New London, Norwich welcome Tibetan Buddhist leaders
With dances and songs by area students in traditional dress — and with five massive cakes shared among a packed crowd at Port 'N Starboard — the local Tibetan community and Buddhists from throughout the Northeast offered a warm welcome and happy birthday to the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, on Friday night.
The Karmapa, who turns 33 later this month, heads the 900-year-old Karma Kagyu school, one of Tibetan Buddhism's four main schools.
Before speaking in his native Tibetan to a captivated audience of all ages, including many students and parents from Norwich, Montville and New London, his holiness quipped that he speaks other languages faster than English, and "this makes me crazy."
Born in eastern Tibet and named Apo Gaga, or "Happy Brother," by his parents, the Karmapa was found in 1992 by traveling monks seeking the reincarnation of the 16th Karmapa. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama later recognized Ogyen Trinley Dorje as the 17th Karmapa.
He escaped Tibet in 2000 and has taught millions of Buddhists around the world, advocating for the environment and women's rights.
"He gives the most beautiful teachings," said Elaine Biller of Long Island, who's been studying Buddhism for decades. "It can be summed up in two words: kindness and compassion. There has to be a sense of self-love and being good to yourself, but everything we do is for others."
About 80,000 Tibetans live in exile in 40 different countries, said Ngodup Tsering, the North American representative of the Dalai Lama. Most live in India, with the second largest population, about 21,000, in the United States.
Tsering was on-hand for the Karmapa's birthday celebration and also gave local political, educational and library officials a brief lesson in Tibetan history and culture in Norwich on Friday morning.
Tsering, who arrived in Connecticut on Thursday night after meeting with officials at the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa earlier that day, visited the Otis Library to meet city officials and state legislators and thank the Norwich community for welcoming Tibetan immigrants and helping with their education and careers.
All in attendance received white silk khatag scarves, a symbol of welcoming, health and friendship. The scarves have eight prayer symbols of “deep meaning” woven into the design for purity, health and happiness, officials said.
Tsering discussed the turmoil of the Tibetan government in exile, after the Chinese government took over the territory in 1959. “In 1959, we lost our country,” he told a gathering of about 20 people in the library community room.
In 2011, the Dalai Lama, the strong Tibetan spiritual leader, called for the organization of a secular Tibetan government in exile, “based on truth, justice and human rights,” he said. The government has seven secretary-level departments, including departments of state, finance and education. Thousands of Tibetans voted in an election he called “a very successful election,” thanks to the Dalai Lama’s leadership.
Tibetans throughout the world are organized into associations, including the Tibetan American Community in Connecticut.
Tsering described strong pressure from Chinese officials to intervene with the new Tibetan government and its efforts to be recognized by governments around the world, including the meeting in Ottawa on Thursday.
The prevailing effort now, he said, is not to fight for independence but rather to push for a “middle way approach” to live within the Chinese constitution but with autonomy of language and culture. But little progress has been made with Chinese leadership, he said, since a 2010 countrywide protest by Tibetans on the Tibetan Plateau against “ruthless treatment and imprisonment” of Tibetans, he said.
Since then, the Tibetan leaders in exile have been urging the governments of the United States, Canada and others to urge the Chinese government to enter into negotiations or dialogue with Tibetans for the compromise proposal.
Tsering said Tibetans have great hopes for the younger generation. Tibetans strongly advocate education, hard work and self-sufficiency. Tibetan children have been learning English fast, while their parents are attending English classes. At the same time, Tibetans have organized schools and cultural classes to teach the children the Tibetan language, traditions and dances.
Norwich Adult Education has about 20 Tibetan students, and many more from India and Nepal who also might be Tibetan, said program English teacher Cheryl Egan.
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