Tibet

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TIBET

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Tibet is a plateau region in Central Asia and the home to the indigenous Tibetan people. With an average elevation of 4,900 metres (16,000 ft), it is the highest region on Earth and is commonly referred to as the "Roof of the World." Geographically, UNESCO and Encyclopædia Britannica consider Tibet to be part of Central Asia, while several academic organizations controversially consider it part of South Asia.

Many parts of the region were united in the seventh century by King Songtsän Gampo. Power eventually shifted to the Dalai Lama, a position that combined spiritual and political power. Between the 17th century and 1951, the Dalai Lama and his regents were the predominant political power administering religious and administrative authority over large parts of Tibet from the traditional capital Lhasa.

Tibet proclaimed its independence from China in 1911, right before the fall of the Qing government. However, "at no time did any western power come out in favor of its independence or grant it diplomatic recognition.”
The People's Republic of China (PRC), citing historical records and the Seventeen Point Agreement signed by the Tibetan government in 1951, claims Tibet as a part of China (with a small part, depending on definitions, controlled by India). Currently every country in the world recognizes China's sovereignty over Tibet. Dalai Lama, the head of the Tibetan government in exile, does not reject China’s sovereignty over Tibet:
“Tibet Wants Autonomy, Not Independence.”
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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Demonstration for a Free Tibet

Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York City, March 22, 2008

The day started out with a temperature of about 32 degrees farenheit, colder than usual for this time of year. When I went into the Japan Society building around 11 a.m., the New York Police Department (NYPD) was setting up barricades across the street in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza.

When I came back outside at around 1 p.m., there were, I would estimate, between 200 to 300 demonstrators, mostly Tibetan, holding Tibetan flags and chanting slogans, with the UN building looming up behind them a few blocks away. These flags weren't the little hand-held ones on small wooden sticks that are waved at sporting events. These were full-sized flags on poles that require both hands to hold uprignt.

There were New York City police present, both Patrol Officers and Community Affairs Officers, as well as four Mounted Patrol Officers on their well-groomed horses.

Most of the chants were derogatory toward China. One of the NYPD officers I saw looked to be ethnic Chinese. If I had been more courageous, I would have asked him how he felt hearing these anti-Chinese slogans being chanted.

I spent some time watching some of the children there with their parents among the demonstrators. The children chanted the slogans too, but seemed more pre-occupied playing with the protest signs they were carrying than putting all their attention and energy into chanting as their parents were doing. I was handed a couple of printed flyers detailing the situation in Tibet, and what people could do to help, and then with a backward glance at the Tibetan flags fluttering and flapping in the gusty wind, I went on my way.


a cold wind blowing
as if from far-off mountains:
Tibetan flags fly!

Larry Bole, March 2008


Tibet Info Net

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- quote
Lhabab Düchen
is one of the four Buddhist festivals commemorating four events in the life of the Buddha, according to Tibetan traditions. Lhabab Düchen occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth month on a Tibetan calendar.

This is a Buddhist festival celebrated to observe the descent of Buddha from heaven back to earth. Buddha had left for heaven at the age of 41, having ascended to The Heaven of Thirty-Three (Trayastrimsa) in order to give teachings to benefit the gods in the desire realms and to repay the kindness of his mother by liberating her from Samsara. He was exhorted by his follower and representative Maudgalyayana to return, and after a long debate managed to return. This is considered to be one of the eight great deeds of the Buddha. He returned to earth by a special triple ladder prepared by Viswakarma, the god of machines.

On Lhabab Duchen, the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied ten million times. It is part of Tibetan Buddhist tradition to engage in virtuous activities and prayer on this day.In 2013 Lhabab Duchen starts on Full Moon November 17 and ends November 24.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

The Stupa of the Descent from Tushita Heaven (Wyl. lha bab mchod rten)
The Buddha's mother, Mayadevi, was reborn in a celestial realm called the Tushita Heaven. To repay her kindness, the Buddha spent three months there and taught her the path to enlightenment.
This stupa represents the Buddha’s return from the celestial realms in order to continue teaching the people of northern India. Each side of the stupa has a stairway in the centre of the four steps.
source :　www.rigpawiki.org/index

full moon-
on the stupa of descent
our prayers multiply

Angelee Deodhar
India 2013

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Communist Empire
stubbing the free Tibetans;
same face of the man.

(c) Aju Mukhopadhyay, 2008

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Winter in Tibet

a day in winter
high up on the white mountain –
never-ending tale

©　Fluerau Petre, 2006


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flamme olympique...
à peine visible
derrière la police

Serge Tomé

Tibet and the Olympics in China, 2008


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Tibetan Daruma



© ARTISTS WITHOUT BORDERS / ARTISTS OF THE WORLD.


wonderous world -
Tibetan Eyes for my
Daruma san

Gabi Greve, 2007


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