TashiDolma

The first topic that I would like to discuss is quite controversial - self-immolation. As someone who grew up in a Buddhist family, I have been taught that committing suicide for whatever reason is wrong. I think self-immolation fit the definition of suicide. I always wonder why the Dalai Lama has never spoken to discourage more people from burning themselves? In the video below, he said that he is not fit to speak about the issue because he is no longer a secular leader. However, I think as a spiritual leader, he can speak about the issue from the Buddhist perspective: https://youtu.be/gXCjy3YV7Ks Even an ordinary Tibetan Lhasang Tsering is hoping the Dalai Lama is speaking about the issue. Do let me know what does everyone think about the issue? https://youtu.be/AkciWqBBg9M Tashi Dolma

I came across this article from 12 years ago by coincidence. I noted that the Nepali government closed two offices associated with the Dalai Lama. According to the article, these two offices took care of 20,000 refugees. Does anybody have an insight about the impact of this closure to the growth of Buddhism? Nepal closes Dalai Lama's office in Kathmandu Kathmandu - Nepal has closed two offices in Kathmandu associated with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, Tibetan and foreign ministry sources said Thursday.The government has closed the office of the Dalai Lama's representative and the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office, a Tibetan source said."Following an official notification of the home ministry, we have shut down all the offices relating to the Tibetan refugees from this week," a senior welfare office staffer told AFP.The welfare office looks after more than 20,000 Tibetan refugees who left their homeland after the Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 amid a failed uprising against Chinese rule.The Chinese embassy has frequently lodged strong protests with the Nepalese government for permitting the Tibetan office to operate in Nepal in the name of the Dalai Lama.Nepal, which is careful not to antagonise its giant neighbour, recognises Beijing's rule over Tibet. A senior foreign ministry official said the Tibetan offices had not registered as required under Nepalese law.The Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office (TRWO) had been helping several hundred destitute Tibetans who fled from Tibet across Himalayan passes to head to the northern Indian hill resort of Dharamsala where the Dalai Lama lives in exile.After crossing into Nepal, the Tibetans are provided with travel documents by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) to help them to travel to Dharamsala."The closing of the TRWO may be a big problem for the Tibetan refugees fleeing from the roof of the world for their political freedom," a diplomatic source said. http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=8923

Dear 9th Yes killing is wrong in Buddhism. Any form of killing whether it is killing oneself or other sentient beings. I have not started any sort of campaign at the moment. I do think that if the Dalai Lama speaks about it, there will be more impact since he is the most famous face among Tibetans now. Do you have any other ideas of how to prevent further self-immolation?

Dear Cold Thank you for your comment and sharing your experience. How is your neighbour now? I hope he is in better state now.

Dear Miroku Thank you for your response. I find the Dalai Lama's response does not make sense. The family members of the victims have been hurt all the while and maybe still hurthing. Now we have approximately 160 people who have died from self immolation. If this method of self-sacrifice is not stopped soon, there will be many more victims and their loved ones will be hurt. What do you think?

Dear Blue eyed snake Thank you for responding to my post and sharing your thoughts. I have been a Buddhist for the good part of my life, and I know for sure that there are no such things as offering the sacrifice of human or animal lives in Buddhism. In fact, we believe that it is incorrect to kill (oneself or other beings). That is the very reason I would like to speak about it. Thank you blue eyed snake - I do agree with you very much that the Dalai Lama should speak about self-immolation. Would you mind to create awareness about this matter? I think if more people speak up, there will be a greater chance for the Dalai Lama to say something.

Dear Roger Dear Roger Thank you for sharing your experience. I am so glad that you cancel your suicide intention and now are still here to share your experience with us. I do think that as a spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama has a responsibility to say something about self-immolation because he can put his charisma and power to prevent further loss of life. The family of those victims must have been heartbroken. I really hope the Dalai Lama will say something to discourage self-immolation.

Thank you for the music 9th

Dear Stosh Thank you for your comments. I do understand what do you mean that by bringing up the subject, it may give people the idea of doing so. Please correct me if I am wrong. However, before I brought up the subject, hundreds of people have died through the painful method of self-immolation. I think after so many casualties, we do have to say something at least to come up with an idea on how to prevent more victims. My idea right now is for the Dalai Lama to say something since he is the most famous face in Tibetan Buddhism. What do you think?

Hello everyone, My name is Tashi Dolma and I grew up in Darjeeling. I would like to learn more about Buddhism and discuss current Buddhist issues and that is why I am joining this forum. Tashi

Thank you Marblehead and WayofChi looking forward to have many fruitful discussion with the members of this forum