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A Tibetan Lama's Account of Four Decades Under Chinese Rule

Bret Mitchell

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Published in Surviving The Dragon: A Tibetan Lama S Account Of 40 Years Under Chinese Rule

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Surviving the Dragon: A Tibetan Lama's Account of 40 Years under Chinese Rule

by Sofie Hagen

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5124 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	290 pages

The following is a personal account of the experiences of a Tibetan lama who spent 40 years under Chinese rule. The account provides a unique perspective on the historical, political, and cultural changes that have taken place in Tibet during this time.

Arrival of the Chinese

I was a young boy when the Chinese first arrived in Tibet. I remember being fascinated by their strange uniforms and their unfamiliar language. At first, they seemed friendly enough, but it soon became clear that they had come to stay.

The Chinese quickly began to assert their control over Tibet. They established military bases, built roads and railways, and set up a new government. They also began to suppress Tibetan culture and religion.

As a lama, I was particularly concerned about the Chinese government's interference in Tibetan Buddhism. The Chinese authorities closed down monasteries, confiscated religious texts, and imprisoned or exiled many of the leading lamas.

The Cultural Revolution

The Cultural Revolution was a particularly difficult time for Tibetans. The Chinese government launched a campaign to destroy all traces of Tibetan culture and religion. Monasteries were looted and burned, religious texts were destroyed, and many Tibetans were forced to renounce their faith.

I was fortunate to be able to escape to India during the Cultural Revolution. However, many of my fellow Tibetans were not so lucky. Thousands of people were killed or imprisoned, and Tibetan culture was nearly destroyed.

Post-Cultural Revolution

After the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese government began to relax its grip on Tibet. Monasteries were reopened, religious texts were allowed to be printed, and Tibetans were once again allowed to practice their faith.

However, the Chinese government still maintains a tight grip on Tibet. The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, remains in exile in India, and many Tibetans continue to be imprisoned or harassed for their political and religious beliefs.

Personal Reflections

I have witnessed many changes in Tibet over the past 40 years. Some of these changes have been positive, but others have been very negative.

I am grateful that the Chinese government has allowed Tibetans to practice their faith more freely in recent years. However, I am also concerned about the Chinese government's continued suppression of Tibetan culture and religion.

I believe that Tibetans have the right to self-determination. I hope that one day Tibet will be able to achieve genuine autonomy and that the Tibetan people will be able to live in peace and freedom.