In Canberra, a special function was hosted by the Tibet Information Office (Canberra) and Tibetan Community of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in the National Press Club of Australia on 7th July, 2010.

Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown and senior Liberal Party member Hon Peter Slipper MP were among the distinguished guests who attended the function. Hon Peter Slipper MP, a co-convenor of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, was also representing Hon Tony Abbott MP, Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Australia. More than 200 guest including diplomats, officials, academicians, media, Tibet supporters, Chinese and Buddhist representatives and Tibetans participated in the function.

The celebration featured a rich and diverse cultural program including Tibetan musicians Tenzin Choegyal from Brisbane, Tenzin Yeshe from Melbourne, a Sri Lankan dance troupe, a Nepalese dancer, a Mozart virtuoso violin performance by Mr. Yang Yang of the Chinese Community and Tibetan dances performed by the Tibetan Community of New South Wales.

The evening began with a traditional aboriginal “welcome to country” performed by Mr. Shane Mortimer, an elder of the Ngambri people, the traditional owners of the Australian Capital Territory.

In his commemorative speech, Senator Bob Brown, the guest of honour, described His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a “great and inspiring human being” and “Tibet’s greatest gift to the world”.

“In a world driven by national interests, economic growth and short-term political games, the Dalai Lama and Tibet offer the inspiration that all humanity needs. There is no greater exponent of the alternative, long-term, compassionate and global view than the Dalai Lama. No one person has offered a more cohesive, optimistic yet practical vision for the future than His Holiness.”

As the host of the evening, Tibetan Community in ACT secretary Tsewang Thupten explained how Tibetans’ admiration of His Holiness was based “not just on blind faith but on appreciation of his practical wisdom and compassion”.

Mr. Sonam Dagpo, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia gave a moving account of His Holiness’s life, achievements, and tireless work towards a peaceful resolution for the Tibetan people.

Tenzin Lhadhar, President of Tibetan Community of ACT gave a vote of thanks which was followed by a cocktail reception.

Australia is today home to over 900 Tibetans and has grown into a major centre of the global Tibetan Diaspora.

Australia’s celebrations of His Holiness’s 75th birthday continued on 11th July, 2010 with Sydney’s “Festival of Tibet”. The event featured another elaborate program of cultural performances and speeches, along with the launch of a unique photographic exhibition titled “A Man of Compassion and Wisdom: The Dalai Lama’s Journey”.

–Report filed by Dr. Simon Bradshaw & Tenzin Dolma Dagpo on behalf of TIO.

Yokohama, Japan: If the Tibetan people can achieve genuine autonomy in protecting and promoting their culture, language, identity, and way of life, it can also provide hope for a more just and compassionate society in China where the frenzied rush to accumulate wealth and power has led to the rapid erosion of moral principles, said His Holiness the Dalai Lama at an informal gathering of some 70 Tibetans and their Japanese supporters this morning at the Intercontinental Grand Hotel in Yokohama.

His Holiness said the Tibetan people’s struggle for autonomy is based on valid historical and cultural basis. “Since the 7th century, the Tibetan people have developed their own language, religion, and culture without seeking any help from outsiders,” he said, adding the most comprehensive knowledge on Buddhism, for instance, is available only in Tibetan language.

Tibetan cultural and religious traditions emphasize the inner values of truth, kindness, peace, and the well-being of humanity even as Tibetans in Tibet still face violent suppression of their basic rights as human beings. Because Tibetans have been honest and transparent in their dealings with the Chinese authorities in solving the Tibet issue, there is no need for them to feel hatred, prejudice, bias, or tell lies, he said. “Truth, not force, is our biggest strength.”

In his brief address to the gathering, Mr. Tsegyam, head of the China Desk at the Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama said concern is now growing among many Chinese intellectuals about the corrosion of traditional Chinese values in the current socio-political system in China.

