategies and continuous attacks.
Long Live His Holiness the Dalai Lama! Long Live Tibet and Tibetans!
Yes that is right, report tenzin lungtok to french police and say he comes from india not tibet. he is spreading disunity in tibetan communities.
and also report tamtse tsering to swiss police, he comes from india and not from tibet. he is barking all the time and spreading hates in the tibetan communities.
there are several false refugees to be reported to the local police, now it is time to report them as we have had enough from these people.
Tibetan people should be strong to report these people who are always barking dogs to spread hate and hate always putting fingers on CTA and Kashag.
I am pro monk-MPs because with their participations our parliament will go clean and fair during discussions, they are followers of Buddha, so they might come out straight forward to correct the wrongs, that does not mean that they are being evil. Nobody likes to hear the truth. laymen MPs are also very reliable, like Dawa Tsering la, whom many people respect and some criticise because he says the truth. So we public should be careful to give judgements before knowing more than fifty percent of the details. Now half of parliamentarians are not agreeing with each other, so they should slap each other once or do 3 prostrates each of them before HH portrait and start from zero to keep our Kashag going. If you put Sikyong in difficulty, we normal people will be the looser, our settlements, hospitals, schools, monasteries and etc.. are the loosers.. and to fight for the tibet cause is far away….
Thank you so much Gen Norbu Tsering la. What you had said here is a food for thought for all of us. I never imagined that we would find ourselves in such a state. His Holiness accepted to be present along with our former Sikyong to witness the swearing in of the new Sikyong. They did this to save us from the dilemma we are in. However, these 22 Chithues refuse to follow their example. It makes no sense using His Holiness photo and using the charter book without following its guidelines.
I would like the author to answer a simple question.
Was our Kundun wrong in including Choeluk representation in the Parliament?
Yes true, no need choeluk MPs, electing Choeluk MP is nothing just electing ten more Dhoetue MPs, it is very easy to see as look to the average population of monks in the monastery. At the moment, electing Choeluk MP has nothing any benefits to the monks of the monastery as well as to the people of Tibet, it causes more disadvantages to the qualities of monastery and the relation of the laypeople.
Tibetan monks should have the same freedom and rights as any other Tibetan to express their opinion. Whether they believe in the Middle Way or in Rangzen, it‘s up to them. But as long as we have the Choeluk MPs and allow the clergy community to have 2 votes, we are not going to have any proper democracy. Instead of C-MPs, we could have a kind of separate council or advisory body with 2-3 reps. of each Choeluk, either the head(s) of the sects or appointed by them. This council to meet/discuss religious issues and to be consulted on any religious issues by our government. I pray for HH to stay healthy and alive for many more years, but with such a religious council we might also be prepared for the day which I hope is not going to be too soon.
The recent power game by some MPs shows us that a complete revision of our Charter is required. Due to the recent crisis we know today how fragile our democracy is. We are still in the learning curve and luckily HH is still with us, who keeps us united. By saying this, it‘s now the time to change/adjust our Charter and with these adjustments we could include the basic democratic rules in our Charter, such as:
– ONE person ONE vote = EQUALITY
– The 3 Pillars: EXECUTIVE / LEGISLATURE / JUDICIARY with a clear defined separation of power (The power formerly held by HH need to be distributed among these 3 pillars in a logical way which makes sense and would solve any future disputes.)
– and many more
Almost none of current MPs have the knowledge and competences to work on such complex issues. Hire a group of knowledgeable lawyers who not only studied constitutional law, but are specialized in this matter. As soon as the revised Charter is available, but the elected MPs still not in place, put it out for vote.
What 3 pillars of Democracy?
According to the recent action of the Tibetan justice commissioner, the judiciary is the end all and be all. No check and balance for the judiciary. Three people judicial branch of the government is the judge and the jury. They are the adjudicator and the prosecutor. They get to do whatever they want with no recourse. And the best part is none of the three have a sound understanding of the law, not one with legal background. In fact the three resigned and honored chithue ruling initially till someone else educated them on their interpretation of the charter.
And the suggestion in this post is truly despotic. Just because it so happens that in recent elections, Dotoe representatives have won the choelug seats these detractors want to violate and change the precious Tibetan charter designed by His Holiness to represent all Tibetan people and give them voice in the government. Do these people not realize that in the next election a deserving Amdo/utsang choerig kalon can also win? They want the Tibetan charter to suit their whims and fancies. These people are one step away from insulting his holiness the Dalai Lama.
One of any modern DEMOCRACY’s basic principle is the existence of the 3 Pillars: EXECUTIVE / LEGISLATURE / JUDICIARY with a clear separation of power.
