BODH GAYA: In a special address to Tibetan devotees from Nepal and Bhutan, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay emphasised the growing support and respect for the Central Tibetan Administration and its Middle Way Policy from the international community.
“Many governments have officially stated their support for the Middle Way Approach, including the US, India, Britain, France, Germany and Australia. Global leaders such as US President Barack Obama; High Commissioner for UN Human Rights; High Representative for European Union Foreign Affairs/Security Policy/Vice-President of European Commission and Nobel Peace Laureates have openly stated their support for CTA’s Middle Way Approach,” Sikyong told the gathering at the 34th Kalachakra teaching ground yesterday.
Briefly outlining the policies and plans of the 15th Kashag, Sikyong reiterated the strategy of five-fifty. Given the prospects of changes in China, If Tibetans are able to survive, strengthen and sustain the Tibetan administration in the next 50 years, it will be able to restore basic freedom of the Tibetan people, he said.
Addressing the deteriorating human rights and religious freedom of the Tibetans under the Chinese regime, Sikyong assured the Kashag’s wholehearted determination to continue to appeal the world community to address China’s wrong doing and to call on its unabashed violation of international human rights norms. He apprised the public of the urgent resolution passed by the European Parliament on China’s demolition of Larung Gar Tibetan Buddhist Academy.
Sikyong urged the Tibetans in diaspora to promote and protect the Tibetan unity and integrity by giving up differences based on regionalism or sects. “In the earliest years of our exile, under the noble vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the establishment of democratic administration in Tibetan schools, governance, monastic institutions was carried out. His Holiness’ vision was to represent all Tibetans from three regional provinces of Tibet as one. Likewise, inorder to take our movement forward, each one of us must eschew regionalism and invest our time and efforts in sustaining and strengthening our movement,” he said.
He further extolled the importance of education for its role in strengthening a community and urged the Tibetan families to prioritise their children’s education.
He also advised the public to contribute in accumulation of collective merit and perform virtuous activities as advised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The talk was attended by kalons and officials of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Sikyong addressing Tibetan community members from Nepal and Bhutan at the 34th Kalachakra in Bodh Gaya, 10 January 2017.
Members of audience listening to Sikyong’s address at the Kalachakra teaching ground, 10 January 2017.