Taiwan is a Han-language society that has frequent exchanges with China. Aside from sharing a common language, Taiwan is also the Han-speaking society with the largest concentration of Tibetan Buddhists outside China. Taiwanese Buddhists and Tibetan monks have been closely connected for decades. This gives Taiwan the opportunity to play a key role as an emissary of peace between Tibetans and the Han.
First, the roots of Tibetan uprisings have often been religion-based. Tibet is a society that centers its life and culture on religion. However, under communist rule, the Chinese government has not only politically intervened in, but also attempted to control, religion.
Beijing has regulations for the management of Tibetan temples, which include compulsory “patriotic education” classes. Beijing kidnapped the 11th Panchen Lama, who was recognized by the Dalai Lama and whose whereabouts are unknown to this day. It named another boy as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama in order to control Tibetan Buddhism, and thus Tibetans themselves.
This bid has not worked, but the Chinese are undeterred. Just last year, Beijing intensified its effort to control Tibetan Buddhists by passing a regulation on reincarnations in Tibetan Buddhism in an attempt to control the entire selection process.
The Chinese government has forced monks to oppose the Dalai Lama in public, or to become signatories of attacks on him. This has caused great anger among Tibetans and Buddhists. To Buddhists, libeling monks is a great sin — and criticism of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, even more so.
Many of the recent protests and peaceful demonstrations originated in temples and were initiated by monks. As Buddhists, regardless of sect, the knowledge of these truths would undoubtedly lead to deep empathy with the psychological and physical torment and pain of the Tibetan monks.
We therefore urge Taiwanese Buddhists to express their compassion and support the practice of Buddhism by all Buddhists in the forms chosen by them.
Responding to the threat that hatred between the Han and Tibetans could be intensified by the Chinese government’s actions, the Dalai Lama issued an appeal to the Chinese people on March 28: “Chinese brothers and sisters -— wherever you may be — with deep concern I appeal to you to help dispel the misunderstandings between our two communities. Moreover, I appeal to you to help us find a peaceful, lasting solution to the problem of Tibet through dialogue in the spirit of understanding and accommodation.”
This is a compassionate Dalai Lama, as a monk, praying for the planting of a seed of harmony rather than hatred between the Han and Tibetans. We believe that so long as the Tibetan people are not granted their freedom, Chinese will also never have peace, as the fates of Tibetans and Han Chinese are intertwined.
Thus, Taiwanese have the responsibility to reveal the truth to the Chinese and deliver the message of peace from the Dalai Lama and Tibetans, to prevent the continued escalation of hatred between Chinese and Tibetans.
Chow Mei-li is president of Taiwan Friends of Tibet.
Translated by Angela Hong
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