'Dolpo' Following His Holiness Dalai Lama???

Recently, Dalai Lama led the signatories of 15 senior Buddhists. The reason of submitting the 15 signatories this time was more to do with an urge to the World Leaders to agree a new climate change agreement at a conference in Paris next month. Those signatories also included the strong proposition to limit the increasing global temperature to 1.5C in the future. They also revealed their ‘cause of this “environmental crisis” are the use of fossil fuels, unsustainable consumption patterns, lack of awareness and lack of concern about the consequences of our actions’. It also said, ‘We are at a crucial crossroad where our survival and that of other species is at stake as a result of our actions’ and the respected figures urged ‘negotiators to use “wisdom and compassion” to find an agreement’. In addition, according to the online BBC report, ‘Observers say it is the first time that so many leading Buddhists have joined together on a global issue’ ( http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34658207). The Buddhist leaders also welcome and supported the declarations from Catholic and Muslim leaders who also emphasized ‘Humanity must act on the root causes of this crisis, which is driven by greed, thoughtlessness and a lack of concern about the consequences of our actions”.




Image Copyright: BBC (Getty Images)

Definitely this is not the first time that the respected and honorable figure such as His Holiness Dalai Lama made his expression and concerns public since his journey from Tibet to India in 1959. ‘March 17, in 1959, Tibet’s spiritual and political leader, then 23, disguised himself as a soldier and slipped through the crowds outside the palace he’d never see again. He embarked on a dangerous journey to asylum, crossing the Himalayas on foot with a retinue of soldiers and cabinet members. They traveled only at night, to avoid detection by Chinese sentries. Rumors later circulated among Tibetans that the Dalai Lama “had been screened from Red planes by mist and low clouds conjured up by the prayers of Buddhist holy men,” according to TIME’s 1959 cover story about the escape’ (http://time.com/3742242/dalai-lama-1959/). It’s not that I am here to trying to further highlight his enlightened personality, which I know I am still far from to do anything as such. Nonetheless, the Tibetan Buddhists’ spiritual leader recently was criticized for another public expression which quickly ‘ruffles equality activists’. The leader said that ‘a female Dalai Lama would have to be ‘very, very, attractive’ or be 'not much use’. The reporter asked whether he meant a female Dalai Lama would be very attractive? “I mean, if female Dalai Lama come, then that female must be very attractive,” the Dalai Lama said. “Otherwise not much use.” Myrie said: “Really? You’re joking.” Gyatso replied: “No, true!”. He was later criticized by Gender equality campaigners for his suggestion where he also talked of succession, or reincarnation though the spiritual leader did not find any reason to be a future Dalai Lama, a woman.

There are many women activists who showed their disappointment over the remarks of the leader. ‘Vivienne Hayes, CEO of the Women’s Resource Centre, which campaigns widely on women’s inequality, said: “It’s disappointing that any woman’s ability to take on a leadership role should be determined by her appearance. This seems to be a common obsession across the media, given some of the comments about women in politics. We are concerned that society is in fact going backwards in terms of women’s equality, and will keep tirelessly campaigning against this.” Nicole Rowe, spokeswoman for Progressive Women, a charity that seeks to empower women in their professional and personal lives, said: “While we’re pleased to hear the Dalai Lama is in favour of the possibility of a female Dalai Lama, we’re surprised and greatly disappointed that a man of such compassion and wisdom could express such a retrograde opinion. “Perpetuating the antiquated idea that women are primarily useful as ornaments, as in the parlance ‘Women should be seen but not heard’, only adds fuel to the manifold discrimination women still face to this day. A woman’s appearance is not more important than her achievements. If a woman were to become Dalai Lama, we’re certain that her actions would be of much more weight than how she looked, and we hope the Dalai Lama will take the time to reflect on the impact of his words for women, particularly given the scale of his influence”’ (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/24/dalai-lama-sexist-quip-ruffles-equality-activists).