Although extreme nationalistic feelings particularly among young Chinese, provoked largely by a xenophobic state media, is still a problem, Mr. Tsegyam said awareness about the Tibet issue is increasing not only among Chinese intellectuals but also among ordinary Chinese in and outside mainland China. He said mainland Chinese Buddhists are now paying more attention to Tibetan Buddhism by attending His Holiness’ teachings in India. Over 500 Chinese now visit India annually to learn about Buddhist teachings from His Holiness; more than 200 mainland Chinese Buddhists attended His Holiness’ teaching in Varanasi (India) last year. Many more were unable to attend due to restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. Chinese scholars, professors, writers, and artists often seek audience with His Holiness.

Recalling a meeting His Holiness had with 11 Chinese university students in Paris, Mr. Tsegyam said the students asked for pictures of His Holiness so they could take them home and show it to their family and friends and tell them about the problems faced by the Tibetans. One of the students who was studying filmmaking conveyed a message of apology to His Holiness from his father who as a PLA soldier in 1956 had to kill many Tibetans. “He said he heard his father cry on phone when telling about his actions in Tibet as a PLA soldier,” Mr. Tsegyam said. “Try to befriend every Chinese you meet because that’s the best way to clear doubts and misinformation.”

He said all Tibetans living in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and in four provinces of Sichuan, Tso-ngon (Qinghai), Gansu and Yunnan share a common history, language, culture, faith, and way of life. “That being the case, it is not fair and just, even defies common sense, to deny genuine autonomy for over 4 million Tibetans who live outside the TAR,” Mr. Tsegyam said.

Before addressing the Tibetan gathering, His Holiness met with an 8-member parliamentary delegation led by Mr. Makino Seishu, a member of the Japanese parliament.

–Report filed by Tsering Tsomo

Yokohama, Japan: The secular nature of moral ethics is common to all religions despite differences in belief systems because these ethics of compassion, peace and global responsibility are common to all religions, said His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the conclusion of a brief talk during his visit to Sojiji Temple at Tsurumi in Yokohama this morning.

“Even non-Buddhist practitioners such as the Christians listen to my talks on philosophical aspects of Tibetan Buddhism and understand my message on the importance of secular values as these values are common to all religions,” he said, adding all are human beings first and therefore cultivating a sense of global responsibility is crucial in bringing genuine peace and compassion.”

He was speaking to over 1,700 people including monks, local devotees and school children who had gathered at the main temple of the Soto-shu sect of Buddhism to listen to His Holiness.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets young members of the audience at Sojiji Temple in Yokohama, Japan, on 27 June 2010

He said it is important to delineate a clear line between religious faith and religious culture when asked by an audience member on how to stay true to one’s religion and at the same time appreciate other faiths. He said Tibetan Muslims in Tibet practiced Islam but their cultural habits were no less Tibetan. But ultimately when it comes to decide which religion to choose, it is up to the individual’s own personal preferences. He also led a prayer of the Heart Sutra in Japanese which he said is common to all Buddhists.

Responding to another question, he said since coming into exile in India over 51 years ago, he had the opportunity to visit many highly developed countries such as Japan and United States where he witnessed the problems faced by many people in finding inner peace. These problems he said, are caused by lack of moral principles which shows the limitations of material development. During the talk, His Holiness warmly hugged a single mother of two to comfort her as she broke down in tears sharing her daily struggle to find peace.

At the end of the talk, school kids gifted His Holiness some hand-made sketches of the Sojiji Temple. The temple runs many educational institutions and universities among them the Tsurumi University, and the Setaya Gakuen School where on June 25 His Holiness delivered a talk to middle and high school students.

–Report filed by Tsering Tsomo. Photos by Tenzin Choejor

Yokohama, Japan: Over 500 South Korean Buddhists received an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama this afternoon at the the convention hall of the Intercontinental Grand Hotel at Yokohama in Tokyo.

His Holiness said traditionally countries like Korea and China are Buddhist and expressed his appreciation for the way the Koreans are seriously engaged in learning more about Buddhism. He said as common followers of Buddhism, he has always wanted to meet “fellow Buddhists” not only in South Korea but also other Buddhist countries such as Burma and Sri Lanka where he has never been before. “My last visit to Thailand, another Buddhist country, was in the 1960s but after that could not go there again,” he said with a soft chuckle.

