Free Tibet!

This page is dedicated to the struggle of the sovereign nation of Tibet to be free of its occupation by China. The information here is not meant to be a judgment against or a condemnation of the Chinese people or of Chinese culture. Rather, I disagree with the repressive actions of the Chinese Politburo, particularly with regard to Tibet. I have long admired the Chinese and their ability to withstand the political struggles that wrack their nation. I honor those who continue to struggle in China against oppression.

History of the Struggle

In 1949, China experienced its Communist Revolution. Mao Tse Tung led the people in a revolt against the Imperialist government. Based on Marxist ideals, the revolution was to bring in a new era of prosperity and peace to China.

Well, it hasn’t lived up to that ideal. The following year, China’s leadership lost its focus on stabilizing and equalizing China’s economy, and turned instead to conquest, specifically the conquest of Tibet. Tibet, a sovereign nation for centuries, was invaded by Chinese troops in 1950. For nine years, Tibet struggled to maintain its autonomy while accepting Chinese leadership, but the Chinese government would not be happy until it had complete control over Tibet. In 1959, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, then only 24 years old, was forced to escape Tibet. He escaped just before an assassination attempt by the Chinese government. When word of this attempt got out to the population of Llasa (Tibet’s capitol), the populace surrounded the Norbulinka (the Dalai Lama’s summer palace, where he was forced to live while the Chinese occupied the Potala) to protect their spiritual and political leader. It was during this that His Holiness escaped. After his escape, while the population of Llasa still surrounded the summer palace (thinking he was still inside), the Chinese opened fire on the civilian population and shelled the Norbulinka. This was the Tibetan National Uprising, commemorated on March 10 of each year by Tibetans and Tibet’s supporters all over the world. 60,000 people died during that uprising. The Dalai Lama has been in exile in India since 1959.

Since then, approximately 1/5 of Tibet’s population has been killed as a direct result of China’s oppression. Murder, imprisonment, and torture are regular occurrences. Monks and nuns (which formerly made up approximately 25% of the population) were forced to kill each other, or their teachers, while Chinese watched. Nuns were regularly raped and both monks and nuns were tortured in other ways. Tibetan children can no longer learn about their rich culture, which survived several centuries until the Chinese invasion. The practice of Buddhism, the cornerstone of Tibetan culture, is forbidden. Some monasteries are maintained on a very surface level for the benefit of tourists, but otherwise monasteries are converted to other uses (such as military storage facilities) or completely destroyed and looted. At this time, over 6,000 Tibetan monasteries have been destroyed.

His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama has struggled since his exile to come to peaceful resolution with the Chinese government. His dream is to reunite the land, the people, and the culture of Tibet. He practices and advocates non-violence in all his work towards this goal.

For More Information

To get more information about Tibet’s struggle for independence, please click on the following links.

The Office of Tibet: The official agency of His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, and the office of the Tibetan government in exile.

International Campaign for Tibet

Tibet Online

Vote to Free Tibet

Support Tibetan Monasteries in Exile!

I have been blessed to have met Tibetan Buddhist monks from two monasteries currently in exile in India. I strongly urge you to support the efforts of these monks to maintain their spiritual traditions by attending and supporting their performances of their sacred music and, in the case of the Drepung Monastery, sacred dance. These monks also construct beautiful and sacred sand mandalas in places where they perform. The mandalas take several days to construct. Afterward, the sand is swept up and offered to the nearest water source. This is an offering of themselves and their efforts for the benefit of all sentient beings. Click on the following links to learn more about these two monasteries and their efforts to keep the spiritual and cultural traditions of Tibet alive.

The Gyudmed Tantric Monastery - I found out about a nearby performance by the monks of the Drepung Monastery while I was working for Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. I was unable to attend, but was blessed anyway by having the monks of Gyudmed come to South Campground where I was working. They stayed for two nights with their tour coordinators and their interpreter, Tashi. They chanted for us on their second night here. These monks are working very hard during their tour to raise funds to keep their monastery in exile in Southern India going. Please support them by checking out the site and finding out if they're coming to an area near you. They will be conducting a twelve hour ritual in August to pray for AIDS patients and research. There will be a simultaneous ritual in India at their home monastery.

The Drepung Loseling Monastery - Please make an effort to also see the see a performance by these monks. The Mystical Arts of Tibet performance was my introduction to Buddhism and to Tibet's struggle for independence. I encourage you to check out their website and see a performance. Seeing them changed me significantly, and I hope they touch you as well.

May Happiness and the Causes of Happiness come to all sentient beings.

Virtual Tibet Sangha

We support HH Dalai Lama
in efforts to create a
Free Tibet!

The background (a faint Om Mani Padme Hum in Tibetan script) for this page was provided by Samantha's Buddhist Background Page.

The Tibetan flag and other emblems on this page were provided by: