Intermezzo
The three member Tibetan delegation is back in Dharamsala after a month’s stay in Peking. At Press time they have not uttered a word to the public. Now, before you stay, “Here he goes again,” and turn to the back-page advertisement of variety, let me inform you that, for a change, this column is not about them. At the time of their arrival, the Dalai Lama was, and still is, out of town; and even I don’t seriously expect them to go around chatting in tea shops before making their report to him.
In the meantime, let us take a brief look at a couple of other things. First, these hundreds of our fellow-countrymen who have been visiting Tibet on Chinese passports. It is all very well for them to wish to see their relatives again after 20 years. Nonetheless, for someone like me, who fortunately do not have any close relatives left behind, it does not seem quite worth having yourself officially labelled as a Chinese and leaving signed documents to that effect with people who can and certainly will use them to our national disadvantage. It is much cheaper to call your relatives here for a visit, and this will also give them an opportunity to see the outside world and to go on pilgrimage. Peking is now supposed to be more amenable to Tibetan desires. So why not press for such an arrangement?
Which does not bring us to the question of the dancing monks, but what the hell! Even with my limited knowledge of Buddhism, I feel fairly safe in saying that Western monks who recently danced to rack music in Dharamsala certainly broke a monastic vow. However, for Tibetans to make too much fuss about it would be as clear a case of the kettle calling the pot black as you are ever likely to see. Many of our own monks cannot be held up as shining examples when it comes to observing these vows. One only needs to look at their penchant for collecting expensive cameras, tape-recorders and other luxury items, not to mention listening to rock ‘n’ roll and Hindi film songs and goodness knows what else.
The three member Tibetan delegation is back in Dharamsala after a month’s stay in Peking. At Press time they have not uttered a word to the public. Now, before you stay, “Here he goes again,” and turn to the back-page advertisement of variety, let me inform you that, for a change, this column is not about them. At the time of their arrival, the Dalai Lama was, and still is, out of town; and even I don’t seriously expect them to go around chatting in tea shops before making their report to him.
In the meantime, let us take a brief look at a couple of other things. First, these hundreds of our fellow-countrymen who have been visiting Tibet on Chinese passports. It is all very well for them to wish to see their relatives again after 20 years. Nonetheless, for someone like me, who fortunately do not have any close relatives left behind, it does not seem quite worth having yourself officially labelled as a Chinese and leaving signed documents to that effect with people who can and certainly will use them to our national disadvantage. It is much cheaper to call your relatives here for a visit, and this will also give them an opportunity to see the outside world and to go on pilgrimage. Peking is now supposed to be more amenable to Tibetan desires. So why not press for such an arrangement?
Which does not bring us to the question of the dancing monks, but what the hell! Even with my limited knowledge of Buddhism, I feel fairly safe in saying that Western monks who recently danced to rack music in Dharamsala certainly broke a monastic vow. However, for Tibetans to make too much fuss about it would be as clear a case of the kettle calling the pot black as you are ever likely to see. Many of our own monks cannot be held up as shining examples when it comes to observing these vows. One only needs to look at their penchant for collecting expensive cameras, tape-recorders and other luxury items, not to mention listening to rock ‘n’ roll and Hindi film songs and goodness knows what else.
posted by editorla at
9:08 PM
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