In his brief talk, he asked the Koreans to be 21st century Buddhists by mastering modern scientific education as well as Buddhism. “Like great masters of the ancient Nalanda University, you must study and examine the Buddhist texts and practice the teachings in your daily life,” he said.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama with around 500 Korean monks and laity in Yokohama, Japan, on 27 June 2010

Referring to commentaries authored by Nalanda Indian masters, His Holiness stressed the importance of studying Nagarjuna’s commentary on the concept of emptiness and Chandakirti’s commentary on Nagarjuna’s works which is used as the main text by Tibetan Buddhist practitioners in studying emptiness. The latter’s work, he said, will be of immense help in understanding Buddhist Dialectics as well. He explained briefly the Buddhist concept of Clear Mind in generating compassion and practicing analytical meditation.

While handing over a gift of Nagarjuna’s scroll to a head priest of Korean Buddhists, His Holiness told the audience to become students of great Nalanda masters who had shown that Buddhist practitioners can incorporate scientific approach in their study of Buddha’s teachings. “I am 75 but I still study the texts by these great Buddhist professors,” he added.

–Report filed by Tsering Tsomo

Dharamshala: Karma Samdrup, a prominent Tibetan environmental philanthropist’s complaint against police officials for repeatedly torturing him to extract confession for an offense that he vehemently denied of committing, is a test case for China’s new regulations on halting evidence obtained illegally through torture, a US-based rights group said.

Karma Samdrup was arrested from his home in Sichuan Province in January on alleged charges of buying artifacts from a looted tomb in 1998. According to his lawyer, Pu Zhiqiang, those charges were dropped after the police realised that he had a license to buy and sell cultural relics.

Karma Samdrup’s brothers Rinchen Samdrup, top, and Chime Namgyal were jailed after accusing a police chief of hunting protected animals.

His arrest came following his attempts to defend his two younger brothers, Rinchen Samdrup and Chime Namgyal, who are in jail since August 2009 for accusing a police official in Chamdo Prefecture of illegal poaching. “By jumping to his brothers’ defense, Karma Samdrup apparently angered some powerful people,” The New York Times reported.

Relatives say Namgyal was tortured and then sentenced to 21 months at a labour camp for “harming national security.” Rinchen Samdrup, who has also been lauded by the Chinese media in the past, is still awaiting trial on several charges, including having set up the environmental group illegally.

During his ongoing trial in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region on 22 June, Karma Samdrup said that during several months of interrogation, officers repeatedly beat him, ordered fellow detainees to beat him, deprived him of sleep for days on end, and drugged him with a substance that made his eyes and ears bleed – all to extract a confession, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.

He has nonetheless refused to sign a self-incriminating statement and has entered a plea of not guilty. “Karma Samdrup’s trial was a test case for the government’s commitment to halting torture of criminal suspects in custody to prevent miscarriages of justice,” the rights group said.

According to the new regulation issued jointly by China’s Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of State Security and Ministry of Justice on 30 May, “confessions or testimony obtained through torture, violence and intimidation are invalid”. The rules give “defendants the ability to challenge confessions presented during their trials”.

“The rules were unlikely to make a difference unless they were accompanied by significant reforms such as granting the right to silence to protect suspects from self-incrimination, effective remedies in instances of violations of the right of the defense, and prosecution of law enforcement agents guilty of having tortured criminal suspects,” HRW said.

“Karma Samdrup’s trial is an important test case for the Chinese government’s stance towards torture,” said Sophie Richardson, HRW’s Asia advocacy director. “If the government doesn’t investigate torture allegations in a manifestly trumped-up case, what hope can ordinary defendants have?”

The detention, arrest and torture of the three Tibetan environmentalists on false charges violate articles 9 and 41 of the Chinese Constitution, according to Mr Tenzin Norbu, the executive head of the Environment and Development Desk of the Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamsala.

