Recent reports that the Dalai Lama has announced that he will soon retire from his political role in the Tibetan movement has created anxieties among Buddhists here in Syracuse. However, there has been relief among Syracuse Buddhists to have learned that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will remain active in religious affairs and that the Tibetan freedom movement will remain alive.
Phayul.com has reported 'Tibetan movement will not end after Dalai Lama steps down', http://bit.ly/gYJC7C. The Tibetan Government-in-Exile has said the movement seeking "genuine autonomy" for the Tibet Autonomous Region from China will neither end nor disappear after spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama transfers his authority to an elected leader. The Syracuse Buddhist community is pleased with this announcement even though the Tibetan Government-in-Exile feels there may be difficulties ahead.
"Tibetan struggle shall have to continue as long as the Tibetan people are there. In the absence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as political head, there will be difficulties and setback. But the movement will neither end nor disappear. The leadership of His Holiness cannot be substituted... but, he will not move away from the struggle. He cannot disassociate himself from the Tibetan movement."
Rinpoche, who is planning to relinquish office next month, has also said the democratically-elected government of Tibetans in-exile will continue to work for the development of the people. In response to questions about why the Chinese Government and Representatives of the Dalai Lama have not met for the past year, Rinpoche said his presumption was that Beijing is waiting for the elections to end and they may than engage with the new government. Rinpoche also made it clear that the Dalai Lama wants "genuine autonomy" for the Tibetan region and that he is not seeking to "break away from China."
Rinpoche has also commented "Genuine autonomy is sufficient to fulfill the aspirations of the Tibetan people... We have been seeking autonomy since 1974. We don't want to break away from the People's Republic of China." Buddhists here in Syracuse continue to share as usual the mutual hope of Buddhists elsewhere that the Tibetan issue will be resolved in the lifetime of the Dalai Lama. And Rinpoche has gone on to comment that the democratization of China is the key for resolving every issue concerning that nation.
Mandel News Service: http://www.mandelnews.com
