My lama, Tenzin Gyatso

Tibetans, who widely scattered around the world celebrated the 74th birthday of my lama, Tenzin Gyatso. Fifty years have gone sadly since my people left their land in 1959, when my lama escaped from Tibet with thousands of Tibetans. It has been a painful and agonizing 50 years of exile Tibetans, who haven’t seen their country or met their brothers and sisters, still living in Tibet. This journey has been a long struggle; 50 years has vanished as Tibetans waited to see each other, living in isolation and loneliness. Today, the grandsons and granddaughters of the original Tibetans celebrated my lama’s birthday using traditional dance and songs. It is the 50th historical landmark anniversary for this event.

My lama, Tenzin Gyatso was very young when he escaped from Tibet. But he was fully mature and very talented and determined. Just as he planned and thought at the beginning of the exiled years, we started to build schools, monasteries and settlements for preserving Tibetan culture, language and traditions. The new exiled Tibetans worked diligently to extend its long-sighted struggle to regain their freedom. However, despite all our efforts we still have far to go.

My lama, Tenzin Gyatso launched the Tibetan struggle with non-violence. How wide and useful this path? How many Tibetans really stepped on this path with him? These are the questions that Tibetans should ask of themselves because that is where the answer will be found. My lama is the only one who practiced this approach and followed it deeply. Based on past historical experiences and long sighted future prediction, my lama offered the gift of democracy to my people. Whether the flaw is the system or the receiver, it is yet to be discovered. The execution of democracy is still immature even though we have judiciary, legislature and executive branch.

As early as 1974, my lama was considering the middle way approach but he personally announced it in 1979. Many difficulties and obstacles made themselves known during the political journey. The middle way approach was partially reduced to the issue of regional autonomy during the present Kalon Tripa and his administration. But this is an issue that remains in the hearts and minds of all Tibetans since they are still not guaranteed this regional autonomy, and their hopes and expectations for the future are grander with more of the middle way approach becoming reality for them. In my personal view, this new strategy is like a drawing; you can see but can’t feel it. The value of this drawing will be decided by Chinese government.

After my lama paved the path of Non-violent struggle, Tibetan democracy system, Sino-Tibetan dialogue and Tibetan cultural preservations, he reached the age of 74. His age is a heavy burden of worry for Tibetans, living inside and outside. As he grows older, we need more preparation for the future and education for keeping the Tibetan struggle strong. But many of us don’t have enough preparation because we only do personal things in our daily lives. When I think of it again and again, I feel tired. I have seen unexpected images of disrespect for my lama. This is something that my ancestors never expected to see in their lives. But there are a few young Tibetans, who strongly speak against my lama without proper knowledge. Keeping these thoughts in mind, I feel a heavy burden on my shoulders as my lama, Tenzin Gyatso turns 74. I weep.