The Article 9 stipulates that “…the state ensures use of natural resources and protects rare animals and plants. Appropriation or damaging of natural resources by any organisation or individual by whatever means is prohibited.

In the Article 41, it states, “Citizens have the right to criticise and make suggestions to any state organ or functionary. Citizens have the right to make to relevant state organs complaints and charges against, or exposures of, violation of the law or dereliction of duty by any state organ or functionary; but fabrication or distortion of facts with the intention of libel or frame-up is prohibited. In case of complaints, charges or exposures made by citizens, the state organ concerned must deal with them in a responsible manner after ascertaining the facts. No one may suppress such complaints, charges and exposures, or retaliate against the citizens making them. Citizens who have suffered losses, through infringement of their civil rights by any state organ or functionary have the right to compensation.”

Kanazawa, Japan: His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Tuesday suggested that Japan and China should think of translating Buddhist texts and commentaries preached by Lord Buddha and other learned spiritual masters into their own languages.

His Holiness said this while teaching Heart Sutra to over 2,000 devotees during a public teaching at Ishikawa Concert Hall.

Expressing his warm greetings, His Holiness said he feels comfortable in teaching Buddhism in Japan which is a Buddhist nation. “I get a feeling as if I am returning to you a part of your ancient tradition. This feeling is not so forthcoming in the West, because I feel every country needs to maintain their religion and culture,” he said.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greets a Japanese devotee during the teaching in Kanazawa in Japan, on 22 June 2010

His Holiness reiterated his call for the need to become 21st century Buddhists. “Buddhism should not become a mere ceremonial exercise, we need to study and know the meaning of the scriptures we are reading. Heart sutra is an essential Buddhist teaching of Nalanda Sanskrit version of Mahayana tradition. So, it is important to know the full meaning of this teaching. Therefore, though my knowledge is limited, I have studied this sutra and I want to share with you all,” His Holiness said.

During the Q&A session, a lady recounted her experience of her visit to Tibet where she witnessed how the Tibetans were very kind to all the living beings. Responding to her remarks, His Holiness said: “Tibetan culture is a culture of compassion. Peace and non-violence is the way of life in Tibet.”

On being asked about how to lead a meaningful life, His Holiness said: “You should help other, if you cannot help, restrain from harming other and be honest.”

Speaking on science and religion, His Holiness said Buddhism has the capacity to correspond with science, the fact widely recognised by many scientists. He said that even though science and religion have different approaches, both could contribute immensely for the promotion of peaceful world.

His Holiness will stay in Kanazawa till Thursday before departing for Tokyo.

–Report filed by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, Office of Tibet, Japan

Nagano, Japan: Over 7,000 people filled the Big Hat Stadium with loud applause and cheers as Zenkoji priests gifted His Holiness the Dalai Lama a statue of Gonpo O-pa-me (Amitabha Buddha) at the conclusion of a public talk titled ‘Guide to Positive Clear Light’ Sunday afternoon.

The Gonpo O-pa-me, called Amida in Japanese, is the principal Buddha enshrined and worshipped at the 7th century Zenkoji Temple at Nagano in central Japan. Zenkoji’s most sacred image, The Amida Triad, housed in the main temple, is also the first Buddha image brought to Japan via Korea. The arrival of the image also marked the early propagation of Buddhism in Japan.

This aspect of Zenkoji’s history has a lot of resonance to Jokhang Temple in Tibet’s capital, Lhasa, where the arrival of Buddha Shakyamuni’s image marked the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet, said His Holiness the Dalai Lama in a message issued at the event.

Clear Light, His Holiness explained, reflects the basic nature of the mind which is neutral and is closer to positive emotions such as love, kindness and compassion. Negative emotions like stress, anxiety and selfishness cloud the clear nature of the mind crippling its ability to think and analyze without bias and anger. When we develop a calm mind, we find self-confidence and intelligence to see problems in a holistic manner so we could avoid unrealistic and destructive actions. Understanding the concept of interdependence – that all problems have causes traceable to actions based on ignorance and self-centeredness – is therefore important in developing a holistic view of all existence.