The recent attempt to remove the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission in the way it was done means an attempt to destroy our democracy, because retaliation cannot be the reason to impeach the Supreme Court or in our recent case the complete Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, even with a 2/3 majority.
Furthermore transparency and accountability are also some of the core universal values of any democracy. Saying this, we cannot allow the MPs to conduct any impeachment, not only at this level, within 1 hour 31 minutes without having any hearing and this by anonymous voting, even if this would have been due to an allegation of treason or corruption.
I don‘t care whether the next Choeluk MPs are Amdo, Kham or Ü-tsang. All I‘m saying is that equality is missing in our Charter due to allowing some Tibetans having 2 votes. If we want to practice real democracy, we need to apply the basic democratic rules: ONE person ONE vote.
Choeluk MPs should be done away with altogether. Three Cholkas is whole of Tibet and monks in all monasteries do belong to the three Cholkas.
Sadly the Tibetan monastic population is anyways diminishing. Only thing to take solace out of it is that in next 10-15 years, we may not have the monastic electorate at all. The non-Tibetan monastic population can’t elect Tibetan MP. Choeluk MPs will loose their vote bank for good. It will absolutely be a good riddance.
On other note, Dorjee Tseten have lost all credibility. Him not paying the Chatrel as required of by someone with job in US is nothing but cheap and unbecoming of a Tibetan leader. He lies publicly and the SFT work he shows off is a sham.
Namgyal Dolkar is an habitual opportunist. She is known for betraying her people. She has always worked for selfish gains. Utsangpas shouldn’t ever vote for her again. Once bitten twice shy. (Laap cha gya ley napsu chik)
I fully agree with Norbu’s opinion. Frankly speaking we don’t need Choeluk MPs and its high time to remove them.
Dorje Tsetan is two headed individual…I have NO expectations from him. He is one of the many who keeps self interest at heart and not the common interest..just like these unruly monk MPs who care only for Cholkha politics.
Lhagyari Namgyal Dolker is another self centred and valueless garrulous opportunist, who begs from Utsang people and once gets votes, she will just do the opposite and blame her own Utsang people and goes with these unruly monk MPs and their gangs. No Shame at all..I have no expectations from her either.
Think carefully what you write and say to the monk Chithues of Tibetan parliament. From the 5th Dalai Lama to the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet was ruled by monks under the Choe-si-nyi-dhen Tibetan politics. These monks have been most dedicated, ubiquitous, compassionate, educated, kind, selfless, nationalist. When you criticize our Chithue monks then you are criticizing our Dalai Lamas because we are still under the policy of Choe-si-nyi-dhen of CTA.
I agree with everything you wrote in this article, Norbu Tsering la. Thank you.
Choelug MPs represents the umbilical cord between tibetans inside tibet and the breadcrumb of half-indianized Utsang bodpas of 2.5 of the tibetan population.
If you remove choelug chithue, you are one step closer to slow indianization of Tibetans in India like what happened to gykar khampas or sikkimese or ladakhis all of whom were once tibetans.
If a Congress delegation from USA comes to meet tibetan MPs and all they find is half-indianized, urbanised and sophisticated India-borns, what impression will they get?
Dalai Lama deliberately created choelug seats in order to ensure khampa and amdo softpower is not lost in the sea of 120,000 Utsang expats.
Can someone please translate this in Tibetan and plaster this all over Tibetan Facebook. This message is very important. Tibetans in exile have lost perspective on the fact that 97% Tibetans are still in Tibet.
I agree with you on that. But if we were becoming Indianized as in following the ancient Indian dharmic practices and ethos that would be a positive thing and that is not the case. Instead we are becoming a hodge podge of CCP China appeasing, left leaning Nehruvian pseudo secularists that is rooted in flawed post modern education.
Western democracies are crumbling because the far left indoctrinated into post modern mumbo jumbo are ripping out ethical foundations. In this huge galaxy that we are part of as a speck, these loonies believe they have the answers to what ails our society. At least have some humility in acknowledging that we do not have all the answers. We can begin by working on knowing one self.
I as a voter of Dorjee Tseten I felt cheated and shamed by Dorjee Tseten’s true color. I had high hope for him when it comes to Tibet cause and law of the land but unfortunately he was brainwashed by these Ignorant Monk MPs in the name of regionalism. These rogue, ignorant Monk MPs always put their ego and regionalism first and always try to our society. Because of the thug monks, we lost our country to China and these Monks ran first from Tibet. Geshe Lharam and Khenpos are most ignorant scholars ever.. We should close these monasteries because its total waste of time and human resources, their products like Geshe Lharampa and so called Khenpos are turned out so ignorant and arrogant and bad sheep of the society..
