Tibetans Urged To Abstain
from Drinking, Gambling
2007.04.12
Leading Tibetan Buddhist religious teachers meeting in India have
urged Tibetans to give up vices they say are common in the
Himalayan region, including drinking and gambling.
The leaders, meeting in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala
where the Tibetan government-in-exile is based, cited alcohol
consumption, gambling, fighting, and smoking as the worst habits of
Tibetans.
Alcohol is considered to be the root cause of sorrow, Trulshik
Rinpoche, a well-known teacher in the Nyingma Buddhist tradition,
told RFAs Tibetan service.
Even our teacher Lord Buddha cited several instances of sins
committed due to the consumption of alcohol. It causes problems to
our body and mind, Trulshik Rinpoche said, calling on all Tibetans
who indulged in alcohol to reduce their intake gradually and then
give it up.
Excessive indulgence in gambling has serious consequences in
life, he added, saying that gambling was already a widespread
problem before the Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1950.
The leaders were joining prayers for the long life of the Dalai
Lama, who fled Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule
in 1959. They also hinted that social problems among Tibetans were
the result of deep unhappiness under Chinese rule.
Concerted effort needed
Karmapa Rinpoche, head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan
Buddhism, said he too had heard of widespread gambling, drinking,
and smoking.
I think these social problems need to be addressed by the world
community in general and the Tibetan community in particular. At
the same time we must understand that there could be many factors
and situations which led to these indulgences.
But he said responsibility still lay with the individuals
concerned.
One should avoid self-deception and instead develop self respect.
It is the nature of mind not to practice what you were told to do
by others unless one faces a real situation. Therefore it is very
important to realize the real situations which result from these
excessive indulgences, he added.
...These social problems need to be addressed by the world
community in general and the Tibetan community in
particular...
Karmapa Rinpoche
Sakya Rinpoche, head of the Sakya tradition, called on all
Tibetans, and youths in particular, to stay physically and mentally
healthy.
There are a variety of distractions for the public in general and
youths in particular in Tibet. Those are gambling, night clubs, and
games. Addictions to these distractions are very damaging, he
said.
I am really worried about such indulgences.
Violence reported
According to the Ganden Tripa, throne-holder of the Gelugpa
tradition, gambling also leads to violence among Tibetans.
I heard many Tibetans arm themselves with swords while gambling,
which leads to fights and deaths. All Tibetans should avoid such
behaviour, he said.
The Dalai Lama has accused Beijing of perpetrating cultural
genocide in Tibet.
The Chinese government repeatedly denies allegations that it
practices a policy of population transfer into Tibet, saying the
total number of Han Chinese in Tibet is 80,837 (3.7 percent of the
total population), compared to a Tibetan population of 2.196
million.
But international groups estimate the total number of Chinese at
three to four times that figure.
Analysts say the completion of the Qinghai-Tibet rail link has
brought a huge additional influx of economic migrants from Chinese
heartlands to the formerly remote region, the full impact of which
has yet to be felt.