Lack of holistic view, he said, was one of the major reasons that triggered the current global economic crisis. It also led to the failure of the Copenhagen Climate Change summit because more emphasis was put on national interests than global interests. He said the well-being of six billion-strong global family is more important than divisions based race, faith and countries which are secondary concerns. “What is important is the oneness of humanity.”

For many who attended the talk, it was their first experience listening to His Holiness‘ teachings. Although some found the initial parts of the teachings too complex to understand, they said they were impressed by His Holiness‘ message to think globally. “It touched me profoundly when he said both he and I belong to the global family; it gave me a new perspective to see things,” said Iwai Takamoto, 34, from Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture. “I feel like even I can make a difference.”

For Nami Suzuki, a 28-yr-old pharmacist from Nagano, it was His Holiness‘ reference to environmental issues that she found very relevant. “I think he made a very important point when he said environmental issue is a global concern.”

Hiroko Suzuki said he had heard few spiritual teachers encouraging people to learn new languages and go out in the world and help less privileged people. “I’ll probably learn English,” said the 23-year-old who works at a production company in Nagano.

Rev. Syoryu WADA, president of Zenkoji Temple secretariat said Japan has made great progress in material development but spiritual development is lacking. He said in a country confronted with many conflicting issues of economic crisis, social violence and widespread use of illegal drugs, His Holiness’ teachings can have make a huge difference. Japan’s annual suicide figure now exceeds 30,000. “Many now realize that the more you have, emptier your heart becomes.”

In 2008, Zenkoji Temple received a Buddha statue from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

–Report filed by Tsering Tsomo

Nagano, Japan: His Holiness the Dalai Lama told a crowd of over 300 Japanese Buddhists that all human beings have the same potential to achieve Buddhahood if they realise the source of all sufferings is ignorance and delusion about one’s true nature.

“Awareness of one’s innate Buddha nature will give self-confidence and provide a key to happy life,” said His Holiness in his teaching of the Four Noble Truth today at Saihoji Temple in Nagano.

The teaching was part of an event organised by Saihoji Temple, where His Holiness consecrated a three-dimensional Mandala and a gilded statue of the Amitabha Buddha, both housed in a new Mandala Hall located on the temple compound. The walls of the new hall depict paintings of 8 Boddhisattavas and 30 auspicious symbols.

Eiichi Kaneko, the head priest of the temple said the inspiration for the new Mandala Hall came from the 300-yr-old Kangyo-Mandala Thangka, a treasured temple scroll depicting Buddhist heaven. In a statement issued today, he said the architecture of the Mandala and the Amitabha statue reflects the synthesis of Tibetan and Japanese Buddhism.

Tibetan Master Thangka painter and sculptor, Kalsang Lodoe Oshoe led a team of artisans to paint the walls of the Mandala Hall. Oshoe also used the lost Japanese art of using clay and washi (traditional Japanese paper) to construct the Buddha statue. The art of constructing clay and washi statues dates back to eighth century when the Nara period (710-794) in Japan was at its peak.

Oshoe belongs to a prominent family of Tibetan artisans and serves as an official court painter to the Dalai Lama. In the past, he has worked on projects at Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, Springfield Museums in Massachusetts and other prestigious museums in the US and Europe.

–Report filed by Tsering Tsomo

Nagano, Japan: His Holiness the Dalai Lama this afternoon consecrated a sand mandala made by Tibetan monks at Zenkoji Temple.

The creation of Gonpo O-pa-me (Amitabha Buddha or Buddha of Infinite Light) mandala marks the first visit of His Holiness to Zenkoji, a 7th century non-sectarian Buddhist temple, located in the Honshu island. Amitabha is the principal buddha enshrined and worshipped at Zenkoji.