Yet the public involvement of the spiritual leader is enlightening. He is also the figure that also brings on the morality and principles (wisdom and compassion) of 'religion' into politics and he has succeeded to convince his followers. Before in the past too, in one of the interview with BBC, the spiritual leader ‘thanked’ then Chinese government (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brUAsRegzPQ). The leader asserted that it would have been nearly impossible for him to reach out to the world if China would not have invaded Tibet while asserting that he is now more experienced than the man of 1959 or earlier 60s. In another famous teaching at Kalchakra in India, he clearly asserted to his many ‘Tibetan’ followers that it would be better not to judge and fight against Chinese government if we cannot omit the cheaper Chinese goods. In another preaching, he has clearly condemned the Tibetans’ actions of self- immolations. Yes, he never supported the act as he believed that human life is more precious and valuable and cannot be destroyed as such. Such actions also made him unhappy and always shocked him. He never lost a single second to show his concern for humanity. Since 1959, he has been doing so starting with his fellow Tibetans and later, subsequently for many and increasing followers, which clearly confirms that he has become more and more responsible and compassionate. Nonetheless, there are not many Buddhist followers who have been following him.

In the context of Dolpo, my own community, there are many ‘Rinpoches’ and 'Tulkus' coming from the region who also regard the spiritual leader, His Holiness Dalai Lama. His Holiness stature is indeed high in our community with these religious figures careful listening to his teachings, and alongside Guru Rinpoche and Gautam Buddha, different portraits of His Holiness kept at the 'Chyo-khang' (the sacred room for 'pujas') of most of the houses of the community. Yet none of these senior and respected figures in their respective communities have continuously united for any political resolution for the good of locals. Some of the respondents and friends told me that most of the so called ‘religious gurus’ of Dolpo have become selfish beings. One could argue that every human beings are selfish beings but when the figures who held a highest position in the community could also do the same or are termed as 'selfish' , then that might also reveal that there is something wrong. These figures are still treated and respected highly in their villages. These utmost respect also deliver them prestige and easier access to change the consciousness and perceptions of the locals towards the understanding of life. Yet, some of these figures have also tried to restrict their involvement in any active ‘political’ gatherings that will have ‘direct’ consequences towards the upliftment of the locals. On the other hand, they have found optimum time to make their frequent visits abroad for the foreign followers while showing their involvement in the ritualistic ‘pujas’ but at the cost of their own Dolpo followers.

The problem starts when these senior figures maintain their silence even if the peoples were either killed or looted. It is nearly impossible to come upfront like the spiritual figure his holiness Dalai Lama yet these Dolpo senior religious gurus can come out in public among their followers to express their judgement over what has been happening around and can therefore, play huge roles in sharing their own thoughts on how the locals should react to the changing discriminatory circumstances. Nonetheless, they continuously have failed to come out of their spiritual realm to understand the changing yet oppressive realities. Their presence and support in the protest against the state-led brutality in Dho-Tarap were abysmal. In addition, they also failed to pay any heed when the whole village’s locals of Ku village of Vijer were looted by the robbers. No-doubt, the understanding of the everyday realities also is one of the ways that might lead to enlightenment. Their supposedly involvement with the locals to confront these socio-political inequalities, discrimination and marginalization might also help them to reflect upon their own attitudes towards how the ideal and just society should be. The roles of these senior figures are immense in the structurally excluded community such as Dolpo and the increasing challenges their own locals face. They have no-doubt many followers back in their respective village and these senior figures have the ability to provide them proper suggestions. Subsequently, their responsibilities could become much more immense.





Figure: The Chhorten of Dho-Tarap. Photo copyright belongs to the author.




Figure: The Chhorten at Shimen VDC. Photo copyright belongs to the author.


Therefore, it would be urgent for these Dolpo senior figures to reflect upon their restricted behavior and activities so that their higher religious and socio-cultural and political significance could be optimized with regard to their actions than their blessings as rightly said by his holiness, ‘I believe that the actions are more important rather than the blessings’. The participation of several religious figures in the last Constituent Assembly through the proportional representation system should motivate the religious figures of Dolpo to consider their involvement in any political activities. If they cannot act and come together for the region such as Dolpo and the locals, which is and who are continuously facing several challenges, they will soon be losing their significance. Not only will this affect themselves and their ‘traditional’ positions that will also have huge and irreversible consequences for the locals such as Dolpo.








Figure: The Inscribed Buddhist Chant 'Om Mane' at Tingyu, Shimen VDC. Photo copyright belongs to the author.