All the opinion and argument put forth has some meaning but now a days Chithue monk should not compare to Samdhong Rinopche. We really expect monk who were wearing the red robes should rise above the Migya/layperson. They should stay in neutral and support the truth but these Chithue monk become more regionalism and one sided that will destroy the image of all the monks. They act more like worse than laypeople. Monks should rise above layman, always stay with the fact, truth and honesty. No dirty politics.
Thupten thokmay is an ex monk. He is a total scum. The point is some monks are even more vile than lay people. Don’t put unrealistic expectations on all monks.
The core issue of latest crisis is not about Choluk Chithues. It is the issue of argument who has the valid reason of taking oath in different ways. On March 25, when parliament passed a bill of impeachment and when it became act, the TSJC did not declare it as unconstitutional/the legal interpreter. On contrary, they accepted impeachment act and announced through the media, that they respect the Charter and going to stop their work from today. Ironically, no one has said, officially or unofficially that the impeachment proceeding was breakdown of constitution till April 08, 2021. Honestly, until that time no one knows how to describe instead to use Thupten Thokmey, US Dhogkyi to bark every day. When the private interview of the monk scholar was released, everyone jumped up and started shouting ‘Hey, the impeachment was unconstitutional, therefore, the impeachment act should be nullified”. No matter, whatsoever, Tibetan community even today at this 21st century very much dependable on monk’s intelligence without which even elite groups proved parasite or brainless. However, the monk scholar has given written advice to reverse the act which is called guideline 39 and reinstate the judges. It proves that the mentor of Charter also agreed that the act is still a law and it can only be reversed following the same proceeding. However, the removed Judges returned back before the act is reversed or rectify the oath taking law. As a matter of fact, truth is sour and nobody wants it. Those who wanted to stop lawfully elected 22 MP, they are prepared to call them unconstitutional. But the oath is supported by 25 MP and 19 MP claim they followed Charter whereas none. If the majority agreed untraditional oath and why can’t EC makes decision now. Article 47 is not valid anymore.
These monk MPs along with lay MPs are truly destroyers of Tibetan unity and democracy. These thug monks led MPs are disaster and disgraceful to Religion and Buddhism at large. It’s shameful. Monk MPs are no longer needed in politics. Lay MPs are brainwashed by these bad monk MPs. All monk MPs should be investigated thoroughly.
The youth of Tibet looks up to Dorjee Tseten and Lhagyari and that’s why they expect them to do radical things for Tibet. What has an old hag like you achieved for Tibet? Besides pretending to be calm and projecting this goody image while having several skeletons in your closet.
Dorjee Tseten and Lhagyari are putting themselves on the line for something they believe in. That’s dope. You are and will always be inconsequential. Tibetans don’t need to be calm, Tibetans need to be angry, they need to be passionate, they need to channel their rage at China now more than ever. You are almost at the end of your life, you are a failure who didn’t do much in his life to resolve the Tibetan issue. Sell your argument to Ashang Choe Gyawo.
Only misguided youths will be looking up to middle-aged and selfish Chithues like Dorje Tseten and Lhagyari as their role models. Just because Do Tseten works in SFT which has youthful image, and just because Lhagyari is not wearing an apron in her mid-thirties, does not mean they represent youth in anyway. Except for becoming a chithue, who are they? Both have many personal skeletons to fall off from their closet if people go personally.
In their pursuit of 15-minutes fame and short-term gain (it is rumoured that Lhagyari is vying for Deputy Speaker post), people like them and Youdon Aukatsang, Jigdrel and others are on destructive mode. Shame on you all!
Compared to you all, Norbu Tsering is the epitome of dedication, selflessness and service in the most noble profession of teaching and making good Tibetans. We need more Tibetans like him who is sincere for our community and our cause. Thank you very much for your long years of good service and continued concern for the Tibetan issues through your excellent write-ups every now and then. Please keep up the good work! Thank you!
AGREE
Norbu Tsering’s worldview just extends to the four walls of TVC Leh. I admire educators so I have immense respect for his time as an English teacher. Even at this old age, he has a very simplistic way of looking at the world, there is no cynicism in his thought but also no real substance in his argument. It’s almost like he didn’t really spend any time studying any of the arguments he puts forward. For his own education, I hope he visits the three jewels of Tibet – Sera, Gaden and Drepung in South India.
These monasteries and associate institutes are run like some of the top multinational corporations. There is a reason why America’s premier business schools want their MBA cohort to study the operations of these monasteries, they are considered the gold standard in management. Unsurprisingly, these monasteries are run by monks.
