His Holiness The 10th Pechen Lama In Hearts Of Tibetans By Choepa Kyab There is a popular Tibetan saying Like the sun and moon in the sky, there are both H.H the Pechen Lama and H.H Dalai Lama on the earth. The two lamas have a similar influence in all parts of Tibet. According to Tibets bygone history, from the 5th Dalai Lama, the successive reincarnations of Dalai Lamas passed Tibets political responsibility to the democratically elected new leader Dr Lobsang Sangye three years ago. Yet, the reincarnations of Pechen Lamas never officially took political authority in Tibets history. When the Chinese government attempted to take over Tibet almost five decades ago, both H.H the 10th Pechen Lama and H.H 14th Dalai Lama were very young. So, Tibetans encountered an unbearable tragic events. Especially, after H.H The 14th Dalai Lama, for the sake of Tibets long term existence, secretly fled to India, H.H the 10th Pechen Lama courageously protested against the feeble hearted headlines of the Chinese communist party in Bejing and spoke of Tibets rightful ownership a great number of times. Mainly, he gave a seventy thousand-worded petition to the Chinese government through the Premier Zhu En Lin and he was thereby rewarded with a year imprisonment which evoked deep resentment in the hearts of Tibetans. Even after he got released from his long term detention, he visited every part of Tibet observing the condition of public wellbeing, and tirelessly working very hard in order to restore and preserve Tibetan religion and culture. He argued with the Chinese heads about Tibets critical situation, claiming Tibets independence. More than that, he gave heart-filled advice and addressed the Tibetan public quite often about the restoration and preservation of Tibetan religion and culture. His contributions and achievements regarding religious as well as cultural maintenance are immeasurable and peerless. The Chinese political headlines repeatedly criticized him saying the proud head of Pechen Lama is taken higher than the Himalayan mountains, because the Pechen Lama fearlessly argued with them about the amelioration of Tibets painful situation equally faced by Tibetans from all the provinces. In the end, his fearless arguments led to the tearful tragedy of his sudden death in 1989. Tibetans suspect that his tragic demise was caused by the cruel contempt and heartless plot of Chinese high authorities including Chinas formal president Hujin Tao. However, it is a fact that Tibetans lost a big hope in their hearts when His Holiness The 10th Pechen Lama passed away all of sudden as his guidance, advice and inspiration had been the sustenance of Tibetan culture and support of Tibetanss wellbeing. Gradually, the Chinese authorities tightened security checks in Tibet and Tibetan monasteries were not permitted to commemorate The Annual Prayer Session, a spiritual activity, mostly performed on 15th April according to the Tibetan calendar, on which date the the Buddhas emanated, became enlightened and perished in different years. In the aftermath of his death, the political pressure and tension escalated a great deal to the point that portraits and images of H.H The 14th Dalai Lama were not allowed to be displayed or exhibited anywhere in Tibet. Also H.H The 11th Pechen Lama, recognized by H.H The 14the Dalai as the 10th reincarnation, was secretly taken away at the age of six along with all his family by the Chinese police. Now he has turned 25 but his whereabouts are still unknown to Tibetans and it is uncertain whether or not he is alive or dead. Who knows? In the hearts of Tibetans there is a suffering beyond their endurance and a pain above their tolerance. In particular, the Chinese government inflicted an incurable wound in their hearts which were and are so faithful to H.H The Pechen Lama whose presence once in the Tibetan community was so helpful and inspirational that my vocabulary is not adequate to describe it as it was. Thus, naturally, Tibetans have uncontrollable hostility towards the Chinese government. Apart from that, the Chinese government recognized another new baby as the 11the Pechen Lama and enthroned him by force. Even though China forced the new baby to visit all parts of Tibet in a plot to win the hearts of the Tibetan people, the real Pechen Lama who exists in their hearts could have never been replaced by the fake one forcibly promoted by Chinese government for political reasons. Maybe even the real Pechen Lama has already been brainwashed and overcome by China headlines and he would do as Chinese commands, but, Tibetans faith is unshakeable and unflinching. To conclude, Tibetans have a concrete remembrance and awareness of his sacrificial service and determined initiatives for the sake of Tibets religion and traditional culture. At least, the way his life ended remains an unconquerable and permanent monument in the hearts of Tibetans. < The monument in my heart> Through thick and thin, It stands still and motionless. For its width and height are beyond measure. In the face of pangs and toils, It never shrinks but rather stretches. For its will and gut are peerless. During the day and night, It carries burdens and hopes. For its attitude matches its aptitude.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:37:31 +0000