Ten Tibetan monks from the India-based Tashi Lhunpo monastery constructed the mandala which took 16 days to complete. Traditionally, sand mandalas are created in exquisite geometric designs to generate compassion, realize the impermanence of reality, and the cosmic healing of the environment, and then destroyed to symbolize the impermanence of all existence.

But the mandala at Zenkoji will be preserved for posterity so that visitors and devotees could visit it anytime in future. Sand Mandala is an ancient Tibetan art form not common among Japanese Buddhists. The Avalokiteswara mandala is the first sand mandala ever created in the centuries-old history of Zenkoji temple.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama

According to Venerable Lobsang Dorjee of Tashi Lhunpo monastery, local devotees in Nagano took special interest in the mandala. “Every day we have many local people visiting Zenkoji to watch the process of mandala making; some devotees, stirred by the message of compassion and impermanence embodied in a mandala, broke down in tears,” he said.

After the consecration ceremony, His Holiness the Dalai Lama along with the two chief priests of the temple led a prayer ceremony for world peace and for the victims of the April 14 earthquake that rocked the Tibetan area of Yushu in Qinghai Province. Tibetan monks joined Japanese monks in reciting the Heart Sutra (Tib: Sherab Nyinpo) and the King of Aspiration Prayer for Noble Activity (Tib: Sangcho Monlam) as hundreds of Nagano residents lined up on either side of the temple’s two main gates to listen to the prayers broadcasted through several speakers that were fitted around the temple complex.

His Holiness (2nd L) at a press conference held at the Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, Japan, on 19 June 2010

Zenkoji Temple is a non-sectarian temple whose religious leaders (a priest and a priestess) share the ritual responsibilities. Historically open to women when other temples were not, now up to 8 million visitors visit Zenkoji annually. Their purpose is a one-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to ensure salvation by touching the “Key to Paradise” located in a pitch-black passageway under the main altar of the temple.

Dating from 1707, the main temple houses Zenkoji’s most sacred image, an Amida (or Amitabha) triad. Called “Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai”, it features three standing images sharing one halo. Never displayed, a replica of the image is revealed periodically. It is considered the first Buddhist image in Japan and arrived via Korea in 552 AD.

–Report filed by Tsering Tsomo

Dharamshala: Election Commissioner of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) declared the dates for voting the next members of the Tibetan Parliament and Kalon Tripa (Chairman of the cabinet) to be on the same day in a press conference held in Dharamsala on Thursday.

Next Tibetan Parliament is the 15th term Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile since the first Tibetan parliament-in-exile was formed in 1960.

The next Kalon Tripa is the third term Kalon Tripa who will be elected by the exile Tibetans after the present Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche who have served for the two terms from September 2001.

Election Commissioner Mr. Jamphel Choesang said, office of the election commission have already sent first announcement regarding the next election and will send another soon for registration of the voters.

The dates for registration of the said election will begin from 18th June to 18th August 2010. Mr. Jamphel Choesang said, “ By 18th August all the registered list of the voters should reach the office of the Election Commission”. He also said that the registration date may extend beyond 18th August. A person can vote at any location of voting if he or she has already registered and carries the registered requirements where the person is voting at, added the election commissioner.

The preliminary date for voting will be on 3rd October 2010 and the final date for voting for the next Members of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and the Kalon Tripa will be on 20th March 2011.

Mr. Jamphel Choesang further said, because of the importance of the next election, Tibetans voluntarily made efforts to make the Tibetan people well informed for electing the next Kalon Tripa by launching the website www.kalontripa.org. The election commissioner made it clear that this website is a private initiative and is not a CTA’s website.

Mr. Jamphel Choesang introduced two new Additional Election Commissioners, Ven. Geshe Rigzin Choedak and Mr. Chutpar Yangkho Gyal, who were appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to assist the Chief Election Commissioner during the elections.

Additional Election Commissioners Ven. Geshe Rigzin Choedak is the Principal at Dolmaling nunnery and Mr. Chutpar Yangkho Gyal is the Secretary of Sheja Kundue Tsomdig an organization of the writers in Tibetan language.