September 11

Through My Eyes

Saturday September 11

(We continue to listen to the Dalai Lama as he tells of his return to war torn Tibet.)

" When I explained that, although I could see the logic of their arguments, I could not accept them, Gyalo Thondup began to show signs of agitation. He was-and still is-the most fiercely patriotic of my brothers. He has a very strong character and a tendency to be single-minded to the point of stubbornness. But his heart is good and, of all of us, he was the most affected when our mother died. He cried a great deal. Takster Rinpoche is milder mannered than Gyalo Thondup, but underneath his calm and jovial exterior there lies a tough and unyielding core. He is good in a crisis, but on this occasion he too showed signs of exasperation. In the end, neither prevailed and I made up my mind to return to Tibet to give the Chinese one last try in accordance both with the advice of Nehru and the assurances of Chou En-lai.

After leaving Kalimpong, I was compelled to remain in Gangtok for a full month before being able to cross the Narhu pass once more. But I did not regret this at all and I took the opportunity to give teachings to the local population.

Finally, and with a heavy heart, I set out for the return journey to Lhasa towards the end of March 1957. My sadness was increased by Lobsang Samten's last-minute decision to remain in India due to his poor physical condition following a recent operation for appendicitis. When I reached the border and bade farewell to the last of my Indian friends-all of whom wept-my spirits sank even lower. Fluttering amongst the colourful Tibetan prayer-flags were at least a dozen blood-red banners proclaiming the People's Republic of China. It was no consolation at all that General Jin Raorong had come to meet me. For, although he was a good and sincere man, I could not help thinking of him in terms of the military uniform that he wore, rather than in terms of 'liberation'.

Once over the Tibetan border, I drove back to Lhasa via Dromo, Gyantse and Shigatse. At each place I addressed large public gatherings, to which I invited both Tibetan and Chinese officials. As usual, I gave short, spiritual teaching combined with what I had to say about temporal matters. In doing so, I laid great emphasis on the obligation of all Tibetans to deal honestly and justly with the Chinese authorities. I insisted that it was the duty of everyone to right wrongs whenever they saw them, no matter who had committed them. I also urged my people to adhere strictly to the principles of the Seventeen-Point 'Agreement'. I told them of my talks with Nehru and Chou En-lain and of how, during the first week of February that year, Chairman Mao himself had publicly acknowledged that Tibet was not yet ready for reform. Finally, I reminded them of the Chinese claim that they were in Tibet to help Tibetans. If any of the authorities failed to be co-operative, they were acting against Communist Party policy. I added that others could be left to sing praises, but we, according to Chairman Mao's own directive, should be self-critical. At this, the Chinese present became clearly uncomfortable.

In this way I tried to assure my people that I was doing all that I could for them and to send warning to our new,foreign masters that, form now on, there would be no hesitation in pointing out malpractices whenever necessary. However, at every stage of the journey, my forced optimism was dealt fresh blows by the news and reports of widespread fighting to the east. Then one day , General Tan Kuan-sen, the Political Commisar, came to meet me and asked that I send a representative to ask the freedom fighters to lay down their arms. Since this was also my own wish, I agreed to do so and sent a lama to talk with them. But they did not, and by the time I reached Lhasa on 1 April 1957, I knew that the situation throughout Tibet was rapidly slipping not only from Chinese control,but also from my own.

In midsummer there was open warfare throughout Kham and Amdo. The freedom fighters, under the command of a man named Gompo Tashi, were increasing their numbers on a daily basis and becoming ever more audacious in their raids. The Chinese, for their part, showed no restraint. As well as using aircraft to bomb towns and villages, whole areas were laid waste by artillery barrage. The result was that thousands of people from Kham and Amdo had fled to Lhasa and were now camped on the plains outside the city. Some of the stories they brought with them were so horrifying that I did not really believe them for many years."

( It must have been very difficult for someone of the Dalai Lama's spiritual training to imagine human beings capable of such actions. I promise to add more tomorrow...)

*( please click here to read of the day with me )

* This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth

Dalai Lama of Tibet.

Through my eyes

( Please see my spinning for you!)

( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I began the day in our studio spinning for you then working on the weaving With us working two as one together, it's coming along quite well; the backstrap is now just a few inches less than a span! After that I headed up to the Grove to continue working on the fencing around our native plants. It wasn't our warm and bright future day but it was beautiful up there! Two as one we spent some time making offerings to the Tenger and the spirits. Sarangerel mentions that this is done on the 11th or the 12th so I thought we could do it on both! We also spent some time picking grapes; there were a fair number ripened! Two as one we've fixed a few more mistakes on the pages as usual. I'm going to put the pages up on our infosite;I'll put this up a bit early so we can rest.

And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow

my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright

long dark mane in sunlight

so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)


	Through My Eyes Saturday September 11 (We continue to listen to the Dalai Lama as he tells of his return to war torn Tibet.) " When I explained that, although I could see the logic of their arguments, I could not accept them, Gyalo Thondup began to show signs of agitation. He was-and still is-the most fiercely patriotic of my brothers. He has a very strong character and a tendency to be single-minded to the point of stubbornness. But his heart is good and, of all of us, he was the most affected when our mother died. He cried a great deal. Takster Rinpoche is milder mannered than Gyalo Thondup, but underneath his calm and jovial exterior there lies a tough and unyielding core. He is good in a crisis, but on this occasion he too showed signs of exasperation. In the end, neither prevailed and I made up my mind to return to Tibet to give the Chinese one last try in accordance both with the advice of Nehru and the assurances of Chou En-lai. After leaving Kalimpong, I was compelled to remain in Gangtok for a full month before being able to cross the Narhu pass once more. But I did not regret this at all and I took the opportunity to give teachings to the local population. Finally, and with a heavy heart, I set out for the return journey to Lhasa towards the end of March 1957. My sadness was increased by Lobsang Samten's last-minute decision to remain in India due to his poor physical condition following a recent operation for appendicitis. When I reached the border and bade farewell to the last of my Indian friends-all of whom wept-my spirits sank even lower. Fluttering amongst the colourful Tibetan prayer-flags were at least a dozen blood-red banners proclaiming the People's Republic of China. It was no consolation at all that General Jin Raorong had come to meet me. For, although he was a good and sincere man, I could not help thinking of him in terms of the military uniform that he wore, rather than in terms of 'liberation'. Once over the Tibetan border, I drove back to Lhasa via Dromo, Gyantse and Shigatse. At each place I addressed large public gatherings, to which I invited both Tibetan and Chinese officials. As usual, I gave short, spiritual teaching combined with what I had to say about temporal matters. In doing so, I laid great emphasis on the obligation of all Tibetans to deal honestly and justly with the Chinese authorities. I insisted that it was the duty of everyone to right wrongs whenever they saw them, no matter who had committed them. I also urged my people to adhere strictly to the principles of the Seventeen-Point 'Agreement'. I told them of my talks with Nehru and Chou En-lain and of how, during the first week of February that year, Chairman Mao himself had publicly acknowledged that Tibet was not yet ready for reform. Finally, I reminded them of the Chinese claim that they were in Tibet to help Tibetans. If any of the authorities failed to be co-operative, they were acting against Communist Party policy. I added that others could be left to sing praises, but we, according to Chairman Mao's own directive, should be self-critical. At this, the Chinese present became clearly uncomfortable. In this way I tried to assure my people that I was doing all that I could for them and to send warning to our new,foreign masters that, form now on, there would be no hesitation in pointing out malpractices whenever necessary. However, at every stage of the journey, my forced optimism was dealt fresh blows by the news and reports of widespread fighting to the east. Then one day , General Tan Kuan-sen, the Political Commisar, came to meet me and asked that I send a representative to ask the freedom fighters to lay down their arms. Since this was also my own wish, I agreed to do so and sent a lama to talk with them. But they did not, and by the time I reached Lhasa on 1 April 1957, I knew that the situation throughout Tibet was rapidly slipping not only from Chinese control,but also from my own. In midsummer there was open warfare throughout Kham and Amdo. The freedom fighters, under the command of a man named Gompo Tashi, were increasing their numbers on a daily basis and becoming ever more audacious in their raids. The Chinese, for their part, showed no restraint. As well as using aircraft to bomb towns and villages, whole areas were laid waste by artillery barrage. The result was that thousands of people from Kham and Amdo had fled to Lhasa and were now camped on the plains outside the city. Some of the stories they brought with them were so horrifying that I did not really believe them for many years." ( It must have been very difficult for someone of the Dalai Lama's spiritual training to imagine human beings capable of such actions. I promise to add more tomorrow...) ( please click here to read of the day with me ) This is from the book Freedom in Exile The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. Through my eyes ( Please see my spinning for you!) ( Tahshi Deleh gentle one! Kehrahng kusu debo yinpeh? I began the day in our studio spinning for you then working on the weaving With us working two as one together, it's coming along quite well; the backstrap is now just a few inches less than a span! After that I headed up to the Grove to continue working on the fencing around our native plants. It wasn't our warm and bright future day but it was beautiful up there! Two as one we spent some time making offerings to the Tenger and the spirits. Sarangerel mentions that this is done on the 11th or the 12th so I thought we could do it on both! We also spent some time picking grapes; there were a fair number ripened! Two as one we've fixed a few more mistakes on the pages as usual. I'm going to put the pages up on our infosite;I'll put this up a bit early so we can rest. And so, as always we'll continue two as one on to tomorrow my one gentle beautiful patient swift dream bright long dark mane in sunlight so for now I bid goodnight...Simjah Nahngo!)