I only bring this up to prove that simplistic argument such as monks cannot politicize, cannot manage people etc is so forced and naïve.
Tibetan culture survived this far because of these monasteries. Tibetan history survived because of Dalai Lama and Samdhong Rinpoche, both monks. The Dalai Lamas provided political and religious leadership to Tibet since 1642. Anyone who undermines the importance of Tibetan religion and its community leaders is a heretic who should be condemned.
Hope Norbu Tsering’s family encourages him to chant mani. At this old age, he should be more worried about collecting good merits rather than politicking. I hope Norbu Tsering is not of those people who doesn’t even know the words of sherab nyingpo which would be a shame at his age.
First, ask your rogue chithues to study our Charter properly before lecturing Norbu Tsering la to understand Sherab Nyingpo.
Norbu Tsering la’s knowledge or ignorance on sherab nyingpo will have no adverse effect on our society. However, chithues who stood for election promising to serve our cause and enjoys the privilege of public position as chithue should at least make an effort to learn our charter. From the events unfolding in the past few months, it looks like our rogue chithues were released from life-long retreat in mountain cave. Ignorant, arrogant, and law-breaker!
Norbu la, you did a wonderful job. I was thinking of putting down a thought; a serious disappointment in our chithues, and you nailed it. Thank you for taking time to write, as always your writings really shed the lights on issues of importance. We can only hope better sense prevail in Dharamshala.
So many grammatical errors in this article. The bigger scandal is how was Norbu Tsering allowed to teach English in TCV if he can’t write an opinion piece. Hmmm students from TCV leh should ask for a tuition refund.
What about you? Even from the three sentences you wrote in this comment, so many errors in grammar, punctuation and vocabulary usage.
1. “So many grammatical errors in this article” – proper sentence would be “There are so many grammatical errors in this article.”
2. “The bigger scandal…” – Maybe you want to say “The bigger question …”
3. “Hmmmm students from…” – Maybe you need to break the “Hmmm” from the rest of the sentence, and possibly use a punctuation of exclamation or ellipses to indicate separation of thought or to bring clarity to the sentences.
4. “TCV leh” – TCV Ladakh as nouns are always capitalized
So, first brush up your English capability before judging Gen Norbu Tsering la who writes so beautifully in English. Maybe it is you whose shameless consumption of TCV tingmo are rendered useless because you cannot even properly write three sentences in terms of grammar and comprehension. Good luck next time!
Gen Norbu Tsering in the comment section lol. I guess my comment hurt ouch. When I write an opinion piece, I will make sure I don’t make English errors. When he invested time to write this diatribe, he should have spent a little more time to check his English errors. I am also not claiming to be an English teacher nor am I proselytizing like him so honey, save that sorry comparison to yourself. Down for shameless consumption of TCv tingmo anytime Jullay!
If I am Gen Norbu Tsering la, my response would have been written more beautifully and correctly. I am just a reader who could not take the condescending nature of your comment and wrote my two cents. That’s all.
Don’t drag the name of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in everything, especially not in petty politics. I am sick and tired of Tibetan people dragging his name to prove their point. His Holiness has given his life in service to the Tibetan people, the last thing he deserves is being dragged in mud.
Wake up people of Tibet! This benefits only the few people in Dhasa jockeying for power. None of this argument will increase your quality of life, your living wage, your retirement account… but what this does is give more power to some of the corrupt MPs from all sides and increase their bank balance or help them send their kids/cousins/niece/nephew on Tibetan scholarships abroad or fancy Tibetan foreign assignments. The Chief Justice commissioner managed to send both his kids on foreign scholarships, you must wonder how? Likewise Dorjee Tsetan and his American job. Dawa Tsering and his ill gotten wealth/school. All these MPs only playing for their own interest, just like Thupten thokmay playing for YouTube monetization and dhondup ladar for infamy.
These people are just looking out for their interest so unless you can benefit in some way from this it’s best to tune out.
Haha this is a laughable argument. Tibet was always led by monks. Tibet has always been under the leadership of the Dalai Lama, a monk, whose leadership has steered the exile Tibetan population through so many crisis. This man is insulting the Dalai Lama indirectly by suggesting that monks cannot be in politics. Even the much admired Samdhong Rinpoche is a monk. Narendra Modi and Atal B Vajpayee were practically monks. Norbu Tsering, whose life has not amounted to much will never understand leadership so he should save his ill-educated opinions to himself. Just because you were fornicating and making babies doesn’t give you a better understanding of the human experience. Monks should be in politics as they were historically involved in every facets of life in Tibet.
Thank you Norbu Tsering la for your wonderful article.