Tashi Delek
Well I have just arrived in Delhi after spending some time in the Himalayas and obviously being out of touch. The vibe here in Majnu-ka-Tilla (Tibetan community in Delhi) is very different from when I was here with the TEXT group in June. First it is very crowded and there is much talk about the peaceful protests planned for tomorrow. I have yet to get more information but will update as soon as possible.
First here is a reflection of the cultural things I discovered while in Ladakh in the Himalayas. The people are amazing as I have found in every Tibetan community. I visited the Tibetan community of Choglamsar. The community is very poor and I found it difficult for me to photograph the environment due to respect. I went with a Tibetan man to visit areas in the community one being an elder’s home. You will see pictures that speak for themselves for their life is so very minimal. I was invited to go with Tashi and Stephanie to visit the Tibetan Children’s Village where I met one sister and one brother that live at the school. They are in what would be their high school years so they are very busy studying for exams which allows them to continue their path. We then stopped by one of the homes that houses younger children and we played with them for a while. I was completely surprised when one boy politely asked me if I had a pen he could have for he needed it for his studies. I got ready to reach in my purse when all of a sudden I realized there were so many children there watching and I would find myself in a difficult position. So I promised him I would return with pens for his home. Isn’t it amazing something as small as a pen can make such a difference in a child’s life? Thanks to contributors to the Pennies for Partnerships 30 pens were provided to only a few children of the TCV school.
We then went to visit his family and have dinner. This was amazing. The family consists of the mother, father, grandmother, and there are 10 children, Tashi being the oldest and several grand children. Tashi grew up as a nomad and now his father works for the Dali Lama building the stupas you will see pictures of when you view the photos from the Dalai Lama’s summer residence. Fist I have to say I was completely amazed as how simple their life is. We sat and had tea and then they served us the wonderful Tibetan dish momo’s. This was a lovely experience as we all sat around a room and smiled at each other. Tashi translated and politely asked and answered the questions I had for his parents. Unfortunately the
The end of my stay in the mountains took me to the furthest eastern part of Ladakh and closest to the Tibet border possible by road. The areas is called Tso Moriri Lake and Korzok village. I attended another festival at a monastery that marked the first teachings of Buddha. I was very pleased to be so close to Tibet although because the elevation is very high I struggled adjusting to altitude. My time there was very short but I can assure you it is God’s country and it is very beautiful. The country is very rugged and mostly nomads inhabit the area. They live in tents and graze animals such as goats, sheep and yak. The pastures are shared between the Ladakhie nomads and the Tibetan nomads. I will post some of the photos and they way you will recognize them is they appear to be farmers but please keep in mind these nomads move with their herds and live in tents in very rugged conditions high in the Himalayas. I went to one of the camps and walked around until I was literally mobbed by the children. These people have so little and their life is such hard work for so little. The children need education and Tashi and Stephanie are in the process of working on a research project for Tibetan nomads that will document their lifestyle. The idea is to further the project and obtain funding for a Universal Responsibility project that will provide a form of education for the children.
There will be beautiful photos hopefully posted soon of the travels to edge of Tibet. I hope you will enjoy these photos and then take a quick look at the photos of the mountains taken from the plane as I left Ladakh.
Now back to the serious stuff. I am now going to switch gears back to the idea of supporting the Tibetans in their efforts to obtain their basic human rights in Tibet. As I talked with more and more Tibetans over the last week I heard such sad storied of lose of contact with their families since the March uprising and how the Chinese Government has restricted phone usage or made it very difficult for the Tibetans in India to remain in contact with their families in Tibet. I also heard storied of how the Tibetans are restricted within their own country from traveling to other regions within Tibet and how they have such little freedoms as Tibetans in the Chinese occupied country. One man told me how he left Tibet in ’97 for to escape persecution after witnessing a friend of his being shot and killed in front of him by the Chinese Communist because of his Tibetan affiliation. The people I became close with thanked me over and over again for trying to help the Tibetan people. Many of them pleaded with me to go to Tibet and to continue my research in hopes of furthering the assistance of the Tibetans. Over and over again I have heard stories of how they wish to see their loved ones that remain in Tibet and how they fear for Tibetans in Tibet due to religious persecution, and basic human rights. As well they speak of how oppressed their family members are and how difficult it is for them to find work in order to provide their basic needs.
As you read this blog please know there are websites listed on the left sidebar that are very informative of the issues being addressed. I ask that you take a moment to access some of these sites to become more informed. I am not able to go into all the details but hope to provide ways in which you too can learn more of the current situation in Tibet and the efforts of Tibetans in exile to create awareness and speak out against the Chinese Communist government.
Thank you for continuing to following me with my journey. I return to the US tomorrow but not until after witnessing some of the continued efforts here in Delhi to speak out against the situation in Tibet. As the Olympics approach in two days I ask that you show solidarity for the Tibetans in several ways. One please light a candle tomorrow and pray for the Tibetans. Also if you have access to Tibetan prayer flags please hang them in your front yard so that others will also become aware. Please access the websites and become more aware and then you too can write to your government officials and request support for a UN investigation of the violation of human rights in China.
Thu jeche che,
Thank you and I look forward to seeing many of you soon and sharing more stories with you.
Leann
Also a big hello to my Dad, Aunt Meme, and thanks as always for over looking the typos. I am working on low sleep and no editing.
His Holiness has agreed to join an international non-violent action on Saturday, August 30 sponsored by the Tibetan Solidarity Committee. The movement begins at 7:00 a.m., and will come to a close 12 hours later. Participants may choose to fast in whatever way is most amendable to them–they may avoid all food and liquid for the 12-hour period, or varying degrees thereof, but all are encouraged to spend the day reflecting upon those who are currently suffering under oppressive regimes. Fasts of this sort, particularly in America, allow us to develop, however minutely, a sympathetic awareness of deprivation. And if this seed develops into a stronger commitment to alleviate human suffering within our own orbit, then so much the better for all of us.
India-Tibetan Social Work 